Yes, the babies have reached that age where a random adult ooh-ing and ah-ing over them is no longer met with an adorable toothless smile - it is now met with either a wide-eyed, open-mouthed (toothless for Asher and semi-toothless for Felix) stare, or a quivering lip and a loud wail. I understand that this is a normal part of development, and is quite adaptive evolutionarily speaking - it allows for good attachments to caregivers, and if babies didn't have this reaction they could easily be carted off by some menacing stranger at any time! And, when I see this reaction at church because well-meaning church-goers are leaning into the stroller and admiring the babies' big blue eyes, I don't get too bothered by it. But, it is difficult to see when they have this reaction to their grandma and grandpa...and aunt...and great-grandmother...and great-aunt and uncle...I know that most people don't take this reaction personally, but really how can you not when your own flesh and blood cries at the sight of you? We had this experience a few weekends ago when I took the babies to visit Eric's family (while he was stuck at home doing some much-needed home improvement). Now, the babies have spent a good amount of time around these people throughout their lives - they have seen them about 1-2 times per month for the last eight months. But, this was the first time that they cried and clung to mommy whenever someone spoke to them! This lasted for the whole first day that we were there. Luckily, by the second day, the babies were back to their cheerful, friendly selves, and enjoyed playing with their loving family members - which made me happy, not only because everyone feels better when a baby smiles at them, but because this gave my arms a break - I was having to carry both babies at the same time to keep them soothed and comfortable!
I know this is a short stage of development, and I am hoping that it has passed by the time the babies and I are visiting my family in NY this summer! Considering the babies have not met anyone up there yet, that could make for a stressful time!
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| Just give me watermelon, and I'll love you! |
Hey Chrystal,
ReplyDeleteSomething that my sister and brother-and-law did for my niece was create a small photobook with snapshots of all of their extended family members. They put this little album in rotation with all Tessa's other favorite board books, and they "read" it to her sometimes. She learned everyone's name and we became some of her favorite "characters!"
Since they live in Boston, and I only get to see Tessa a few times a year, I was expecting a reaction like you described – but the only time I got it was the first time she saw me with really short hair, since my photo in the book was with long hair. ("All done hairdo!" was what she told my sister as she clung to her.) She gets really excited now every time she sees her grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Carolyn :)