Kissing practice makes perfect

"Mommy, Max is making the kissing noise!" Sabrina announced when I walked in from work the other day.

I wasn't totally sure what she was talking about, so she and Max did a demonstration. He leaned over and kissed her cheek with a big "smack!" Then they both cracked up.

Ah. That noise.  

Max's kissing m.o. has always been open mouth, plant on cheek. He doesn't close his lips because it's not an easy motion for his jaw to make. (Until, I had a kid with cerebral palsy I had no idea how many minute bodily functions your muscles are involved in, which is to say, a lot.) The open-mouth kisses are just part of who Max is, same as Sabrina's freckles and little giggle are part of who she is. I love them. 

But, wow: Closed-mouth kisses—well, semi-closed—complete with smacking noise. Another one of those milestones you'd never read about on BabyCenter or tell the pediatrician so he can check it off the chart:  

Me: "Dr. G., Max is making that kissing smacking sound!"

Dr. G.: "What did you say?"

Funny how I never realize Max isn't doing certain stuff until he does it.

None of us are sure how it started; Max just gave Sabrina a smack-y kiss. Sometimes, it takes him a while to get that smacking noise, and it seems like he is snacking on her. The fact that he is purposefully closing his mouth is a big deal. It will help him better articulate 'm' sounds and could be the start of "p." It could help him learn to drink through a straw, although he needs to get his breath control more coordinated. More controlled tongue movement (it's how he's making that sound) will come in handy for speech, feeding, drinking and, um, dating.

Max is loving this newfound skill. He is now chasing Sabrina around and trying to kiss her. She is (mostly) fine with this. As you can see, his charms prove irresistible.

Also: This is eminently better than him chasing her around and trying to pull her hair.