August 14, 2000 - Monday
We're back to work and that means Harry was back with me again this morning, with me carrying him around in my arms to various places. The usual way for me to do that is the typical front carry position with one arms supporting his rear end, his tummy facing my chest, and his legs wrapped around my upper torso. I've been doing this for a while, of course, and my arms have gotten noticeably stronger since Harry's birth. In fact, though he's more than twice as heavy now as when he was born, he actually feels lighter to me.

Of late, however, and especially today, something dramatic has changed in this particular part of Harry's and my relationship: Harry now uses his fingers. He's gotten quite good at picking up little objects like individual cheerios, but he's also been diligently working on squeezing things between just two fingers. Unfortunately, when I'm carrying him and he looks around as he is wont to do, one of his hands seems almost invariably positioned below my chin right at the height of my collar. When the pinching reflex begins what Harry's searching fingers inevitably find are the few chest hairs that peek over my T-shirt. It's not as if I'm a furry fellow with a rugged chest and a carpet of hair, but rather one with a few chest hairs just for show. That means Harry will get them one or two at a time and pull. The reflex that I'm working on now his getting my free hand, the one not supporting his butt, up to his pinching fingers as quickly as possible.

Perhaps a new method of carrying is needed.


Comments, opinions?