fast forward

My son is on fast forward. He is flying through everything, and does not stop unless it is to sit down and enjoy a good book. I think I have mentioned his love of literature. Now, he will pull a book off the the shelf and bring it over to me. He will sit in my lap to prompt me to read. Sometimes, he'll pull a book out and sit by himself and flip through the pages. Other times, he pulls all of the books off of the shelf just for fun. He has those touch and feel animal books, that now he literally buries his nose in to feel the fabric and texture. Yesterday, we were in the car, and I looked back at him - he had his ankles crossed and a book open in his lap, just flipping away. He is such a little person. This love of books thing is every teacher's dream in a child. He will probably wear out his interest by age four and hate reading once he is in school.

We have been working on a little bit of sign language. I take him to a playgroup on Wednesdays where the leader teaches them sign language using songs, books, and a puppet named Beebo that Daniel thinks is the most fascinating thing he has ever seen. I've been trying to teach him "please" and "more" for weeks. Yesterday, he was grunting for his loved-best-Cheerios, and I said, "What do you say? Please." and signed for please. He grinned a huge grin and did it back to me!!! I was so excited! He was doing it today, too. However, he will not, so far, say please for toys, just food.

Daniel is also starting to recognize where his belly button is - I think he actually discovered it first on me or Scott (he has this thing about lifting up your shirt partway if you are laying near him), so I showed him his. He will pull up his shirt if you ask him where his is.

Today, he has a runny nose. Well, he's had it all week, but today is the worst. I hate snot. I know that he got it from a visit with his buddies last week. He will not sleep well tonight - which means neither will I! I certainly don't want to keep Daniel from other kids, but that is a drawback. I joined a gym today that has a childcare room, so I figure he will pick up some bugs there too (if I actually go, that is).

Let's see, what else is the latest in DJW World.....he notices the sounds of airplanes and helicopters and sirens in the neighborhood, oohs when food is served at a restaurant, waves at strangers, hates shopping unless you are in a store with a shopping cart, laughs with glee as he pulls all of the toilet paper off of the roll, enjoys looking out the front and back doors, now hates getting his diaper changed (again), likes to play with the dishwasher by unloading clean or dirty bottles and utensils, will "dance" and clap to music, can hit a softball off of his toddler tee ball stand.....oh, he wants to see what I am doing up on the counter whenever I am in the kitchen. He pitches a holy fit unless I pick him up and hold him on my hip as I cook (a big no-no in all baby how-to books) or sit him up on the countertop next to me (again, a no-no in the books). What else am I supposed to do? If anyone knows of a bar stool type-deal that you can strap a kid to, let me know, because I am buying it!

I think about this time last year - Daniel was about 3 1/2 weeks old. A little lump that we just stared at in amazement 24/7 and tried to figure out what was wrong because he still cried a lot. In fact, I think it was this exact time that we were overdressing him and gave him a heat rash! Now, Daniel has personality. Preferences. He knows we are his parents. He walks/runs everywhere! The D.C. Ward Three are now living in Toddlerville. We are still amazed and still in love with him, every day.

Off Topic (See Daniel entry below this one)

Is anyone else bothered by this whole Madonna adoption thing? My friend and I were discussing it tonight. She and Angelina Jolie can march into any country they want and adopt in a matter of days. What about all of the other potential parents out there who take years to do the exact same thing? And, since this little boy's father is alive, and talking to the press about his inability to provide for his children, why isn't Madonna just offering him the money to do so?

The Amazing Super-Daniel

My son is AMAZING. He is intelligent. Many of you are thinking, "Whatever SEDW, he is your kid, of course you feel this way." I have proof that he is a genius in the making.

• He already knows where to look for his favorite things - out the front door for James who lives across the street; out the back door for when his daddy comes home; out his bedroom window to watch his favorite doggies run and play in the park.
• Our neighbors bought him a tee ball set for his birthday. Scott hit the ball with the bat three times, and Daniel walked right over, took the bat, and did it himself!
• When I make him a toaster waffle in the a.m., I say, "hot," as I take it out of the toaster. Yesterday afternoon, we were in the kitchen, and I had him sitting on the counter in front of me. He pointed over my shoulder at the toaster and said, "Hot, hot!" (Take off the "t" sound at the end for exact pronunciation.)
• Tonight, my friend Katie came over for dinner. She would put a bottle cap in one hand, close her fists, and have him choose. He picked up on her game so fast! After a few times of guessing the wrong hand, he started opening both of her fists at the same time.
• If you ask him where his shoes are, he looks at his feet. Not the exact meaning of the question, but he knows what shoes are!
• He will pull a book off the shelf by himself and turn the pages and start "reading" aloud.
• He can spot a Cheerio from a mile away....okay, across the room. And, if he wants some of this magic snack food, he walks into the kitchen and points to the top of the refrigerator where we keep them.
• We read this great book to him called, I Love You Through and Through. When we get to the part where we read about loving hands and feet, he sticks his foot up in the air!

I feel like he has officially crossed the threshold into toddlerhood, now that he is walking everywhere, but he will always be my baby!