Fletcher Augustus DeRouen

A diary for our son, by Joe and Andrea DeRouen

Wednesday, November 27, 2002

During his evening bath, Fletcher likes me to blow bubbles over the tub. We keep a bottle of bubbles on the tub edge and he will wave at it indicating he wants me to make bubbles. Last night, every time I blew a group of bubbles, I would say to Fletcher "More bubbles?" And he would look at me and grin. I guess I finally said the word bubbles enough because he started saying "buh-buh" every time I blew some more. He has said "da-da" and "ma" many times (though I'm not always sure he is being specific) but this is the first time I heard him say something that sounded recognizable and was appropriate to the situation.

I'm sure it won't be long before he is speaking constantly.

.: posted by Andee 7:30 AM

Monday, November 18, 2002

Fletcher is definitely on his way to walking. He can take several steps at a time before plopping down on the floor, and did so several times today. He's such a good (and fast!) crawler that I think he doesn't really consider walking that much of an improvement yet. I'm sure he'll soon change his mind, though, and be running around the house by Christmas!

.: posted by Joe 4:22 PM

Friday, November 08, 2002

Last night, Fletcher took four unassisted steps - then he sat down. But it's still a milestone to have tried to walk. I'm sure he will try more each day and then suddenly that will be his main form of locomotion. That's how he crawled. A little bit each day for a few days, then all over the place. People tell me I shouldn't wish for him to walk because then he will be hard to chase, but he's already hard to chase because he can climb and crawl everywhere. Walking won't give him access to anymore places and things he doesn't already try to get to. Walking will let him go outside and have shoes.

We wish for Fletcher to learn new things but at the same time we hate to see him grow up. I'm sure that's the dilemma all parents have and now I completely understand.

.: posted by Andee 8:34 AM

Thursday, November 07, 2002

I realize that neither Joe nor I have reported on Fletcher's most recent statistics. He had his one-year appointment on October 25 and weight 20 pounds, 1 ounce and is 29 inches tall. When I watche him, he seems even taller because he is always standing on his toes trying to reach things above him. He is a very curious little guy and spends so much time trying to get things we wish he wouldn't.

This morning he took a small brush from my purse and brushed the cat with it. I think I'll leave that brush for the cat now. Fletcher is making sounds that sound really close to talking. He does say "da da" to Joe and occasionally says something like "mama" to me. Usually he just looks at me and says "ma" very imperiously which means he wants something. He loves to look at lamps and ceiling lights and he always babbles something at them that must mean light to him.