My son is such a roll over

We’ve hit our latest baby landmark moment in the life of Everett. For weeks and weeks, my parents have been asking me if Everett had rolled over yet. They’ve been expecting it ever since they saw him roll to his side, but then he couldn’t figure out what to do next. I knew he’d eventually master it, but it seemed like one of his pesky arms was getting in the way. I started to doubt that he’d ever know what to do with that limb to finally turn from his back on to his stomach. I reconciled with the reality it was going to happen when Everett was ready and it didn’t matter how many times I danced around chanting, “Roll over! Roll Over!” Besides, that approach didn’t even work for Summit, but I was also out of dog treats this time too.

Everett may not have been rolling over, but he was doing all other kinds of moving. Besides frequently moving to his side, he started kicking himself along his mat and crib. We would often return to Everett’s crib to find that his feet had now replaced where his head was laid or that he had navigated over to the far end of the crib (he usually dragged his stuffed toys or whatever his hands could grasp along with him too). Everett was definitely not a baby that wanted to stay still, and it was further proof he’d roll over very soon.
Then it happened.

I was being a good professional writer, and working on a “Dad’s Eye View” column. Emily was venturing off somewhere outside the house, and so I had Everett beside me on his play mat. He was happily grabbing and hitting the stuffed birds, and was entertained enough so that I could focus on my work. While I was typing away, I noticed Everett was no longer laughing and cheering, but instead letting out a little squeal. I assumed he was just bored of having solitary play, and was ready for daddy to entertain him again. I turned around, and noticed he wasn’t where I put him. Not only was he on the other side of the mat, but he was now lying on his tummy. Everett had done his first roll over, and nobody was there to witness it.

I immediately turned him on his back, because I started questioning if I’d just forgotten I had put him on his tummy. He then immediately started to kick away and move over to his side. I then grabbed my invisible pompoms and became his cheering section. In a few minutes, he replayed exactly what I missed while I was busy doing work. This is why clients should just pay me for being Christopher Spicer (I’m sure knowing me will bring great value to their business), so that I can ensure I don’t miss any of my son’s amazing feats due to doing distracting work.

Emily was bummed out that she missed this monumental first time. Everett has now made up for it by doing it almost every time he is laid down. He has even added the extra bonus of doing it in the middle of the night, except he can’t roll from his stomach to his back yet. Of course, he summons Emily to see his late night accomplishment, so that she can put him back in sleeping position. Emily has decided that Everett rolling on to his tummy is far less impressive at 3 in the morning.