Baby Book - Mobile
Following Nyota's directions, Spock fastened the curved support rod to the side railing of the cradle. He tested it to be sure it was fastened securely and did not twist or tilt when it was subjected to small amounts of force in various directions. When he was satisfied, he set the round wooden hoop on the top and fastened the clip there. He carefully untwisted the strings hanging down so that each one was straight. There were small colorful objects on the ends of the strings. They hung several inches above where the baby's head would lay. He observed this mobile from several directions. He could see that the brightly colored objects would attract attention, but he could still not see exactly what the purpose was.
Nyota brought their son over and laid him down in the cradle, under the dangling objects. Then she lightly touched the wooden hoop, making all the strings jiggle. This caused all the little objects to sway back and forth. Spock watched his son's eyes follow the movement. Ah, it was to increase eye tracking. Useful training for the small eyes.
The baby laid there, watching the movement. Soon it stopped and all the little items hung still. Small fussy noises. Nyota touched the wooden hoop again, so that everything wiggled again. Little eyes watched. Again the movement stopped. More fussing. But this time Nyota did not touch the wooden hoop. Spock raised one eyebrow at her, still she did nothing. He reached across the cradle, touched the wooden hoop, made the objects jiggle. Nyota grinned at him. The baby watched the bright items hanging above his face, one little arm reaching out, the fist clenched tight, waving in the air. Hmm.
Everything was still again. The tiny boy wiggled, waved arms, tensed up his face. Spock braced himself, expecting wails. Instead, a look of intense concentration on that tiny face, one arm waved high, the clenched fist almost brushing the bottom of the bright objects. A little noise of frustration. Spock watched, fascinated. Another wave of the arm, the little fist barely connected with one little dangling object, it swayed slightly. Now both little arms waved in the air, fists reaching, just brushing the danglers enough to make them barely move. Eye-hand coordination training, excellent. Spock approved.