Swimming and Milk

There are many things to report. Young Max is coping very well with the work-a-day routine. He seems to have a little routine of his own that sometimes coincides with our plan and sometimes doesn't. He is patient with us, and for that we are thankful.

One of the key developmental goals for someone his age is the 'regarding of a raisin". I suppose it is small enough to be relatively difficult to see and yet dark enough to provide the contrast that his young eyes require.

I have muesli in the morning and it has raisins in it. So this morning I took a raisin and held it in front of him. Well he regarded it with a style and grace that supersedes anything in the developmental books. We now know that when Max regards a raisin, that raisin stays regarded.

He also got his first pair of jeans today. They look cool, that is all.

He is developing a very curious attachment to a toy bee that hangs from his play-mat. He kicks the overhanging bars and the bee moves and he giggles. We are not sure whether he is controlling his feet with any level of precision. It seems as if he hits the bars one in five times but when he does the giggles are worth hearing. Once fixated his eyes will not leave the bee. I am reminded of the urban myth that penguins fixated on an over flying aircraft will tip over while watching it. Max will follow that bee wheresoever it goes. I am concerned that when he encounters a real bee for the first time he will develop repetitive strain injury in his neck from futile attempts to track it as it goes about its pollination activities. To ensure that this does not happen, the bee will be retired for a while and replaced with an elephant - they are slower moving.

He also had his first swimming lesson - who knew that 'twinkle, twinkle little star' could be used as a tool for learning how to swim on your back. He has a very cute swim nappy that is heavily elasticated to prevent leakage. Leakage of any kind in a pool is bad news but leakage of the nappy kind will close the pool for 24 hours. It's funy how some people can't handle a bit of E-Coli. He loves the water, he loves his nightly bath, he loves the rabbit towel and he loves the story afterwards. There is no end to the things he finds delight in. Sure why wouldn't he!

There is only one thing that he doesn't like. That's the bottle! He has been known to take all 120mls in one long gulp but he doesn't like it! He prefers breast milk but he can't have that forever. He is due in the creche in January and at the rate that time is passing that will be in a week or so. He needs to begin a very slow weening off breast milk and onto the formula. At the moment no dice. There is a bit of crying, there is a bit of screaming and we give in. The process begins again the next day. We have consulted the books and websites and other parents and the advice is as conflicting as the number of sources but the on coherent comment is perseverance. He tries all sorts of tricks to avoid it. He falls asleep, he turns his head and he flicks the teat out with his tongue (he's very advanced). I'm in favour of some form of drip system but Ciara says that that is cruel. All I know is that I don't like the drink either.

I have never tasted breast milk. But that formula stuff is rank. It smells like grass and tastes like a cross between iron bars and petrol. No wonder he doesn't like it. I am not surprised that it has never caught on as an evening tipple. Max - though it causes me great frustration, hair pulling and fear for the future. I am with you all the way, the milk is muck!