Giggles

Abby is about 13 1/2 weeks old here and found her laugh at 12 weeks old.

The Law of Baby dynamics

Becoming a parent makes you think. For hundreds, if not thousands of years, physicists and scientists worked to unravel the mysteries of the universe; the ultimate goal was to understand how it all worked. Every bit of creation worked as though clockwork, and all that we required was to develop sufficiently rigorous theories and we would be able to understand every part and predict the future course of events with absolute accuracy.
Then came the advent of quantum phyics. Quantum mechanics tells us that when we look at the universe at a very small scale (i.e. the size of atoms and smaller) we are entirely unable to predict the behaviour of particles. It's not that we just haven't developed sufficiently powerful theories yet, but rather, if our current theories are correct, it absolutely impossible to predict what any particular atom, electron or proton will do.
So, I hear you ask, what does this have to do with parenthood? Well, this uncertainty, this "quantum wierdness" is not supposed to manifest itself at larger scales than the atomic realm. Hence we are able to build cars and bridges and computers, knowing what they will do given certain circumstances. We are also able to map out the behaviour of the stars and predict solar eclipses down to the very second. The universe with which are familiar is solid and predictable. Well let me tell you, having a child sure makes you question that! I am coming to the conclusion that children are the exception to this rule, the area of the "real world" in which quantum uncertainty must play a major part. How else do you explain the way in which a 3 month responds to exactly the same situation two days in a row in entirely different ways?!? How else do you explain the sudden, unprovoked outbursts of inconsolable screaming, the on-off faviouritism (I'm a momma's girl... no I'm a daddy's girl) and the uncanny ability to wake up the moment the parents have two minutes for themselves?? It's the only answer really; Baby dynamics and infact mechanics, the new frontier of physics. It should have its own Nobel Prize. The Nobel Baby prediction prize!



But for all that, then there are these moments, when you are bowled over by something as simple as a smile. When your child laughs (at you, or at the inanimate clock on the living-room wall) you realise that something indescribable has happened in your life and you are thankful to God that inspite of your failings and inadequacies and inexperience, your child is thriving and growing and flourishing. May he help us all to be the parents that these wonderful kids deserve!

And yes, as the science-related rant would indicate, this was David writing, not Deborah.