Every day since coming home from Vietnam, Elliot has laughed. Exactly once per day for the last three days. Still rationing, but we'll happily take it.
His first laugh was a little over one month ago, just shy of his five month birthday. Of course, we all missed it. Tyler was at work, I was out... even our incredible nanny, Jhona, missed it. She was in the bathroom when she heard what sounded like hysterical crying. She ran into the meditation room where he had been sleeping and saw the tail end of his first laugh... Far from crying, he had an enormous smile on his face and had been laughing by himself into his handkerchief. He stopped as soon as he saw her, as though he had his own private joke to himself. What she surmised made him react with such glee was upon waking from his nap, he saw the giant pink yoga ball moving by itself (the fan was on and pushing it around the room). When Tyler got home that night, he kicked the yoga ball around in an attempt to recreate the scene. Elliot wouldn't have it. His next laugh wouldn't come until about three weeks later when he was 5 1/2 months old.
This time, we got it on video. The cause of his laughter this time? Jhona opening and closing her hands! (ah to find joy in so much)
Compared to the earlier pace, post-Vietnam the laughs have been quick in coming. These days, rather than sounding like crying, they sound like a cross between a shriek and gasping for air... before turning into a real laugh.
I'd say we cheated a bit this past Sunday... we were all punch-drunk from a red-eye flight back, cracking ourselves up at the airport when we found a "baby classroom" and pretended Elliot was a judge (anything is funny at 1am).
Lying on the guest bed when we all got home, Tyler and I were in and out of sleep and Elliot was wide awake. I started opening and closing my hands like what Jhona had done.... and screaming / gasping / laughing ensued!
The next day, it happened as he was being carried and looking at himself in the mirror. Jhona carried him and then would "drop" him, bending her knees suddenly. He loved it!! Yesterday, it was playing horsey, being bounced on Jhona's knees (yes, she really is like a Filipina Mary Poppins and so much more creative than either of us!)
What will it be today?
His first laugh was a little over one month ago, just shy of his five month birthday. Of course, we all missed it. Tyler was at work, I was out... even our incredible nanny, Jhona, missed it. She was in the bathroom when she heard what sounded like hysterical crying. She ran into the meditation room where he had been sleeping and saw the tail end of his first laugh... Far from crying, he had an enormous smile on his face and had been laughing by himself into his handkerchief. He stopped as soon as he saw her, as though he had his own private joke to himself. What she surmised made him react with such glee was upon waking from his nap, he saw the giant pink yoga ball moving by itself (the fan was on and pushing it around the room). When Tyler got home that night, he kicked the yoga ball around in an attempt to recreate the scene. Elliot wouldn't have it. His next laugh wouldn't come until about three weeks later when he was 5 1/2 months old.
This time, we got it on video. The cause of his laughter this time? Jhona opening and closing her hands! (ah to find joy in so much)
Compared to the earlier pace, post-Vietnam the laughs have been quick in coming. These days, rather than sounding like crying, they sound like a cross between a shriek and gasping for air... before turning into a real laugh.
I'd say we cheated a bit this past Sunday... we were all punch-drunk from a red-eye flight back, cracking ourselves up at the airport when we found a "baby classroom" and pretended Elliot was a judge (anything is funny at 1am).
Lying on the guest bed when we all got home, Tyler and I were in and out of sleep and Elliot was wide awake. I started opening and closing my hands like what Jhona had done.... and screaming / gasping / laughing ensued!
The next day, it happened as he was being carried and looking at himself in the mirror. Jhona carried him and then would "drop" him, bending her knees suddenly. He loved it!! Yesterday, it was playing horsey, being bounced on Jhona's knees (yes, she really is like a Filipina Mary Poppins and so much more creative than either of us!)
What will it be today?
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