(no subject)

[sethrak]

Not much to update about today.

Picked away at more cleaning projects around the house. Took Mark-chan out shopping late in the afternoon. He needed diapers, I needed nursing pads, and I wanted to try and find some age-appropriate toys for him. He's spending longer periods of time in the quiet-alert state, not just sleeping, screaming, or eating. I've tried singing nursery rhymes and doing various hand games like peek-a-boo or itsy-bitsy-spider, but he is generally unimpressed. Singing does seem to soothe him when fussy, but that's about it. He just kinda... stares at me, or at the wall just behind one or the other of my shoulders... when he's in quiet-alert mode on my lap. Occasionally he waves his arms around gently, or kicks at my tummy. >_< That part I could do without; one of the things I looked forward to most about giving birth was the assumption he'd stop hammering my spleen with his tiny limbs once he was out.

I figured there had to be something available in the toy aisle for me to get his interest. I was wrong. Not for his age group there isn't. A few rattles of various designs, a couple of really ugly handpuppets, and some mats designed for him to use when playing on his tummy or back. Not so much as a single stuffed animal without plastic parts, aside from the Tigger we already got him. I couldn't even find any Weebles. Katie used to love them when she was tiny. How can Weebles be out of style? Hmph.

The selection for ages three months and up is slightly higher, but the really good array of toys doesn't start until six months and up. I ended up getting him an elaborate rattle that will hopefully keep him entertained for months to come, and a tummy-time mat by the same people who make Boppys. He's asleep now, but I'll try them out on him tomorrow.

I know he's little, but he's getting past the sleeping lump of cuteness stage. Any of you guys on my friends-list have suggestions for games or songs, or anything, to stimulate a one-month-old's mind and keep him entertained?

Comments

:)

[danceswithelvis.livejournal.com]

Eh, I was a weird child. Apparently I enjoyed listening to Washington Irving and Edger Allan Poe stories. (Might explain my obsession with Lovecraft); along with Bible stories. Quite a combination, I know. So, reading just about anything usually works, they may not understand the words or the implications of what your are telling them, but they are bonding to the sound of your voice and the emotion in it. It's a socio-dynamic that most 'pack'/'community' type of animals engage in...like social grooming. Right now, he's too young to understand what's going on in Rip Van Winkle...but he'll love you reading it to him.

[beacon80.livejournal.com]

In about a week, I'm visiting my cousin who recently had his second daughter. I think she's about 3 months old now, but I can ask them for any suggestions if you'd like.

[sethrak.livejournal.com]

Yes please! Suggestions and advice would be really helpful.