Baby Experiments

I've heard of people... mostly psychologists... running social/developmental experiments on their own children.  This seems like a great way to screw a kid up.  However, now entering my 8th month as a father, I have often found myself thinking up various ways to help Liam learn and/or associate various things appropriately.  I don't know that I consider these methods to be "experiments" in that I'm not intentionally depriving or over indulging Liam in something and than sitting by with notebook in hand to record the result.

Where the line is drawn between assistance and experimenting is kind of fuzzy though.  For instance, Lesley and I have been working on some basic sign language with Liam to help him communicate.  I can definitely see that he is comprehending what we're doing and is even beginning to mimic some of the signs.  Very normal, right?  Lots of parents do stuff like that.

Ok, so here's another idea I've been thinking about recently.  Liam is a good sleeper, but almost every morning he will wake up at 5 or 5:30 and cry out for a minute or so and then go back to sleep for another hour before waking up and repeating the same thing.  Sometimes this happens as early as 4am.  It's obvious from his cry that he's not upset, and I'm fully convinced that he just has NO idea if it's time to wake up or not.  So, he'll wake up, think to himself, "Hmm... I wonder if it's time to wake up." and then proceed to page us for a minute or so before deciding, "Nope, must not be time yet... Zzzzzzz"

What he NEEDS is a cue to let him know that it's still sleepy time without having to make loud noises that wake his parents up! (Now you're seeing my real motivation, eh?)  Obviously he can't tell time... although there is no clock in his room, so maybe I'm just not giving him the chance...  But I bet he CAN tell the difference between light and dark!  Suppose we install a timer on the light in his room that turns a light on at oh, 6:45 or so, so that when he wakes up he knows that he can page us and we'll come get him.  It's a simple equaition: Dark + Page = Sleep.  Light + Page = Wake up!  Eventually he'll see that Dark = Sleep, Light = Wake up!

The main complication is natural light that makes it past his blackout curtains being confused for the wake time light.   Perhaps another option is for Lesley to make waffles every morning at 6:45am.  That way "waffle smell" = "wake up!"  Hmm... I'm liking the sounds of this method much better.

I tried to find a funny picture by searching for "Baby Experiment", but they were all pretty boring and/or freaky.  So here is a video of another experiment we ran: The Effects of Swinging on Liam.

We Got the Giggles

Liam's friend, JJ, is an experienced swinger. He brought Liam to show him the ropes.
Liam scooted forward in the seat. I think

he wanted to stretch out and give you all

a good look at his chubs.
"Weeeeeee!"

Hello out there! I don't even want to add up the many months it has been since I posted something. AWESOME things have happened and we've done so much as a little family of three but I haven't recorded them. :( Sorry!! I want to go back in time and write up fun things from the past few months. Maybe that will happen. Anyway, I am blogging now so try to savor every word.

Look at Liam swinging! Oh, what life has to offer! He went swinging for the first time last week (June 15th) with his buddy JJ Plesko. JJ is quite the mover and shaker. He'll be a thrill-seeker for sure. It's only appropriate that he was the friend to show Liam how fantastic swinging is. Liam giggled and smiled as the first puff of air whooshed past him on his debut swing. He had a great time. Derrick and I took Liam on a little bike ride to swings near us last night (on Father's Day). I haven't uploaded those pictures yet, though. The summer is bringing the best of times!

The real reason I decided to write today was just for nostalgia reasons really, but you can't have a blog post without pictures so that's why I put some swing ones up. Anyway, this morning Liam and I had our first round of "The Giggles." I was feeding him after he woke up from his first nap. I don't really know why but I said "Peekaboo" to him and he smiled so big. I said it again and he laughed. Then I laughed. Then he laughed. Then I laughed. We were laughing like crazy together for no real reason. His whole face lit up. His eyes were laughing, too. Liam's laugh is adorable and contagious. I tried to take a freeze frame picture in my mind of that moment. It wasn't a laughing fit where you feel like you're going to puke (or does that just happen to me?). I think only Derrick can do that to me when he tickles me to the ground or says something ridiculous in some goofy voice. Or, you better watch out when my mom, sister and I get together. Usually Lauren says something off the wall and we burst out laughing until our stomachs hurt. I loved my giggle time with Liam! Just pure, natural happiness from my precious son. It's one of my favorite moments with my boy. I hope I remember it forever.