I remember reading once that you can tell if a person has a truly exciting life based on how little they write while it’s happening. I don’t know that I completely agree with that sentiment, but it seems to be holding true at the Morse house! Rónán has been growing and changing so much it’s hard to keep up with him these days! Coupled with trying to complete my doula and lactation consultant certifications, I feel like we’re stretched thin these days! It’s all very, very worth it, but a little exhausting!
I thought about doing 2 posts, but that doesn’t really make a lot of sense since the pinniped is turning 8 months this week.
7 Months
8 Months
How is my wee baby seal growing up into such a big boy? I feel like every time I turn around he’s a different child. Sometimes when we’re together and I just try to hold onto the moment. I try to remember the way he looks and how he feels in my arms, the way he smiles in his sleep or holds my hand while he nurses, his sweet smell and wide blue-eyed stare. It’s hard to picture a time when Ró won’t want to spend the whole day in my arms, but I know it’ll come before I’m ready. It’s a terrible and beautiful thing to be a mother; it’s the most rewarding and heart-breaking of all professions.
Ró These Days
- Standing Ró doesn’t just stand, he JUMPS. It doesn’t matter what’s happening, he wants to be jumping, even if we’re nursing. In fact, he’s jumping on my lap as I type this. He doesn’t really show any interest in crawling, but I think he might start walking soonish.
- Animal Love- I’ve never met a baby who loves animals so much. Lily was his first word and I think he’d be perfectly happy if we lived at the zoo. Dogs, cats, fish, and wild animals are all big winners with Rónán, who would love nothing more than to bury his face in their fur and give them kisses. It’s pretty fucking adorable.
- Om nom nom- This kid loves to eat. Ró loves nursing best, but his range of solids is constantly expanding. So far he’s enjoyed bananas, blueberries, apples, carrots, and grapes. I didn’t realise how much fruit I ate until I started sharing it with my little man. He’ll grab whatever you have out of your hands to direct it into his own mouth. He’s especially great about sharing it with you after he’s gnawed on it for awhile.
- Play- Rónán is becoming quite a connoisseur of our neighbourhood parks. There are 2 within a few blocks that we visit a couple times a week. The nearer one doesn’t have baby swings, but it does have a baby sized play castle thing, so both are very well used. At home RóRó loves to use his play mat as a launching pad for throwing toys all over the house and knocking over the block towers we build together.
- Singing- We’ve been changing up the kind od music we play for Ró these days and he seems to be loving the variety. His favourites still seem to be Pachelbel’s Canon, Lever Lover, and (of course) Africa, but he’s also developed a taste for Lily Allen, The Beatles, ABBA, and Bob Marley. Listening to him sing along in the back of the car warms my heart and dancing with him around the house is just as fantastic.
- Snuggles- Can you say “cuddle monster?” If Rónán isn’t being held or loved on in some way there’s a good chance he’s letting you know how unhappy he is about it. Fortunately, his cuddles are the best thing since ever, so it’s not really a problem for me to hold him all day. He’s a pro at giving kisses and still snuggles into my neck like nobody’s business.
- Hand Jive- I’ve been signing with Ró for months, but he doesn’t seem particularly interested in signing back to me. However, he has mastered the art of clapping his hands and has other ways to tell me what he needs. He makes a particular lip smacking sound when he wants to nurse, for instance. It’s adorable and I’m grateful that he’s able to communicate to me what he needs. Hand games are very popular too! Uncle Earl and Auntie Jyana win big points when we visit with them for their rendition of “Open, Shut Them.” Easter was a bit of a hard day, but they managed to turn it right around for everyone’s favourite seal!
And, with that, enjoy this adorable video of my splashy little seal splashing around!
