On the move - Four-Limb-Drive

Baby Z have started to become mobile in the real sense. He is now crawling (still at the beginner's level though) and pulling himself up to stand. In addition, he's also babbling,

"Mamamamamamama,"

and

"Babababababababa,"

and maybe also,

"Papapapapapapa."

To note, he did start with the consonant M first, if I do say so myself.

The kids have become more attached to him now that he's more fun to interact with. It's not uncommon to hear exclamations,

"Oh he's so cute!"

"I can't bear it!"

"He's the cutest baby!"

However, Baby Z has also developed quite a temper, especially when things are taken from him. He has started growling, a deep growl that when I mimic, would drive him into peals of laughter. But when you take things away from him, or interrupt his play or exploration, he would protest with a cry and if you try to pick him up he will stiffen his body and go red in the face. Quite a spectacle to behold. I can only imagine what it would be like when he's in the terrible two age. Oy vey.

I told S,

"I think you and him will be close when he grows up."

"I think he's already attached to me," she said, as she continued feeding him his lunch, while I ate mine, getting ready for the nursing session that was to come afterwards.

"Why?" I asked, surprised that she would make such a statement.

"Because whenever I hold out my arms to him he would be gleeful and smile."

That is true. He does light up whenever Big Sister S offers to pick him up. S is practically like a mother to him. The only thing she doesn't do for him is breastfeeding and changing his poopy diaper. I would give up trying to put him down for his nap, and would usually leave it to her, as she seem to have knack for it, amazingly, ever since Baby Z was a young baby.

Whenever we make salat, we would put him in front of us, and occupy him with something to play with. Most of the times he would sit and watch us as we make ruku' and stand while playing with his item of choice. At other times, he would pat our heads when we make sujud in his vicinity, or worse, start moving away, thus inducing in us increasing fear of him going to forbidden areas.

As we all scramble to pull him back to us whenever he would move towards forbidden areas or items, I recall Dr. D's words of wisdom,

"Enjoy his immobility, because once they start moving, they never stop."