Developmental leaps
So the last entry where I was complaining about him not sleeping? Well, they say that when kids are making a big developmental leap they stop sleeping well. And he is doing so many cool things!
The first, and most important, is that he's sleeping now! Last night he slept from 7 to 5:30 in the morning. He started settling down in his crib and going to sleep with out endless rocking, so we night weaned in like two days, and now he sleeps really really well. Give or take some nights where something's off. But we are all starting to feel a lot better and a lot more sane. Nobody told me my child wouldn't sleep for the first thirteen months of his life, but I'm so glad we've finally gotten there.
Also, he is saying and doing so many cool things. I know everybody thinks their child is a genius, and I am no exception. Yesterday at day care I handed him Gertrude to carry to the car and he said, very clearly and distinctly, Gertrude. Which is said three or four more times. Then this morning, he heard an airplane in the sky. He's fascinated with garbage trucks, trucks in general, planes and all transportation. And dogs. Those are his favorite things. Anyway, Eric said, "that's an airplane Ollie," and Ollie saw that Eric was wearing a Boeing shirt with a Super Hornet on it and pointed to the plane! Which he proudly repeated for me when I came downstairs. He might end up disappointed that all planes don't look like FA-18s, but hey. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Yesterday he also apparently said sock at daycare. So last night while he was in the bath I held up a sock and said, "What is this?" trying to get him to repeat it. I was like, "say sock Ollie. Sock. Where's the sock?" He took the sock and said, "That is this." And looked at me like I was a moron. He is saying new words all the time. It is so adorable to hear a tiny child say Gertrude. I cannot tell you.
It is amazing all the things he has absorbed and all the new and cool things he is doing. There has been discussion on some feminist blogs lately about how parents and not parents are equally happy. And I'd say that I was as happy, if not more, on a day to day basis when I wasn't a parent. Happiness is easy. It's cheap. It's being well rested and enjoying a glass of wine with a good book. But since I was a parent I have more joy and I feel like my life has more meaning. Watching this little person become a person and reveal who he is is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. And while on days where I am tired, and he is cranky, and I want some me space, I'm not necessarily happy, I do feel like I am accomplishing more with my life.
