William at 11 months: Doing my own thing

Good morning, William!

I've been thinking about what I wrote yesterday about William. Unfortunately, he didn't magically learn to feed himself over night. Despite what the Baby Center told me this morning "wordlike sounds" are not "spilling out" of my now 11-month old baby. And, as long as we're on the subject of what's not happening, he hasn't started running after his siblings, despite many predictions on the amazing skills of the third baby. So, natural momma reaction is to start fretting. Hard. What if he's, gasp, "slow"???

Deep breath time. Look at that face. Adorable, right? That is one happy baby. William is adept at communicating hunger, getting fed and eating well. He chatters all the time, including a well-placed "Da" a few days ago when I carried him into a room and he saw Daddy. He also seemed to be singing along with one of the hymns at church on Sunday if the looks from folks in the other pews are to be believed. He's been crawling and cruising well and now he's starting to stand independently here and there, so the walking will begin soon. Above all, William does not sit in the corner like a lump. There's a lot going on around him all the time and he is happily engaged in all of it. If he isn't feeding himself or talking in sentences yet, it's probably just because he hasn't needed to. The people around him, big and little, are apparently meeting his needs to his liking.

It's hard not to get antsy about baby milestones even when the process is old hat. Everyone wants to have bragging rights -- good sleeping, good eating, good walking, good talking -- and it would be nice to have those first before everyone else (because he is the best baby in the world, right?). Except babies, and bigger kids too, aren't learning their various skills to appease family egos. Sleeping, eating, riding a bike -- it all comes when the minds and bodies are ready, not because some checklist said it should be mastered by now or because all the other kids in the neighborhood are doing it.

So, here's what I'm learning from William: slow down, Mom. This is my baby who was induced two days after his due date. Odds are good that left up to him, he would have been one of those week or two "overdue" babies. He was happy in the womb; he was happy to look around when he got kicked out. He is learning and doing at his own pace. It may not be my pace, but it works for him. You know what he is best at? Love. He is a snuggler. He knows how to give big, delicious hugs and he knows how to receive them. Several times a day, he gets a bear hug and "I love you, William" from his sister. From his brother, he gets constant encouragement and a few well-placed hugs, too. So, do your own thing, William. No matter where you go in life, you are already a success.

Joy!

Love!