Mommy's Little Escape Artist!

Joel learned a new trick today...one that almost gave his mother a heart attack! I had set him in the bouncy chair in the living room while I went to the bathroom and to get dressed. I could hear him in there playing the music, so I thought he was fine. When I came back (less than 5 minutes later, I might add!) I couldn't find him! The seat was empty and he was nowhere I could see him. Since the chair is about three feet from the stairs to the basement, my heart about stopped beating, thinking that he had somehow gotten out and rolled down the stairs. I ran down to the basement...no sign of him. When I came back upstairs, I noticed that he was over between the recliner and the door to the three seasons room. Mommy was nearly hysterical, but Joel just smiled and laughed when I scooped him up. He must have slid out of the chair and rolled all the way across the room. How he did that without hitting his head on the coffee table I don't know. After I calmed down, I wanted to see this for myself, so I put him back in the chair and stepped out into the kitchen, out of his view. After about 5 minutes, sure enough, he scooted off the end of the chair and plopped on the floor in front of it (I took his picture because he looked so proud of himself!). After a few seconds, he started rolling away again. He is learning so much every day! He is certainly no longer the passive little bundle of joy who would lay on the floor cooing and amusing himself. He is moving a lot more, although he still doesn't sit up and isn't crawling yet. He has also learned the "raspberry" and how much fun it is to throw his toys off the high chair and scream until Mommy picks them up. (Or Bailey....he really isn't fussy!) He also likes these rice things called "Baby Mum Mums" that are supposed to help teach him to feed himself. They dissolve really quickly to keep him from choking. He is mastering those, and is trying to learn how to use his spoon, although he gags himself a lot with that. I'm so glad I'm able to be home with him every day to see him learn and figure things out. There is nothing I love more than going into his room when he wakes up from a nap and seeing him smile and coo when I talk to him. He is even starting to return affection a little bit...he will stroke your shoulder or your cheek if you hold him and talk softly to him. He also buries his head in your shoulder when he wants to snuggle. I love it! He has started spitting a lot, which I could do without but we are working on that. He's becoming a big boy!