The day after I wrote in my blog how Evan can sit unsupported for five seconds, he was able to do it for a full minute. Now whenever he fusses for no reason, I just sit him up and he's happy. It's especially convenient that everytime we take a break from feeding he struggles to get up, then sits next to me with little assistance and burps. I sometimes don't even need to pat him in the back. Tendonitis free wrist is in the horizon. I hope.

Evan enjoys sitting up nowadays. Evan at 5 months and 4 weeks.

I was telling Tanya about this at work (her own son rolled over at 2 months, stood at 6 and walked at 10) and she me told in her country (Belarus) they were careful not to force sitting up. I am not really sure what the practice of filipino mothers about this is which made me wonder if I was doing the right thing in encouraging Evan to sit up.

A few hours later I found my answer in the book I was currently reading "Our Babies, Ourselves (How Biology And Culture Shape The Way We Parent)" by Meredith Small. One of the cultures cited was the !Kung San tribe, the same people that was also made an example by Dr. Harvey Karp (author of The Happiest Baby On The Block) of babies who do not cry for long, excessively or inconsolably; more than 90 percent of their total crying events during the first nine months last less than 30 seconds.

Here is an excerpt: 
"The sling also assures that the baby is always positioned vertically, which San believe is imperative - babies left in horizontal position will never develop good motor skills, they believe. There is evidence that this line of thinking is correct. Early on San babies surpass their European peers in motor skills...

The difference is in both how babies are physically managed and how parents believe motor skills are acquired. San parents believe that most skills will be learned passively - but not motor skills. Sitting, walking, standing, they feel, must be taught and encouraged...The sling allows for lots of wiggle room and babies are never placed down on their backs and left alone to flail about. Perhaps more important, parents practice many physical skills with babies and make sure they acquire these skills as soon as possible. As as result, San babies excel in motor-coordination tests and appear generally smarter in motor-cognition tests because they move better and concentrate harder that their Western peers..."

It set my mind at ease. In fact I was thinking of buying him that musical baby grand piano at Babies R' Us pretty soon (so he'll have something to hold on to and amuse himself while sitting) and not wait for Christmas. It's going to be fun for the three of us.

When Bald Is Not Always Beautiful

I once thought of getting Evan a shirt or bib that had the texts "Bald Is Beautiful" printed across. Tom is impatient for Evan's hair to grow and was jealous when I told him that Evan's cousin Lara was born with a full head of hair.

From the same book I read something disturbing. It talked about the Ache tribe of Paraguay:
"Babies are born with a full head of hair and those without hair, as well as those with clear disability and breech births, were buried..."

I have always been a believer of respecting other cultures, especially if they are marginalized but I have to make exception to this practice. It made me think what if Evan was born to this people, he would have been met with a cruel fate. It also made me wonder of God's stand or purpose in this.

How's That For Initiative?

Evan cried early in the morning the other day. Tom went to check on him and saw Evan with a pacifier in his mouth. Apparently he found the pacifier that was on his crib and plugged it in by himself.

Currently listening to: radiator clanking
Currently reading: Real Simple Magazine (November Issue)
Currently watching: Syriana (George Clooney)