Striderling and Grandpa

Be sure to check back July 19th, the 20th (sigh), Wednesday morning for our discussion (and linky) of Open Heart, Open Home, chapters 7 and 8: Telltale Marks and Welcome. Hope you will join in the discussion.

Look closely at this picture. That is Aunty FYG's hand on his head, but it was merely there for affection, not to help him balance. That pillow is not propping up the Striderling, it's just there in case he tips backwards suddenly.  Once we position him (with his eager cooperation and help), he is sitting up by himself.  He does this for many, many minutes at a time,probably at least ten or fifteen, probably more if he doesn't get bored, happily playing with his toys and easily transferring said toys from hand to hand.*  He also is getting pretty good at regaining his balance and righting himself on his own if, say, Grandma swoops in for a sudden kiss and startles him.  Hypothetically speaking.

Now look over in the left margin at the picture of The Striderling playing with a toy- see how he is sitting up there?  That was less than a month ago.  He could only sit like that if somebody else positioned his arms for him and then he could only sustain it for two or three minutes.

He's almost 8 months old and has a new swallow study tomorrow night- an overnight test- to see if he can be taken off oxygen at night and if he might get started full time on feeding by mouth rather than via the extra button in his belly.

*transferring toys hand to hand is also a new skill just this last week.  The amazingly effortless things that most babies do without thinking about it?  They are miracles, all of them.  Watch a baby sometime soon, maybe yours, if you're so blessed, and wonder at the miracle of life, the miracle behind every seemingly tiny advance.  Take nothing for granted.
Oh- he's also rolled over twice more on his own.  He doesn't like being on his stomach, but he's tolerating it for longer all the time, and possibly having a great freaking plastic plug sticking out of your stomach doesn't make for comfy tummy time, you know?