10 Months with Levi – Andie Mitchell

Till now, most of what I’ve shared about Levi has been our battle with colic. And sure, these had been among the hardest months of my life, however it doesn’t inform the entire story in regards to the previous 10 months with Levi.

For the reason that four-month mark, I can’t consider how a lot he has modified. Nobody can. He was all the time great; he simply had a tough time adjusting to being alive (price noting that I can relate?). Generally I joke that he was in my stomach, comfortable and content material and blissfully unaware, and when he got here out in September 2020, he took a go searching on the mess of the world and stated, no f*ing thanks. Who may blame him?

However now. Now he has grown into the sweetest, smiliest child boy. And expensive god almighty he’s cute. I really feel like I’m melting once I have a look at him.

Character

I do know it’s lots when dad and mom assign these massive traits to their child, however I’ll simply go forward and observe go well with: Levi has probably the most optimistic, lovely vitality about him. He appears at you and it’s like he’s wanting previous your eyes and into your soul, assessing it, understanding you, providing you with the peace of being each seen and accepted. You didn’t even know a child may try this for you, however he does.

Generally we describe him as, “simply completely happy to be right here.” Levi is our jolly little man. He loves making eye contact and giving this big one-dimple, cheeks-puffed-out smile that’s inconceivable to not return. He’s playful, virtually like an over-excited pet who needs to play however doesn’t precisely understand how. He stands up in his crib ready for us within the morning and as quickly because the door opens he dives again down and crawls to the nook whereas guffawing, like he’s beginning the day with some cover and search.

Although he likes to smile, he’s a tricky giggle. Daniel and I are continually doing new bits, making an attempt to get him going, however principally he simply provides us this lovable, well mannered smile and coos at us, primarily saying, oh you guys are treasured. However from time to time, you actually hit on one thing and this boisterous cackling comes roaring out. It’s so satisfying. So so satisfying.

There was a time period when he couldn’t be held by anybody aside from Daniel and me. A child born in a pandemic…it is sensible. Now he’s rather more OK with it. 

Motion

James did the military crawl and Levi does the bear crawl. It doesn’t look simple, however it works for him. He motors via the home on all fours and his knees by no means contact the bottom. He loves wrestling with Daniel and James. However his favourite factor on the planet is when DeeDee visits and he chases her round the home on the ground, lastly having a playmate on his stage. He’s an adventurous climber. Final week he climbed up onto the sofa utilizing a pillow that was on the ground and he tumbled over the armrest onto the ground. Fortunately, he escaped with only a bruise, however we’re all the time on excessive alert.

Consuming

After we first launched solids round six months, he wished nothing to do with them. He acted repulsed by something we put in his mouth apart from a bottle. However inside just a few weeks, he began to actually get pleasure from meals, a lot in order that he now tries to refuse his bottle altogether. He nonetheless wants the components to get all his vitamins so this created an issue. We’ve got to combine his components into oatmeal or purees now to ensure he’s getting sufficient.

At this level, I can’t consider a meals we’ve given him that he doesn’t like. He adores avocado and eats half of 1 virtually daily for lunch. He additionally actually likes broccoli, candy potatoes, scrambled eggs, shredded hen, and something James leaves behind.

Likes

Merely put: James. He adores James. The look in Levi’s eyes when he sees his massive brother…it’s like a light-weight activates inside him. It was clear early on that he adored James and now that he’s crawling in every single place, he can kind of “play” together with his brother—one thing James loves, too. James has warmed as much as Levi after being fairly impartial towards him for the primary six-ish months. However he has additionally turn into extra aggressive, particularly round toys. So he yells, “Levi, it’s not secure” and shoves him to the bottom. We’re engaged on making an attempt to sense when James isn’t within the temper for interplay however we additionally don’t need to be continually interfering of their relationship as they fight to determine the right way to work together with each other.

Dislikes

The vacuum. And that’s a toughie as a result of we’ve by no means wanted to make use of a vacuum greater than we do now, with two wild animals roaming the home. Perhaps we should always get a Roomba and put it in a pug costume.

I like you, my treasured Levi! You make my complete life.