I realized this month how obsessed with your brain I am. I found a pretty good website (zerotothree.org) that has in depth scientific information about infant and child brain development. I can’t get enough of it. Your brain is pretty cool! Here is just a little from that site about synapses in your wrinkled brain:
Although all of the neurons in the cortex are produced before birth, they are poorly connected. In contrast to the brain stem and spinal cord, the cerebral cortex produces most of its synaptic connections after birth, in a massive burst of synapse formation known as the exuberant period. At its peak, the cerebral cortex creates an astonishing two million new synapses every second. With these new connections come a baby's many mental milestones, such as color vision, a pincer grasp, or a strong attachment to his parents.
By two years of age, a toddler's cerebral cortex contains well over a hundred trillion synapses. This period of synaptic exuberance varies in different parts of the cerebral cortex: it begins earlier in primary sensory regions, like the visual cortex or primary touch area of the cortex, while it takes off somewhat later in the temporal and frontal lobes, brain areas involved in higher cognitive and emotional functions. Nonetheless, the number of synapses remains at this peak, over-abundant level in all areas of the cerebral cortex throughout middle childhood (4-8 years of age). Beginning in the middle elementary school years and continuing until the end of adolescence, the number of synapses then gradually declines down to adult levels.
If not already, then soon, you will have more synapses going on than me or daddy… or any other adult for that matter. Pretty amazing huh?! A little too obsessed with your brain development, I took it upon myself to note where all the teacher resource stores are near here, and what toys are in your near future to foster your development. One day you are going to ask for a toy for the only purpose of it being fun. I hope by that time, you honed in on your persuasive speaking skills That, or got a job to pay for it yourself. Are you wishing you were born into another family yet? Haha, sucker!
More things that have gone on since I last wrote you? A lot I say! Beckham decided to join the world recently. Beckham is Daddy’s best friends baby and I’m pretty sure you guys will be friends. Well, I’m pretty sure you guys will have play dates, and you will steal his toys out of his hands because you are older, and probably be a little more aggressive, assertive and all that fun stuff I’m going to have to lovingly correct. But none the less, I’m sure you guys will be friends, especially when you guys get older. We also made friends with another couple who has a baby named Ethan. You are 2 months older than him and just had your first hang out time together last night. Aren’t you the popular tike?
Besides popularity, I have mentioned several times how strong you are, but you just have not been too interested in rolling over AT ALL. That is until the other week you were on your stomach doing your dreaded ‘tummy time’ when I noticed you were insanely close to rolling onto your back. I was soo excited! I ran literally 4 steps to grab the video camera, and when I turned around you were on your back! I’m with you ALL day and STILL manage to miss your milestones! That was the only time I have seen (or more correctly, not seen) you roll over. Today for the first time, you were pretty close to going from back to stomach. Your bottom half was rolled over, but you had no idea how to get your arms to cooperate. You were stalled for quite some time trying to figure it all out, and after about 5 minutes, you weren’t going to take it anymore. Mommy had to come to the rescue. I’m hoping soon you will have the rolling down, but when it comes to really being mobile, I will take a stab at it and say you will try to walk before you try to crawl. That’s just a guess, but I’m pretty damn smart, so… yeah, you will be a walkin man.
This doesn’t have anything to do with you directly, but things that have gone on this month in general… A shark in Virginia got pregnant without a male to do his thing. She’s like the Virgin Mary Chick shark! I have already had discussions about Utah, their state bird, and Mormons with you, now let me just say, I think Virginia and West Virginia are two of the weirder States, and the whole shark thing happening there proves I am pretty much always right. Obama and McCain are at it, and soon we will vote for president in I think, one of the most passionate elections I have been alive through. Mommy got to see Barrack at her gym, isn’t mommy cool? Colorado drivers still suck. I found out one year ago this month that I had something brewing in my uterus. What else? Probably a lot, but the import part here is the, I’m usually right part, and the, I’m cool part… chew on that with your gums!
So, this letter is getting a little off track. More than anything, I want to say I love you even when you are crying. I love you even when you puke milk on me just as we are rushing out the door. I love you when you poop out your diaper and only manage to get it on my white tank top. All of which has happened numerous times this month! Really though, I just love you!
Happy four months kiddo!
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