Getting To Know “M”

When we had Baby “J,” I titled all the posts about him, “Week One With Baby J,” “Week Two With Baby J,” et cetera. In part, it made titling these posts easier; but it also betrayed our suspicion that it would ultimately be a temporary placement. Since we fully intend and believe Baby M to be a permanent placement, cumulating in an adoption in about six months’ time, that tradition has to change.

That said, it will be a week tomorrow since we took in Baby M.

Here are the words he says pretty consistently: Ball, More, Dada, No, Yes, Yeah, Hello, Hi, Goodbye, Thank You (“Di doo,” after receiving something), Please (when prompted “Saying please”), Blue (when looking at a picture book about colors, he is only interested in the one with the ocean and saying “Blue,” the other colors are merely in the way of getting to blue), Cheese, Nana, Cat (occasionally, when the presence of Floyd is enough to get any reaction at all), and Poo Poo.

He’s very independent. He wants to put his pants and shoes on by himself and sometimes succeeds. I can’t rush him, or he’ll give a reproachful, “Ah!” Any new situations can likewise only be approached by M at his own pace and comfort level. Playgrounds, bath, bed, all are met with hostility if he’s pushed, but if he’s allowed to approach them himself, he’ll get into it. He’ll go get diapers or a ball or whatever you send him for that’s out of the room, and once in a while, when his diaper is full, he’ll go ahead and get the diaper and bring it to you as a gentle hint.

The trick we’ve been told over and over again is establishing a routine. We have a routine in the process of being established, but it’s not easy. We have to be ruthless about enforcing the right times for meals and naps because mere minutes after the proper moment, we’ve got tears. Otherwise, there’s a little “Eh!” before he settles down.

He can sleep by himself in his crib (or “cot” as Ian still calls it) but he prefers to fall asleep against my chest, and then be transferred over. I like it too.