progress report
At five months, Cole can roll over (front to back, and, when he really wants to, back to front). He can't crawl, but manages to move fairly efficiently across the floor by alternately flexing his arms and legs. Like a caterpillar, says Devera, who runs the daycare.
He smacks his lips, burbles and, when he’s particularly pleased with himself, squeals like a piglet. If we let him, he would probably spend the entire day downing bottle after bottle, but, so far, he shows little interest in solid food.
Overall, his temperament seems basically placid and happy. He’s so much more interesting to watch and interact with than the little lump that came home from the hospital, but what I really want is for him to learn to talk, so he can tell me what he’s thinking.
What age (in theory or reality) is your favorite? Do you prefer tiny babies or preschoolers or school age children or teenagers?
31 comments:
I'm with you... I like 'em talking. I love that my 11-month girl is an easy-going, happy baby and a snuggler, but I do wish I could have a peek into her world... to know what's going on in her head. And selfishly, for her to say mama a bit more than she's says dada at the moment.
My son, who just turned 5, is a jabberjaw. But I can have conversations with him. I know what he likes, what he doesn't like. He asks all sorts of questions so I know what's on his mind. Of course, he can also tell me that he doesn't like me and that he would like another mommy. But I'd still rather have him talking than silent.
My child is 21 months old. Although I only have one, I raised two sisters (7 & 11 years my junior).
My favorite age is from 18- to 36-months. They're seeing everything for the first time. They're so expressive. I love it when they are surprised and give you that :O look. They're words are almost indecipherable, and sometimes I have to translate for Daddy. Kisses are usually cookie laced, slobbery messes, but they are so yummy. Little things like when they learn to pat you on the back when you hug them, try to manipulate you by asking for a hug when they really want out of the highchair. Being able to jump on the bed and have that be the highlight of your day. Not being able to pronounce every sound in the simple words like "snack" or "bath", so it come out sounding like "ha-nak" or "baff".
This are my favorite days...
From a teaching perspective (as I haven't had the joys of living child parenthood yet), I love 3rd graders. They are old enough to be somewhat independent but haven't quite hit the attitude stage. Makes for lots of fun!
My own kids are 7 & 4, so beyond that I am lacking direct experience. However, I'm not surprised to find that I prefer them as they get older. Babies get better with experience.
I love all the ages for different reasons. But, as crazy as it sounds, I love newborns. Even when I am trapped in a nursery with 30 of them, I still love them. There's just something so awesome about new people.
No surprise from me if I said that up until now I've loves all the ages and all the stages.
Each one brings something special with it along with the not so special of course but I love it all, even when they dont talk yet!
The only thing I am dreading are the teenage years ;)
i am trying to love the age they are at the very moment the best. that said, i HATED three...but that coulda had something to do with their babylost mother's non-existant patience level.
i also do look forward to when they have lives of their own to share...but i try not to think about it...cause, you know, anything can happen.
I love and hate each age and stage for different reasons.
Like I love newborns, but hate the childbirth recovery and bleeding nipples part, which isn't their fault bu kind casts and pall over it.
And I love toddlers cuteness and talking and cuddles but really hate he tantrums.
As for teens? We're on the cusp and he is great to talk to and hang with, but already seems to be reinventing snarky.
Right around 6 months, when they are super smiley and really interact with you. And generally they aren't crawling yet so you can still plop them down on the floor and expect they'll stay there while you go pee.
I like it when they talk, too.
So far every stage is my favorite. I think she'll have to get older before I'll be able to choose.
So far I'm really liking the 4yo stage - where my daughter is now. She can play and amuse herself but still loves to do group activities with us.
We didn't have her with us as a newborn so I can't really say anythinga bout that.
I should probably post this anonymously, because it sounds so awful.
I hate babies. They are needy, screechy blobs who consistently produce vomit and poop and they have no ability to tell you what it is they want. And they keep you awake for, like, a year. And that sucks.
My favorite age, so far, is the age my kids are right now - 6 & 9. They talk to me and tell me what they are thinking. They are funny. They are interesting to me.
Like and hate bits of all ages. Do love the 20 - 30 months period - cute, talking but still super snuggly.
I'm nowhere near finished, but I am liking this 18+month stage. Someone said they are all about discovery and amazement now, and that's true. Newborns... blech. On my best days, it was boring. On the worst, I fantasized about getting hit by a bus and convalescing in a full body cast for months. 5 months was pretty sweet, though. I remember that phase.
I like 6 months to 9 months, pre-walking, early crawling and making funny faces at new foods but in the really good to cuddle and carry age range.
someone once told me, when MQ was quite a wee little lass, that every stage would be my favorite, and, in a lot of ways, that has proven true. It helped me let go of things when she was getting bigger, and also helps me to look forward to other things. There is joy to be found at all ages and stages. Of course, we haven't hit puberty yet. ;)
2 to 4 years is amazing. all wide eyed and bushy tailed.
My favorite so far is 16-18 months. 18 months is fun, but it has been quite challenging.
I secretly thought something was wrong with me during the first two months home. I didn't find "the baby blob" as fascinating as I thought I was supposed to. Now that he's become more actively engaged I am enraptured.
Regarding the caterpillar scoot: when I'm not looking, mine has devised some form of locomotion. It's only when I'm not looking though. When I'm looking it's arms out and a babbling request to be picked up. Thus far 5 months is the absolute bestest.
-Shamela
Hmmmm...this is HARD question for me, for it really depends on the kids. Bear - I LOVE right now (6 years old) for all the reasons you state. She can talk, yes - but more than that, she can reason and question the world. We can have a 'real' conversation that will effect her thinking for the rest of her life.
That said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE babies. The holding, the snuggling, the watching them sleep, the feeding...etc. Comedian was such an easy baby (once the colic passed) and soooo funny to watch. Miss that.
0-1 about killed me. 1-2 was nice. Can't remember 2-3 and parts of 3. 4 has been a major PITA. Although not dealing with diapers and being able to tell me her ear hurts and being otherwise super self sufficient has its benefits. I think I like them talking because if they're not going to sleep, they may as well be entertaining/-able.
Well, my older son is just two, so I don't have that much data, but I LOVE the talking. So far, it's worth the tradeoff of being a PITA (though I don't think he's really "hit" that in full yet, so we'll see how I feel when everything is a battle). I also really liked 7-9 months or so -- he was happy, he slept well, you could put him down but he couldn't move, etc. I do find that with my younger son I'm kind of wishing we could jump ahead to what I remember being a glorious period starting at 6 months or so. That said, I have been less anxious this time around and have enjoyed the early days a bit more.
I love it when they can really start to express themselves, about 18 months. That is a golden window between then and about three when the talking back starts. maybe that's just my kid though :)
I know that I don't like the baby stage. Like, I REALLY don't. My oldest is almost four and on most days, he's awesome. And teenagers crack me up.
Check back with me in 15 years. But at this moment, I like 'em older.
So far . . . I love the age she is. My only direct experience is with LB and so I can only comment on the first year, but I find myself saying - and have since the beginning - "this is such a nice age."
I hope it continues like that because the early teens scare me.
Depends on the kid, i think. With A., 3 was my favorite age. I loved that 'why?' time when you could just see the cognitive leaps happening. With C., i can't say...she is difficult at every age so far. With the boys, i am happy whenever they are not hitting each other....
I am all about younger children. I know my daughter will become a teenager someday, but I still like the little ones more. Mainly because of the drama.
I can't wait until verbal communication either. How often do I wonder the heck she is trying to tell me during a day?
In theory, the tiny baby stage is what I'm waiting for. In reality, I have much preferred having a teenager over a 7-12. Hopefully, I'll get to test my theory soon!
I am starting to realize it's babies. Or maybe just this particular baby. I adore my older kids, but maybe this time around I realize I will never get another baby.
I'm loving this age (13 months) as he seems to learn new things every day, like walking, clapping and waving but I can't wait for him to talk so I can find out what's going on in his head. That said, it's possible to communicate a surprising amount by pointing and saying "dat".
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