Archie has been a barrel of fun this last month. He keeps getting more and more social and interactive, learning to follow nursery rhymes, playing along during interactive songs like “Row Row Row Your Boat,” and even making up his own games. The downside of all this increased socialization–separation anxiety, boo! Archie’s been a little bit clingier as of late, which is both endearing and difficult when I’m off to work every day. Beyond these developments, what else do I have to look forward to in the coming month?

1. Using objects with purpose: Oh, Archie understands how to use objects. Right now, however, the uses he envisions are primarily dropping, throwing, rolling, and banging. In the case of his Oball, he’s got it down. He rolls it and bounces it and can amuse himself chasing it around the floor forever. He likes doing this so much, however, that he tries to play the same game with every new toy we introduce to him. So for instance, when we got him these XYZ Blocks, he tried rolling them as well. Needless to say, doesn’t work as well as a ball. But soon, soon he may realize blocks are for stacking, not rolling.
2. Pointing: Currently, Archie will look at objects when I point to them. Soon, he should start pointing on his own, which is definitely an exciting step forward in his communication skills. Right now, you can tell when he wants something by his intense stare and the increasing intensity of his grunts. However, pointing can clarify exactly what he wants when faced with a panoply of toys.
3. Pincers!: Archie’s pincer grasp, or the grasp between his thumb and his index finger, should be getting more precise. This will eventually lead to him being able to feed himself finger foods. While Archie’s been eating solids for the past few months, this new step makes me a bit nervous. It just seems so grown up! Anyway, I suppose there’s no stopping this next step, so we’ve been practicing this pincher grasp out in the yard with leaves and a measuring cup (thanks Mom for the idea!). Here’s how it goes: I put the leaves in the cup. Archie takes them out. I put the leaves in the cup, Archie takes them out. He hates leaves in his cup!