Just like his sister a year or so ago, Ivan has developed the habit of crying loud after waking up. I understand, this is a way to announce to the World - i.e. his mother - that he is awake so the World should report to him. He does it regardless of what time of the day or night it is. One thing I had noticed though is that whenever instead of his mother the World reports in the form of his daddy - that is myself - Ivan tends to stop shouting very quickly.
Today I was left home with him, following a weekend of high fever that stroke him out of nowhere. We knew this wasn't the "swine" flue, not least because Emese took Ivan to a doctor on Saturday morning. So we were only keeping an eye on his body temperature and making sure he eats, drinks liquids, and does not go beyond 39 degrees Centigrade. Of course this also made him much sleepier and cuddlier than usual.
So today he overslept generously after being taken to our bed by his beloved mother about 7 am. Later, about 9, he woke up, just to find me around, and continued sleeping like a prince. Emese wanted to check his temperature but I did not want to wake him up. She had long gone to work and I had been working on my e-mail for quite a while when I heard strange noises from the bedroom.
Not the usual shouting, escalating to screaming if no one shows up. Not even a genuine cry of a sick baby. Nothing of the kind. These were happy noises. I was quite amazed and walked to the room to check what was the source and reason of such joyful gurggling. I found Ivan sitting in the bed, smiling, and holing an empty bottle in his hands. Indeed, I had left it half full of yoghurt drink - his favourite - just next to the bed.
It seems that he had woken up, seen the drink and helped himself to it, and felt so happy and relieved that he had to speak it out. As I am now writing Ivan is sitting on the floor of his room and playing on his own already for about half an hour. He can see me, but it does not seem to occur to him to come and hand on my trousers, as I have seen him do with his mother. I have to admit that not being the centre of his World has some advantages, and I am happy to remain in the periphery as long as possible.