Notes on William

This is more for my own journal keeping of William so I don't forget!

Despite all the travel we've been doing over the last (almost) 2 months, William has and continues to be a dream. He delight us constantly with his smiles and ever emerging personality. He is interested in the world around him, he definitely prefers to be facing out when you carry him. He is a big boy and measured 14lbs 7 oz i weight and 25.75 inches tall at his 3 month check up.
He started laughing a few weeks back, and though initially it was hard to replicate, it's been occurring more and more frequently as we figure out where he's ticklish, and what he finds funny. Today it was peekaboo. He has the most delicious giggle, I can't help but adore it.

He is a lovely smiler, and can charm any person who comes his way. I've been surprised how many people will stop and stare and tell us how cute he is (I mean of course we agree but we're a little biased). He seems to particularly like women, waitresses, air stewardesses, aunties, grandmothers, and random women on the street. He likes them all. Sometimes I catch him smiling at them, even when they aren't looking or interacting with him at all. I should mention, he is still a sober child, and can be very serious when taking everything in :)
He loves to "talk" and tell us what he's thinking and so every day we have our conversations, which involve several cute, pitch and vowel-changing screeches which can last for several minutes as he "sings" away. I've been trying to teach him some consonants, but all he's managed so far is an almost raspberry blowing sound, which is wet but still cute.

He has started making eye contact with me while I nurse him. His big blue eyes stare away - just making sure I'm still there :) He also loves waving his free hand around (whichever one is in front) and stroking my shirt or the blanket or the air, sometimes he just goes round in circles, which is pretty cute when we're at home, but not so cute when we're out as his hand gets caught in the nursing cover and I have to fight to retain modesty! :) When he is falling asleep or trying to get to sleep, he likes to hold your fingers, or just touch them lightly, skimming over the tips. He prefers to nurse to sleep, which though lovely isn't always convenient! :) We often employ the fake hairdryer or shushing noises to help him tip into sleep when it's not possible to nurse or he's already emptied the tanks.

He is a good night-time sleeper, often going for 4-5 hour stretches during the first portion of the night. I'm still enjoying having him sleep with us, and though I know there are many and varied opinions about co-sleeping out there, I am enjoying it for now. I will make adjustments as and when I feel they are appropriate for us. He is getting better and better about day-napping, he used to only be able to do short naps, but they are getting longer (yay) which is good for both of us :)
He has the softest hands, and I love to hold and stroke them when he's fallen asleep in the bjorn as we're walking along. He has started grabbing at things, your face, something you're trying to eat (or drink) and things in front of him. I can tell we'll be working on his motor skills over the coming months. He seems to be right-hand dominant for now.

He is definitely becoming more food interested. He watches us when we eat and I can tell he's figuring out he wants some of what we have. But first he'll have to get some teeth! He started drooling around the 2 month mark and hasn't stopped yet, we're anticipating teeth soon as he's started chewing his fingers, blankets, the babybjorn, his pacifier and anything else he can get into his mouth, which fortunately isn't that much at the moment - not that it stops him trying!
He still loves bathtime. We didn't bring the baby bath with us, so we've been bathing with William. We knew he loved being in the water before, but this has brought in a whole new level. He likes the freedom of more space, as he kicks and splashes around while we hold him.
His baby hair is almost all fallen out, just a few wild hairs sticking up here and there, and he's growing in a new fuzzy underlayer which is adorable. He still has a slight mullet at the back where the old hair has yet to be rubbed off. He used to look a little like Robert Duvall with it.
We don't watch much TV, if any at all, but that doesn't stop this little monkey from trying to sneek a peek when we happen to pass one by, or visit a friend who has it on. The box has a power! Fortunately it doesn't hold his attention for long, he much prefers human interaction.

As a new mother I find I often have to make a decision to stop what I'm doing and be deliberate in my mothering efforts. Every now and then when I get caught up in my own stuff, I need to remind myself to turn the computer off, or stop talking with the people around me, or stop whatever else I'm doing and just focus on William. It is not enough for me to cover the basics with him. I need to be interacting with him every day, giving him quality time where we talk, discover and interact with each other and the world around us. When I make the decision to stop what I am doing and focus on him, I am always rewarded by the response I see in him and in his development. I know he knows me, not just through familiarity because I feed him, change him, rock him to sleep and everything else, but because I am his best friend, his playmate and teacher. I know he trusts me and feels safe and secure with me, which reminds me that motherhood is a sacred responsibility. One that changes us in ways we could never have imagined before. I love being a mother, for the somewhat disguised blessing of getting outside myself, and for the joy (and challenge) I find in teaching what I know, and rediscovering the world with this unique spirit who has joined our family.

We love you baby William!