Until now, most of what I’ve shared about Levi has been our battle with colic. And sure, these had been a few of the hardest months of my life, however it doesn’t inform the entire story in regards to the previous 10 months with Levi.
Since the four-month mark, I can’t consider how a lot he has modified. No one can. He was at all times fantastic; he simply had a tough time adjusting to being alive (price noting that I can relate?). Sometimes I joke that he was in my stomach, comfortable and content material and blissfully unaware, and when he got here out in September 2020, he took a go searching on the mess of the world and mentioned, no f*ing thanks. Who might blame him?
But now. Now he has grown into the sweetest, smiliest child boy. And expensive god almighty he’s cute. I really feel like I’m melting once I have a look at him.
Personality
I do know it’s loads when mother and father assign these massive traits to their child, however I’ll simply go forward and observe go well with: Levi has essentially the most optimistic, lovely vitality about him. He appears at you and it’s like he’s wanting previous your eyes and into your soul, assessing it, understanding you, providing you with the peace of being each seen and accepted. You didn’t even know a child might try this for you, however he does.
Sometimes we describe him as, “just happy to be here.” Levi is our jolly little man. He loves making eye contact and giving this big one-dimple, cheeks-puffed-out smile that's unimaginable to not return. He’s playful, virtually like an over-excited pet who desires to play however doesn’t precisely know the way. He stands up in his crib ready for us within the morning and as quickly because the door opens he dives again down and crawls to the nook whereas laughing, like he’s beginning the day with some cover and search.
Even although he likes to smile, he's a troublesome snigger. Daniel and I are continuously doing new bits, attempting to get him going, however principally he simply offers us this lovable, well mannered smile and coos at us, basically saying, oh you guys are valuable. But every now and then, you actually hit on one thing and this boisterous cackling comes roaring out. It’s so satisfying. So so satisfying.
There was a time frame when he couldn’t be held by anybody apart from Daniel and me. A child born in a pandemic…it is smart. Now he’s rather more OK with it.
Movement
James did the military crawl and Levi does the bear crawl. It doesn’t look simple, however it works for him. He motors by the home on all fours and his knees by no means contact the bottom. He loves wrestling with Daniel and James. But his favourite factor on this planet is when DeeDee visits and he chases her round the home on the ground, lastly having a playmate on his stage. He is an adventurous climber. Last week he climbed up onto the sofa utilizing a pillow that was on the ground and he tumbled over the armrest onto the ground. Luckily, he escaped with only a bruise, however we're at all times on excessive alert.
Eating
When we first launched solids round six months, he needed nothing to do with them. He acted repulsed by something we put in his mouth apart from a bottle. But inside just a few weeks, he began to essentially take pleasure in meals, a lot in order that he now tries to refuse his bottle altogether. He nonetheless wants the components to get all his vitamins so this created an issue. We have to combine his components into oatmeal or purees now to ensure he's getting sufficient.
At this level, I can’t consider a meals we’ve given him that he doesn’t like. He adores avocado and eats half of 1 virtually daily for lunch. He additionally actually likes broccoli, candy potatoes, scrambled eggs, shredded rooster, and something James leaves behind.
Likes
Simply put: James. He adores James. The look in Levi’s eyes when he sees his massive brother…it’s like a lightweight activates inside him. It was clear early on that he adored James and now that he’s crawling all over the place, he can kind of “play” together with his brother—one thing James loves, too. James has warmed as much as Levi after being fairly impartial towards him for the primary six-ish months. But he has additionally turn into extra aggressive, particularly round toys. So he yells, “Levi, it’s not safe” and shoves him to the bottom. We’re engaged on attempting to sense when James isn’t within the temper for interplay however we additionally don’t wish to be continuously interfering of their relationship as they struggle to determine find out how to work together with each other.
Dislikes
The vacuum. And that’s a toughie as a result of we’ve by no means wanted to make use of a vacuum greater than we do now, with two wild animals roaming the home. Maybe we should always get a Roomba and put it in a pug costume.
I really like you, my valuable Levi! You make my entire life.