Life with Baby

I know it's been an awful long time since I wrote one of these, but, well, it's tough to do with him awake.

Jack is now more than 19 months old and, more importantly, asleep, which is allowing me the time to write this update.

He's been in rapid teething mode on and off for the last three months, including over Thanksgiving in Charlotte. I think that can be partially blamed for why he was awake until about 1:15 a.m. the night after Thanksgiving and drooling incessantly (see photo). What a wonderful evening that was.

As far as things he can do, it's getting to be a longer list, but no one's forcing you to read this stuff. He can:

■ Identify his hair, eyes, mouth, toes (piggies) and tummy. When asked where his nose is, he points to his ear and says eye.
■ Say the following words: Fishy, kitty, cheese, hot, uh-oh, Oh Boy, Mom, Da-Da and something that sounds like bottle if you know what you're listening for.
■ Respond to the question "How old are you" by holding up one finger.
■ Perform high fives, handshakes and fist bumps.
■ Open the drawer with the measuring spoons in it, find one he likes and use it to spoonfeed himself Cocoa-Roos out of a Winnie-the-Pooh bowl.
■ Drink from his own cup that has a built in straw.
■ Actually feed himself from a bottle until it gets to the point where the bottle has to be tipped up.
■ Run screaming from known evils, such as diaper changes, bed time and the dreaded winter coat.
■ Remove everything put anywhere near his head instantly, including hats and hoods designed to keep him from getting frostbitten ears.
■ Take my shoes when I'm trying to put them on, then run away giggling as if there's no funnier joke in all the world.
■ Open Kristie's clarinet case and put the bottom two pieces together and try to make sound.
■ Completely ignore wrapped Christmas presents under the tree.
■ Use a fork to feed himself most foods. He's partial to tube-shaped pasta.
■ Put himself to sleep on good days, going so far as to, on command, retrieve his blanket and teddy bear before cuddling up to pass out.
■ Climb into his own high chair and car seat.
■ Reminding us to refasten safety locks on the over and cabinet under the sink just in case we forget.
■ Pour water all over the bathroom during bath time.
■ Open Kristie's purse, remove the cell phone, flip it open, extend the antenna and put it to his ear before saying "Hi."

And that's just the things I can remember. He opens and shuts doors, flips on the oven light and generally does things that are either cute or frustrating, and sometimes both.

Right now he's dealing with what probably is strep throat (he would not submit to the test under any circumstances, so they just agreed to put him on amoxicillin, which he doesn't appear to be allergic to), but he's still generally in a pretty good mood. Kristie reported that this morning with Jack was spent dodging fists and/or projectiles as he's learning destructive ways of showing his anger over not getting what he wants. So very pleasant...

He is getting his hair cut one week from today by the same woman who cuts both Kristie's and my hair. She's been warned she may have to do the whole job with him shaking his head violently from side to side, but she has her own kids so it shouldn't be a total shock.

He's also proven to be very good with other kids near his age (he's pictured hanging out with my 11-month-old cousin Annie), including total strangers, such as the extended family we spent time with over Thanksgiving and the kids at the church nursery. Usually kids cry when they get dropped off at the nursery, Jack just dives into the toys. He cries when we go to pick him up.

Kristie has started doing some babysitting for a two-month-old son of one of my coworkers, and Jack is very interested in that little boy. He helps by getting diapers or blankets or pointing to the baby's bouncy seat when he fusses. On Monday when I was watching both, Jack (a bit overdue for his nap) just got up on the couch where I was feeding the baby, curled up next to me and passed out. Very handy.

All in all, he's still a pretty great kid. He was incredibly well-behaved on our plane trip, especially given how scared I was that he'd be a royal pain. He's very interested in everything adults do and still seems to get along with most everyone. Most people who like kids and know Jack have a lot of fun playing with him, especially when he gets into belly-laughing.

Overall, I think he's very much a happy, well-adjusted toddler. We're working on more talking and I'm sure potty-training is somewhere on the horizon. He connects well with not just Kristie and me but also his grandparents and aunts and uncles. He has his own likes dislikes and can, like me, border on obsessive compulsive in certain respects.

It's pretty fun watching him grow up, but challenging, too. I'm glad I have the opportunity.