play group week #2- the first infection

This is NOT Nolan. It is cute. And, it is relevant in a way, you'll get there later.

So, last week, Nolan's first visit at play group (Tues-Thurs, 9-11). He LOVED it. Crawl-galloped around the gym, investigated the toys and babies, it was all good. Yesterday, sniffles. Today, diarrhea. Not too bad- a bit warm to touch, still playing but low key about it. When I came home though, sweetiebug hopped up and down a bit in place as usual, and crawled HALFWAY over to meet me, then put his arms up to be picked up. Clearly not 100%. Evadnie had made sure he drank extra fluids (water and formula) with the excess (horrible) diapers, but I got Nolan to take some Pedialyte. Apple flavor, which was kinda yukky, but he's never had real apple juice (nutritionally bereft empty calories) so thought it was OK. He chugged it back and had a second wind of energy pretty quickly. Babies really don't dissemble when ill- it makes it so much easier to sort out if they feel horrible or halfway decent..

Nolan is funny: with food and fluids, you can try to encourage him to take something but if you push it he gets pretty annoyed (sometimes throwing the food to the floor- temper!)- then if you ignore him or just chat and play a bit he'll pick it up on his own and consume it pretty handily. It's a familial thing- I call it the "'I'LL DECIDE", a la Uncle Roy.

No photos to post but this internet circulated baby in fridge one.... so I'll just chat more....this morning I was thinking about how Nolan loves to move BIG objects- he likes to make a dent in the world, I think- and how lately he's on a helpful streak. This manifests as trying to sweep (broomhandle leverage is poor when you are a sitting 13mo old, but he manages), closing the fridge and cupboard doors for me, and "washing" with a cloth. I have encouraged the fridge closing by clapping and yelling "Yay!!! Good closing honey!" cause otherwise he likes to get into the fridge and check things out. So far this means he gets quite conflicted about the whole refrigerator thing. He starts grabbing the bottles of condiments in the fridge door, then accepts me closing the door- IF he can help, then he beams up at me and we clap together when I yell "yay". Pretty cute.

Thought experiment: the boy is sweet and helpful, but like to do things when HE decides, likes moving big objects, and BTW has no regard to personal comfort (based on his kamikaze behaviours with standing up abruptly and then sitting or bunking his head just as abruptly, and how he'll stay in the bath watching the water drain and resist getting out even when he's getting cold.) A perfect job for him???

My current main contender: Self employed tow truck operator. Perfect!