March 16, 2000 - Thusday
Harry is three months old today and is growing and learning wonderfully. The venerable "What to Expect in the First Year" suggests that by now Harry should be able to lift his head 45 degrees and follow an object six inches from his face. He's done both. While the book adamantly notes, if a child can't do these things it does not mean there is necessarily a problem, but might be looked into by a doctor. As is the format, the Third Month chapter goes on to suggest that a baby Harry's age probably will be able to laugh out load, squeal in delight, bring both hands together, smile spontaneously, follow an object 180 degrees, and lift his head 90 degrees. Harry's done all those things except the last one. Just before the above picture was taken, Harry had his head at 90 degrees, though I don't count it because I propped his arms under his chest.

The "may possibly be able to" category for the third month suggests holding his head steady when upright, raising his chest supported by arms, rolling over one way, grasping an object against his fingertips, and paying attention to a raisin-size object are all possible achievements for someone Harry's age. Alas, he is not ahead of his class on these physical milestones. He did lift his chest when I put his arms underneath his body (above) and he does pretty well holding his head steady, but he's not mastered these things yet.

There are more feats of physical prowess that still elude Harry from the "may even be able to" category: reach for an object, keep head level with body when pulled up to a sitting position by the hands, and bear weight on legs when held upright (though he's shown signs of that one). But, get this, a baby of Harry's age may even be able to turn in the direction of a voice (he's done that), say "ah-goo" or some combination of sounds (he did that a month ago), or "razz."

Harry may not be the biggest or the toughest three month old on the block, but he's got the mind of a genius. He can do the raspberry and say "aah-goo." We're so proud.


Comments, opinions?