January 2, 2006
The Roll Over
Finally! Charles started rolling over consistantly this weekend. So cool. I know, I know, it was going to happen sometime. But I had begun to wonder, questions seeping into my thinking:”Is he ok, are his hips ok? Have I done something wrong?” “Not enough tummy time?”
I really wasn’t worried until when we went to his 4 month check-up.
“Is he rolling over?” the doctor ask.
“Ummmm, no not really,” I said sheepishly. “He doesn’t really like tummy time. But he can pull himself to standing with help,” thinking that he’s doing something.
“Oh, don’t do that with him until he is sitting by himself; it develops the leg muscles before the torso. He will need the strength in his torso first.” Oops, messing him up already. Now I feel doubly stupid.
That was over a month ago. I began to worry a bit after Charles hit 5 months and still wasn’t rolling over.
I stopped the standing thing for a bit, even though Charles loved it. I soon realized that Charles though, is very strong in the torso, and he really likes to stand. It was part of our flying baby game. I compromised with myself: I would help him stand only after I practice sitting with him. So I kept helping him to sit by himself. I’d sit him on his blanket and lay soft toys close by. He would wobble, rock back and forth and tumble over, ending up on his belly, and then instantly burst into tears. But I’d sit him back up and spread hs legs apart like a tripod, encourage and love him up… and he sit a little longer each time.
By the end of this last week he sits as long as he wants, or until he wants something out of his reach. Then he reaches for it, wobbles and tumbles forward and lands on his bellly. Not so much crying from him anymore, just lots of grunting and a few cries of frustration. I tell him he’s doing a good job and then help him up before he explodes into the frustration cry. A few days ago he rolled from tummy to back at a friends house, kinda accidently. He was sitting, tumbled over and landed on his belly. So then rolled himself over onto his back so he could see everyone. I am happy and surprised, but he doesn’t do it again. That was Friday. Today he was playing on the floor sitting up with his cloth bowling pins–very cute. I set them up around him and he’d reach for one and knock down others. Of course some were out of his reach. He’d reach for these, tumble forward and roll on to his belly, a grunt and then voila his arm was streached out and he rolled over to his back, toy in hand. HA!
I had to see if he’d do it again. I set him up, next his bowling pins– he was the human bowling ball in my opinion. He did it again. This time he had the duck pin. One more time, and then I called Jas to come see. This time, though he falls backward so no need to roll over. Jas looks down at him and asks, “Are you rolling over for mom?” Charles smiles goofily at daddy and then shows him his duck bowling pin. That’s our boy. Go Charlie B!
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