There are are moments I will never forget from this first year. The other day, I twirled Gabriel around in a ballroom dance in the kitchen as Kiff and I sang "parlez moi d'amour". G. threw his head back and laughed, then began to sing in a baby-falsetto, right along with us. Often, when he goes to breasfeed, he needs to sit up every five seconds, as though he has just been struck by a realization for which he must be upright to appreciate. He then returns - with some urgency - to the boob, as though irritated by the interruption. He will do this several times in a row. I have seen other babies do this, and it is truly bizarre to witness. I have put together a list of a few things he might be thinking when he sits up like that: "Oh, yes, that's right. Grandma is still sitting there." "Wait, no, that was Erika Christensen, not Julia Stiles in 'Swim Fan'." "Drat, I forgot half a cookie in the stroller. Ah well, I guess it will still be there tomorrow."
He has also started to eat finger foods. Nothing too ambitious: just bits of soft fruit and puffed rice cereal. But seeing him sitting up in his highchair like a real little boy. A really messy, wonderful development.
