Last night we visited our next door neighbors- the ones who have degrees from Notre Dame, and, subsequently, watch the Irish football games on T.V. Ed enjoys their company. As do I. I didn't realize, though, just how much Jack enjoyed their company. Erik had invited us over for mass and dinner (he works at a church and has a strong tie to the catholic community here; apparently everyone takes turns each week to have a mass at home). Everything started at 7:00- just about the time Jack is winding down for bed, but we thought we'd head over a bit early, say hello, and head home before Jack got too tired and/or started babbling during the liturgy. At 6:30, I asked Jack if he wanted to go over to Erik's house and say "hi." The little man immediately walked expectantly to the door, turned around and looked at me as if to say, "well, let's go!"
I've mentioned before how much Jack enjoys social outings. If he's particularly grumpy, but not yet tired, and we have some money in the checking account, we'll head out to dinner where he'll flirt with the waitresses, talk with any willing listener, and *poof* he's in a better mood. Such behavior is alien to Ed and I for the most part. Growing up, I gained strength from sitting in my room, redecorating the Barbie house or reorganizing all my stuff. In grade school, Ed dreaded being asked to take a note to the secretary in the school office- or anything that would involve him having to deal in any small way with anyone outside of his small, familiar surroundings. This isn't to say that Ed and I are hermits; in fact, we are currently on the prowl for a babysitter so we can FINALLY go out and enjoy ourselves. As with most folks, our introvert side balanced itself over the years. Ultimately, though, we both gain energy from retreat, not advance.
Jack, on the other hand, as I've said, THRIVES around other people. Last night, at Erik's house, we were sitting in the living room. Jill, Erik's roommate and Christine, Erik's friend from South Bend, Ed & I were engaging in pleasant conversation. Jack, a bit shy, at first (so, yes, he is our son), kept throwing me the ball the Erik was trying to get him to play catch with. Within five minutes, though, Jack suddenly started performing what could only be some novice form of breakdancing. Seriously. Standing up, he'd lean over, put his right hand on the floor, turn around his hand, his body would follow and then land on all fours, having spun 360 degrees. Then squeal. The five of us laughed, not realizing the affect our response would have; Jack continued to show his new move, throwing in some genuine spins on both feet, and wait for applause. After that, he was walking around the dining room, taking wheat thins from Erik in the kitchen, hardly aware of where WE were, and babbling up a storm to anyone or anything that he thought might be interested (read: he wouldn't shut up).
Where did he get this extrovert temperament? My mom maybe? Who knows. It's fun to watch. And it will be interesting to see how it evolves. By the time he's five, Jack will have more friends than Ed or I together. I can just see it now- we head downtown some Saturday weekened and Jack waves hello to every other kid in a stroller, making playdates, wondering why his parents don't go out more often.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Go! Go! Go!
Jack turned 15 months old the older day. It was the first 'month' birthday that I wasn't aware of on the actual day. I HAVE BEEN aware that Jack hasn't been using many words - well, recognizable words; he chatters all the time, often preaching to us, other kids, or to the sidewalk.
He has said "apple" once and a few months ago sputtered an "all done." Since then, he's muttered mama and dada indescriminately - never actually calling us by name. But, that's it. I started re-reading Martha Beck's "Expecting Adam" the other night. In her memoir, Beck talks about her children, including her 18-month old who talks - even speaks short sentences. All I can think is, hell, Jack's only three months away from 18 months and he has yet to put word to its object.
Not that I'm worried, of course. I'm definitely am not the kind of parent to worry about someone else's general standards for development (well, maybe a little bit).
The real reason I'm not so worried is that tonight Jack figured out a word and said it again and again- repeating it after us. One of his new favorite things is to squeal at the stoplights because of Dr. Suess' book, "Go Dogs Go!" For those of you not familiar with the book, there are two lines that Jack loves: "Stop dogs stop the light is red," and "Go dogs go it's green ahead." At every stop light we say the first line and when it turns green - guess what we say then. Jack loves it. Tonight he was saying something that sounded like "toe" but when Ed repeated "go" I turned around to see Jack trying to form his mouth to say "go" and his "toe" started to sound like "go" (or "tgo"). He said it again and again, with each green light, and after Ed would say it. He NEVER repeats words that we say - almost a kind of "yeah, I know the word, and you know the word so why put on a show?" attitude, which, frankly I can understand. But tonight, it was as if he figured out he could control his own mouth to say a word. And he was clearly happy about it.
I tell you, it was pretty cool.
He has said "apple" once and a few months ago sputtered an "all done." Since then, he's muttered mama and dada indescriminately - never actually calling us by name. But, that's it. I started re-reading Martha Beck's "Expecting Adam" the other night. In her memoir, Beck talks about her children, including her 18-month old who talks - even speaks short sentences. All I can think is, hell, Jack's only three months away from 18 months and he has yet to put word to its object.
Not that I'm worried, of course. I'm definitely am not the kind of parent to worry about someone else's general standards for development (well, maybe a little bit).
The real reason I'm not so worried is that tonight Jack figured out a word and said it again and again- repeating it after us. One of his new favorite things is to squeal at the stoplights because of Dr. Suess' book, "Go Dogs Go!" For those of you not familiar with the book, there are two lines that Jack loves: "Stop dogs stop the light is red," and "Go dogs go it's green ahead." At every stop light we say the first line and when it turns green - guess what we say then. Jack loves it. Tonight he was saying something that sounded like "toe" but when Ed repeated "go" I turned around to see Jack trying to form his mouth to say "go" and his "toe" started to sound like "go" (or "tgo"). He said it again and again, with each green light, and after Ed would say it. He NEVER repeats words that we say - almost a kind of "yeah, I know the word, and you know the word so why put on a show?" attitude, which, frankly I can understand. But tonight, it was as if he figured out he could control his own mouth to say a word. And he was clearly happy about it.
I tell you, it was pretty cool.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Yet Another Reason to Forego the Paternity Test
So, Jack's been cranky this week- spiked a fever of 103 degrees the other night. Today, the fever is down, but he's been hitting his head against the floor and getting pissed off pretty easy. He's either teething, experiencing his first ear infection, having a growth spurt (he inhaled lunch and dinner), or more than likely - some combination of all three.
After returning home from a walk in the rain to change the scenery (and to eat a mum petal from someone's flower basket) , Jack tore into his boca cheeseburger for dinner. About two bites in he grabbed his hair with a ketchup coated grip. I reacted by reaching over to scratch his head to avoid a blob of condiment that I wasn't willing to wash out in the tub. As any one in Ed's family knows - or as anyone well acquainted with Ed's family, the insatiable desire to be scratched is more than prevelant. I've spent at least 1/4 of my married life scratching Ed's back, his head, behind his knee, his big toe (yes). I'm not exaggerating here. Anyway, Jack loved the scratches; when I took my hand away, he grabbed it and then put it back on top of his head to continue what Ed has dubbed "the circle of scratch."
Tonight while playing on "mommy and daddy's" bed before Jack's bedtime, I tried the circle head scratch on Jack to show Ed. Once again, the little guy returned my hand to his head when I thought I was finished.
Ed looked over, slightly proud that this indeed was his son, but also perturbed that his own scratches are now having to be shared.
After returning home from a walk in the rain to change the scenery (and to eat a mum petal from someone's flower basket) , Jack tore into his boca cheeseburger for dinner. About two bites in he grabbed his hair with a ketchup coated grip. I reacted by reaching over to scratch his head to avoid a blob of condiment that I wasn't willing to wash out in the tub. As any one in Ed's family knows - or as anyone well acquainted with Ed's family, the insatiable desire to be scratched is more than prevelant. I've spent at least 1/4 of my married life scratching Ed's back, his head, behind his knee, his big toe (yes). I'm not exaggerating here. Anyway, Jack loved the scratches; when I took my hand away, he grabbed it and then put it back on top of his head to continue what Ed has dubbed "the circle of scratch."
Tonight while playing on "mommy and daddy's" bed before Jack's bedtime, I tried the circle head scratch on Jack to show Ed. Once again, the little guy returned my hand to his head when I thought I was finished.
Ed looked over, slightly proud that this indeed was his son, but also perturbed that his own scratches are now having to be shared.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Growing with the Changing Seasons
Jack's been quite busy lately- trying to keep up with his busy parents. Somehow, we're managing to document some of his latest "things." Among them, a love (surprise) for ice cream cones, a somewhat obsessive attachment to the swifter cleaning aparatus, and, of course, jumpin in the puddles. Photos, as they say, speak volumes, so you can see the visuals below. What can't be caught on camera is that not ten minutes after I explained to Ed my worry about the fact that Jack barely uses ma-ma and da-da (and hardly ever uses them to talk to us), the kid busts out with "tick-tock" from his car seat after seeing a big clock (duH) on some building.
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