In the first year of Sam and Anna's life, there were several babies I knew born a few months earlier or later than Sam and Anna were. I loved hearing all about their developmental changes because I either got an insight into what was coming up next or relived those special first moments, or was reassured that whatever Sam and Anna were doing was completely normal and within an acceptable range for their age. ...Or perhaps I may have even fallen into the mommy-trap once or twice and did some comparison (Face it, we all do it.)
Now that Sam and Anna are over a year old, that age gap has really narrowed, or even disappeared in some cases. There's this fuzzy timeline that babies around a year old give or take a few months follow. Little ones (I'm still trying to adjust to not using the term babies anymore) are learning to walk; learning to talk; eating and drinking more and more "real" food. They are developing their own distinct personalities more and more every day. I find there are babies several months older that are in the same place developmentally in some areas as Sam and Anna... but yet there are kids a few months younger in the same place in some areas as well. It's been a long time since I last mentally adjusted a little for Sam and Anna's earlier than their due date arrival into the world.
Sam and Anna aren't walking yet and I promise I won't have a single thought of concern until they are at least 14 months old. My nephew that was born a month earlier was walking at 9 months... but says no words. Sam and Anna each have about 10 words in their vocabulary. Sam and Anna are on 100% whole milk in sippies; no bottles and 100% eating what we eat (and have been for months)... while my nephew will only eat crackers beyond purees and sometimes takes an occasional MOTN bottle of formula in addition to a bedtime bottle. The once gargantuan size difference between the three of them is much smaller now. They seem to be peers now instead of worlds apart like they once were.
This isn't the only comparison I've been noticing. Babies I know born 4 months older seemed ages apart in that first year as well, but now they are standing side by side too. By kindergarten there will be completely no difference between Sam and Anna and babies born either 6 months earlier or 6 months later. (My disclaimer: Those summer birthdays do sometimes act younger than the rest of their classmates though.) The gap will continue to fade and I like that. I like I can relate to some moms more than ever now, too.
4 comments:
Yeah, I think it's the rare child who is early and proficient in EVERY area of development. Noah has always been fairly early in physical development, and he has good verbal comprehension, but he does not talk much. My nephew is a full year older than him and has always had GREAT comprehension, but by 2 years old he was only saying like 3 words. So I have to admit the verbal thing nags at me just a little bit, since my whole family was always so obsessed with the fact that Elijah wasn't talking yet...
I DO wish Noah was talking more (Sam and Anna are such good talkers!), but I know it's still early. I'm not actually WORRIED about it.
I know what you mean. My nephew is a few months younger than Camden and when they were a lot younger, the age gap was blatantly obvious. Now that they're both older, it's less obvious. They both walk, both only say a few words, and are around the same height. The only real difference I notice is that Camden is more "mature" than his cousin...sounds odd to call a toddler mature, but there's still so much "baby" left in Camden's cousin, and very little left in Camden. It's crazy to think that they're going to be in the same grade eventually, though. Those age gaps that seem huge when they're younger mean nothing when they're older.
PS- I have a blogging friend whose son just started walking at 16 months old. He was always very verbal, like Sam and Anna. It really does seem true that they're either one or the other (verbal or physical), doesn't it?
It's so hard to not compare mine to other babies, or even to one another. I often feel guilty doing so-especially with one another.
Anyway, people weren't kidding when they said it goes by quickly! Mine will be TEN months this week. Crazy.
I have recently started following your blog, I am 5dp5dt and just freaking out. I am sure you can relate. I hope I the same outcome as you.....
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