Vibble went to the pediatrician today, and she has grown quite a bit—8 lbs., 5 oz. is her weight now at one month (birth weight was 6 lbs., 15 oz.). Everything looks good—eyes, ears, etc.—and her tummy problems are back to normal now (as in, she has the normal baby tummy problems). Her growth puts her in between two diaper sizes. This is a problem that has led to diaper changes involving escaped poo-squirts from gaping leg openings in the too-big diaper and from poor-coverage-side-areas in the too-small diaper. Hers is a bum in transition.

She has come into her own with the crying. Diaper change? Do not want. Clothing change? Do not want. Bath? WTF DO! NOT! WANT!!!

(“Do not want” = [SHRIEK SHRIEK SHRIEK!!!])

She also lets us know when she is hungry (“eh-eh” sound and short-shriek short-shriek short-shriek). Or has a bubble in her stomach (shriek-around-the-nipple-or-bottle-nipple). Or is trying to pass a BM down the intestines (long-shriek). Or has been kidnapped by evil, abusive parents who want to abuse her with an abusive diaper change (horrid banshee shriek that translates to “Call the Child Abuse Hotline!”).

One of the things that can mediate the diaper-change shriek is if we take her in the downstairs bathroom for the event. This bathroom has a loud—LOUD—fan-light and mirrors, and she seems soothed by the sounds and by her own image in the mirror. Thus Stevel has dubbed this bathroom “The Magic House.” Sometimes he takes her in there and sits with her when she is having the stomach pains (see above for sound effects).

Violet also makes some very sweet sounds. She has a tiny, gleeful coo, and when she is eating, she lets everyone know what INCREDIBLE satisfaction she is experiencing—with EACH AND EVERY GULP.

And there are the hiccups—so sad for us, but seemingly unnoticed by her. And then there is the belching, aka “Violet’s big ole trucker impression.” Other impressions Violet performs include …

- The Frog, or Froglegs. When being changed, she transforms into this persona in an attempt to thwart us from removing her clothing or putting new clothing on, or from generally having any control over the situation whatsoever.

- Bird-mouth. This is her early indication that she is hungry. It involves looking around the room with her mouth open, as if to say that someone—anyone—is free to insert breastmilk at his or her convenience.

- Warthog, aka Rooter. This is a later indication of hunger, after the Bird-mouth but before the hungry shrieking. The Warthog seems meant to convey the message that if someone—anyone—does not insert breastmilk soon, she will suck it out of the arm—or sleeve, or coat, etc.—of whoever is presently holding her.

- Baby Chick. Post-bath Violet has a hairstyle that makes her look like she has just popped out of a freshly cracked egg.

She has also begun smiling. Early, I know, but she does. I’ll link you to the photos now so you can see all of these things. Click on “Next” to move forward in the Slide Show:

The latest Vibble shots