Maturation

     Growing up on a farm leads a young man to learn about processes that occur in the world in a slightly different way than that of an individual growing up in the city being educated primarily in school on the matter. Words have always been a love of mine, my stepdad taught me to love words by frequently reading to me. One word that I specifically remember vividly, mostly because I had such a struggle learning to pronounce it properly, is the word “Maturation,” and it always amazed me how the fate of an animal or crop would be determined through his use of this word. Maturation is defined as the process of maturing, the emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes.
     Looking back on those simple times of watching a crop of corn reach full maturation before harvest, I realize that I have also witnessed something slightly more gratifying. Having seen the birth of my son, my eyes have viewed the maturation of a pregnancy. Moreover, I am able to reflect on quite a bit of self-maturation as I have put away childish things of my past and am now picking up on things that make me as a role-model, a father, even a fully matured man. I find it so humbling how this little boy has created such a change in me that can be described only as total maturation.
     As goes the circle of life, I now see that I am, in a small sense at least, back at my beginnings watching maturation take place. Now, instead of watching some pig pack on the pounds or watching a crop of barley going to seed along the journey to maturation, I am watching my son progress through all of the milestones that will lead him ultimately to adulthood. His first words being formed out of his tiny little mouth, his first steps, and his first day at school all are examples of him moving forward at a steady pace towards his maturation. 
    Regardless of how you view it, a self-actuation of the process, or a third person point of view, watching this, the process of maturation is extremely rewarding. This can be viewed all around you; in your garden, your pets, even your children, the process of maturation is noted. If you look hard enough you will probably even find at some point that you, yourself have embarked on the great voyage that is maturation.

2 Month Check-Up

Colonial Heights Pediatrics--
Dr. Ahmed Shahab-uddin MD FAAP
16011 Kairos Road Suite 100
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
(804)520-2600


Your Pediatric doctor gave you a 2 month check-up and your 2 month vaccinations. Seven total vaccinations were administered to you today via 2 shots and 1 oral solution. A 5-in-1 shot, another shot, and Roto-virus oral solution. I tell you son it really pained me knowing those very harmful viruses that we were introducing into your system and it was strongly against my hearts will to do so. But my knowledge is that in so many cases everything works out just fine. I was vaccinated, your mother was vaccinated, and so chances are you will respond to it just fine as well. The outcome if one of those viruses should introduce itself to your system with this processes having not been done would be absolutely detrimental though and so all-in-all it is my great hope that I have done the right thing here. 


Let's talk Check-up now. Your head is 15 inches around  in circumference now in case you decide you want to go shopping for a ball-cap or cowboy hat anytime soon. You are 22 and a half inches tall from head to hoof. You now weight 11 lbs. 13 oz. The doctor says your doing great and he was actually rather impressed with your slightly above the curb sensory-motor skills. He didn't expect you to be rolling over as effectively as what you are until nearer to 4 months of age. He told you to follow the light of his flashlight and you obeyed him as if you have a fluent understanding of the English language. All and all son you are doing great. 

Nimble Fingers

For your first couple weeks balled up fists is all we would see. Now you are getting older, stronger, bigger, more flexible and ready to play. Your hands are open on greater occasion. While babies typically suck on their thumbs you are finding it pleasing to you to suck the palms of your hands. Every now and then I will find you with your thumb or a finger in your mouth but for the most part it is your palm. 
Your fingers are obviously becoming more nimble because you are grabbing your toy rattle turtle we have named squirtle. You get a good grab on your burp towel from time to time. Your pushing yourself up when we have you on your belly and holding your head up high. You enjoy time in your vibrating chair as you sit with me while I read you a book or we watch some television. You certainly do not like to have your feet covered up although you do not at all mind wearing socks. (which is much like myself). 
You have an appointment with the doctor this coming Monday and I will give you an update on how you are doing after that fact. I imagine they will get a measure of your weight and it is likely that it will be the time for your first round of shots. 

Growing Young Boys!

  Hello Son, This is you chowing down on some milk. Now that you are 2 months old you are consuming between 24 and 30 ounces per day. Your growing, growing, and growing some more. Well, that's great really because at this point we want nothing more than for you to get bigger, get stronger, and get smarter. Oh and your a really intelligent baby as well. Beginning to become very vocal. Developing your gross and fine motor skills in good fashion. Yes son this is a passing grade on your overall life experience at this point. Keep up the great work! Now I have to get off of here...... It's time for a Dr. Seuss story :D

The Alphabet

Our favorite activity this week ( roughly meaning an activity which keeps me occupied and amused while holding you in my arms and which brings a smile and a giggle to your face ) is making simple silly songs out of letters. Singing the alphabet from "A" to "Z" is decidedly last weeks favorite activity and so now we are putting together a simple few letters that we can concentrate on that make nifty jingles and allow you to practice a few simple words. Most used is "L-M-N-O" Which can be used to construct a song that goes a little something like : L-M-N-O....L-M-N-O....L-M-N-O, Fun Fun Fun.
The added benefit to this is that some small words can be formed from this exercise such as Ellen (which happens to be a daytime talk show which comes on weekdays at 3pm on CBS and happens to always attract your attention daily) Also the word Minnow, 


We are also making fun little jingles out of S-O-L-O-M-O-N which will ultimately teach you to spell your middle name before most children are spelling their first. Always a great thing to stay ahead of the curb in this world son! Well your 2 months old now and your doing very well. So far so good on you growing up to be a very well mannered young man. In order that you may know the importance of staying ahead of the curb I have begun a small college fund for you in the form of advertisements running on this blog. As people out there in the world access this blog and click on advertisements here and ultimately buy the really great products which are made available here a small profit will be accumulated. When you are 18 I will turn the keys to the account over to you and you will be able to turn the ads off lock this blog up and keep it privately to yourself, or you can decide to keep it open to the world filled with ads or ad-free totally up to you. 

First Word

Seven weeks old Sully. At this point your beginning to grasp things with your hands. This includes holding your bottle during your feeding for short periods of time and grasping your toys and moving them around a little bit. Also, you are becoming much more vocal. Often cooing and grunting as if you are trying to take part in a conversation. I am also very very proud to report that you have in fact formed your first word. Where you picked this word up and why this was the word you chose to first speak I have no idea. But you spoke it and your mother and I both heard it and it was a perfect representation of the word. Moreover, it really can not be counted as a fluke because you actually repeated the word three times.


So.... Sully. Your first spoken word was........ "Uncle"

Fifth Week

  So Sully, You are five weeks old now. In the last five weeks I have felt so complete as compared to six weeks or six years ago. You have now begun to roll over on your side and wave your hands around as though you are forming some level of coordination between your hands and eyes. Also, you are now beginning to eat more as you were struggling with a 4 ounce bottle previously and now you are taking down 6 to 8 ounce bottles and acting as though you could handle another ounce or two. You are not yet talking although it sure does seem like you are really trying to with your coos and grunts, as if you are trying to make conversation with us. Your mom feels like that is you being fussy, however I feel like that is you having a voice. :D


  Changes in our family: Well I pulled off a 4.0 GPA at Lord Fairfax Community College and am now enrolled in John Tyler Community College. This helps to put me in line with my future goals because JTCC has an enrollment plan with University of Virginia (UVA). Well, UVA has the best computer science program in this state and it is in this state that I can get in-state tuition. What this all means is that we have relocated from Winchester VA to Chester VA in order for me to go to this school. Which will ultimately put me on track for getting into UVA. Your mother is really happy about this as well because now you can be closer to her mom and sister and be able to spend time with them and get to know them better for a while. Also, I have good contacts with the Wal-Mart here in Chester so I am able to procure part time work rather easily while I am going to school here as well.