Wow Scream that is really early to start walking isn't it! Ds1 was 15 months so I'm not expecting anything for ages yet. A is already sitting really well though isn't she. E can maybe sit for a few seconds but no way I could leave him sat without being right there to catch him iyswim, he's that wobbly. And he's 7 mths next week. Again though that's just the same as DS1.
I suppose it is probably a blessing and a curse to know as much as Dream does in a way - must be great, and I should think v interesting, to know so much about how all the development stuff works, and what leads to what etc, but then again you're aware of just so many more potential issues. Other than rolling, sitting, standing, walking, ie the major developmental landmarks, I really know nothing about any other 'indicators'. I know at ds1's two and a half year HV check, it seemed like something ridiculously simple that they were looking for. It was something like being able to pass something from one hand to the other. Obviously though he could already walk by then and I suspect they would have checked for that too, or raised a flag if he couldn't walk and it hadn't been referred yet. But they don't even refer them for not walking until something like 18 months I think (is that right?). I remember being worried at the HV check though that they would ask ds1 to do something that I knew he could do but wouldn't feel inclined to do on the day, but in the end it was (a) something so simple and (b) they just let him play with some crayons or something in a tin and sort of covertly noticed whether he could do it. So it was all quite easily done. But I remember thinking at the time that it was quite a low marker they were looking for, which must have been some sort of minimum standard and showed the huge range in 'normal'.
I'm feeling a bit cross with DH tonight. Ds2 seems to be going through a bit of a separation anxiety sort of phase and is currently settling for me better than anyone else. On Friday night, with it being the weekend, DH offered to get up with him but when he did, DS2 went ballistic just wouldn't settle. As soon as I came through and took him he just snuggled down on me (which I think understandably made DH feel a bit ). But now all last night I've had to be the one that gets up because DH just says 'well he won't settle for me'. Now this may be partly true but:
(a) surely if he settles better for me it's just because he's used to me. DH is unavoidably not here much in the week so surely this is an opportunity to try and get ds2 used to him? At least he could have tried this in the day perhaps?
(b) ds2 has been v v unsettled yesterday and today. So this coupled with dh's 'hands off' approach has meant that basically I've had to deal with a crying baby A LOT; and all overnight. Now he may settle better for me but he hasn't even then been going back to sleep. Surely DH could have done something to help me out with a bit of sleep? As of tonight he'll be back at work and it will be all my job anyway so I feel a bit like my one opportunity for a bit of nighttime help has been squandered .
I'm not suggesting for one moment that I would want to distress ds2 any more than he already seems to be but I feel as though maybe in the day especially DH could have used the time to try and reassure ds2 a bit more. DS2 only feels safe with me through 'experience' and DH will only get there by similarly 'being there' for him. And inevitably that will take longer when he's not here really much in the week.
Anyway, while I do see that it's hard for DH to know that he loves ds2 so much but doesn't seem to 'cut the mustard' for settling, it's just made me feel a bit cross with him just snoring away all night while I've been up and down all night with my poor wee man who has been really struggling to sleep
I have to say too though that I do find it a little bit nice that he is starting to be a bit preferential over who he is with. Not so much that he prefers me over DH or anyone elsr, just it is nice that he knows me and feels reassured just by my presence. I really hate that feeling of helplessness when they cry when they're so tiny and you can't just magically make things better. Especially once I've been used to DS1 where a cuddle with mummy or daddy actually makes it all better, or a kiss when he's hurt himself etc so it's nice to start to feel that with ds2.
Also what was interesting today when ds2 has been quite keen on my presence within his immediate vicinity is that he also calms nicely for ds1. For example when we were going out, he got kinda cross when we put him in the car seat but ds1 came and sat by him and he calmed down. It was v cute and I guess ds1 is almost as much of a familiar face / presence as I am so I find it really cute that he is calmed by ds1 even by just sitting by the car seat talking to him. Although how I can get ds1 to get up and settle him in the night, I'm not quite sure.....
Just hope he hurries up and figures out that Daddy is there for him too