Linus – Weeks 41 through 44
Poor Linus got his first haircut this month. There are no photos of the actual event, as we both had our hands very, very full. In hindsight, it’s good that it wasn’t documented, as I think the screaming would have gotten us both arrested. Really there was no harm done at all, except to my pride. It’s clear now that I should have left it to a professional! Luckily Linus is too small to experience vanity, and he was undaunted. Remember: it will grow back (by the end of this post).
Now stop looking at his haircut, and notice this: he’s getting very long! He’s also still very lean through a combination of eating almost nothing except strawberries and oatmeal, and being constantly on the move. He should probably open a gym. The classes would be just following whatever he does.
Our little guy is getting very mischievous. He likes to tease and play little games. One afternoon we were having lunch at a restaurant, and he started playing peakboo with the man at the next table!
When Grandma visited us last, she was a little surprised that Mr. Linus doesn’t hold his own bottle. Why should he when he was such a comfortable accommodation when he eats? Besides: I personally like these snuggly moments when he sits quietly on my lap.
I like this expression. Kind of, “Hey, I have an idea…”
Linus can get a little intense when he really starts playing, but I’ve never actually seen him climb onto his activity table before!
You’d think eventually he would grow into those giant eyes of his, but they just keep getting bigger along with the rest of him.
He’s got 7 teeth now: four on top and three on the bottom. That last one on the bottom is being stubborn. But in the last few days, the drool has really increased, so I think it’ll be here soon.
We have learned that everything goes easier if Linus has something to hold in his hands – diaper changes, eating, etc. Right now his favorite toy is his hairbrush. Which is OK, because he doesn’t have any need for it.
Here are Linus and Cha starting the day off with a visit to the zoo.
Baby miniature goat!
The Tran men always remember their sun protection!
Ruby Trinh kindly let Linus borrow her old wagon. She’s too old for it, and her new little brother (just born two weeks ago!) isn’t ready for it yet. Linus loves to push it all around the house, and then he climbs inside and goes for a ride. Bà Nội has also discovered that he eats more sitting in it than in his high chair. So at mealtime, you put him in the wagon, hand him something to play with, drive him over near a window, and then you can finally feed him. Dictator Baby!
Up the stairs!
Linus has computer hacking skills.
Success! He found the monkey show.
Like all kids, he gets a disturbing zoned-out look whenever he watches TV. We limit it to just a few minutes here and there throughout the day.
Eating an apple. He really prefers to handle his own food now. We peel the apple and hand it over, and then just stand back as he slowly eats it between dropping it on the floor and letting juice trickle down his arm. He’s learning.
He’s absolutely obsessed with the stairs.
And electronics of all sorts.
Linus has become an avid birdwatcher. I’ve got three birdfeeders in the front yard, and have managed to attract a pretty steady stream of goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, etc. He loves to watch their comings and goings through the window or on the front step. The other night he even spotted a heron flying overhead before Yen did!
Much more confident with this walking now. He can do seven or eight steps now without holding on to anything.
Getting his daily iron.
Little book worm! I love when he crawls into my lap with a book he’s picked out. Sometimes he just reads to himself.
He looks like he’s checking out a centerfold!
Linus loves his Bà Nội so very much! I can’t believe how lucky we are to have her here with him every day.
Linus loves fruit so much that he doesn’t even care to peel it first.
Sometimes he gets more than he bargained for.
His newest trick is pointing! I want that! Look at that! Hey, it’s you! The point means all of those things.
Linus has a very bad habit of flipping the lotion bottle open and trying to lick the lotion. Yuck.
He’s starting to use the potty! Not by choice, of course, and not always successfully. But it’s a start!
Interesting reading material is so important.
We are getting so much use out of our aquarium membership!
Cha needs to be very careful and monitor his credit card statements!
Bathtime!
And the newest toy: Linus has a tricycle. He just loves riding it all over the neighborhood.