Learning

This week, I've had two more opportunities to try and be only parent for Gabriel. I'm learning quickly. For example, the milk has to be thawed before Gabriel gets really hungry. Once he's been crying for ten minutes or more, he has a very hard time calming down. The milk has to be around 37°C, or Gabriel will keep complaining while he eats. And there are all kinds of fun way to carry a baby (at least in my and Gabriel's opinion) that I best explore when Michelle is somewhere else.

Gabriel is learning, too. He is gradually getting better at interacting with objects: He grabs them with one or both hand and puts them in his mouth. Or at least he tries.

The above is a toy Michelle has borrowed from the Joujouthèque, a "library" that loans toys. What an excellent idea for parents who don't really need heaps of toys all over the place. Below, he is trying to eat one of Michelle's own creations: A rattle made from two sieves that enclose two bells and that are held together by multi-colored yarn. Both Gabriel and I like to play with it a lot.

Another activity Gabriel likes is touching the wall. He can spend several minutes pushing against a wall. That is good because it leaves sufficient time to call Michelle, admire Gabriel's activity, and get the camera to take pictures. He also does that with my face, which is kind of neat, except that I have to clean my glasses afterwards. I believe that he is starting to get a feel for the length of his arms, and for distance in general, rather than to explore the wall. For example, he didn't ever try to touch the light switch. Apparently, it is going to take a moment before he realizes that this is something unusual that can be manipulated.