toby of the day, 11.10.07

Today is toby’s 4-month birthday, and he’s reached a milestone in cuteness. He’s been playing with his tongue a lot then smiling at the world. His tongue moves in and out as if it had a mind of its own. However, he does one thing that, if not curbed, can lead to a dent in his cuteness factor. He’s taken to scratching himself on the head and forehead, in particular with his mischievous left hand. He’s left a series of cuts on his forehead. He scratches himself primarily when he’s tired or hungry, which is most of the time. We try to deter him by putting our face between his hand and his forehead, but that can only work for so long. Our care provider said that people have been known to put mittens on kid’s hands for this reason. But given that he’s exploring with his hands and fingers, it seems detrimental to have him work his hands as if they were lobster claws during this formative time. He might be forced to become a puppeteer because of his lobster hands. So, we let nurture run its course and keep his nails trimmed. That way we protect his face, our faces and his future.