About three weeks ago, I came upon Max who was quietly sitting in his car seat with his mother standing closely by. Max was really quiet while his brown eyes gazed at his clenched, little left fist, then the right. His eyes were open and huge, he looked amazed. I asked Amy, "how long has Max been staring at his fists?", she replied, "all day--it's just something that he's been doing". I had no idea what to make of it but it looked amazing. It's just a hand that can turn into a fist under certain circumstances.Soon after that day, I noticed that he started using his hands differently. I first noticed it when Max grabbed a noisy, smooth, page out of a magazine that was on the table and seemed fascinated by the sound. Then tissue, construction paper--all types of paper seemed fascinating to him as Max apparently now understood that his hands can be used to make things more noisy and interesting. What else can I do with these things?
Some of his favorite toys are are his little blanket that we call, "Teddy"; a hard plastic, brightly colored butterfly that makes giggling sounds when the wings are moved, his thumb and a sundry of binkies. But lately the butterfly has taken on a new level of fascination and it looks like he's not as interested in Teddy anymore. Teddy is blanket and doesn't seem to make the sort of noises that Max appears to be attracted to.
Max has discovered a tool that he's had since he was born. I don't think he ever realized what he could do with his hands. We build things with our hands or make loud toy noises. But Max's physical enlightenment made me wonder if we still had any "undiscovered" tools attached to us--mental tools, spiritual tools. Do we still have undiscovered aspects of ourselves that we've had since birth and didn't realize that they were there? Mental abilities that we've always taken for granted? What do we have attached to us that can still amaze and astonish as much as Max discovering that he has hands that make life more interesting.
So it appears that Max is already busy teaching me and maybe us--how to harness deeper levels of self awareness.
...and now, the drool...
3 comments:
I want into Mom and Dad's and baby max sleeping. Mom told me he slept a good 2 to 3 hours and then he woke up happy. I think Max said, Go Chargers! JK.
Max usually wakes up with a smile. There are few times when he wakes up and cries and I think realizes that he's alone. Like most babies, he does not like being alone. But sometimes he seems really happy and distracted alone in the dark just looking around--although I don't know at what. Maybe he sees his guardian angel wearing a Charger jersey--I don't know.
Well, the Chargers are going to the playoffs so I think thats why he keeps smiling. Cute today, Dad had baby Max in the stroller and he would stare at me and smile off and on. Baron Von Max takes his first train ride today. Have fun Max.
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