Learning

We're continually astounded by Tucker's developments.  We've learned not to take any new skill for granted, and so we sit and watch, or chase after and observe.  And later we say things like "Did you know he could do that?" and we wonder aloud "When are babies supposed to learn this?" and we marvel proudly "Look how he figured that out!"  Much of what he does now is seen through what feel like the eyes of a first time parent.
Tucker seems to have good instincts and makes quick connections, he has a burgeoning curiosity and budding confidence.  He grasps the concept of "in", putting shapes in the sorter, putting his food in our mouths, putting our car keys in his ball popper.  He learned, some time ago now, that when he rolls his ball under the couch, he can watch for it to come out on the other side.  And that when we shut the door from the kitchen to the basement, he can peer underneath it and follow us to the bottom with his eyes.

When he'd like to be picked up, he pulls our hands down and positions them under his armpits, a silent but effective request.  He has developed, as many babies do, his own version of sign language.  He uses his hands to guide ours in the sign -- his method is quite logical, given that we've spent months using our hands to guide his hands to make signs. When we ask him to clap he puts his hands on ours and pushes them together like he is the teacher in the relationship.  And more often than not, he is.
JEB