New Dad

This started out as a Dad's perspective on my wife Katrina's pregnancy and a way to keep the family updated. Alina arrived in February 2006 and now it's more about our parenting adventures. Now we've added Evelyn in July 2008.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Inter-Toy Communication

As I was giving Alina her bath last night, I was puppeteering a green squeaky frog wearing a bowtie as he hopped along the tub's edge. The curious child looked on and gingerly reached into the sudsy water to find an old school rubber ducky. She brought this yellow critter up to the tub's edge to meet the well dressed frog. There was a sense of anticipation in the steamy air. As these two opposing species came together - one amphibian, one fowl, all rubber - something unprecedented happened ... at least in the eyes of a 15-month old. They spoke to each other! Well, voiced by me anyway. Alina's eyes lit up and a giant grin splashed across her face. It's like she didn't know her toys were allowed to have conversations with each other. As if she thought only she could talk to them. She became very excited about this Bath Toy Summit. In her mind, alliances were probably already forming. "The bear on the innertube will side with the squirting fish. The frog is wearing the tie, so he'll be perceived as The Leader. Oh, the debates to come! The things they'll say! It's a very exciting time!" Then her machinations were interrupted when I poured water over her head to rinse out the shampoo. The cabinet appointments will have to continue next bathtime.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Just Ask!

As it turns out, this child of mine is apparently learning things behind my back! How dare she get educated without me! I'm finding more and more that I don't know what Alina knows unless I ask. And she constantly surprises me. "Where's your belly button," I asked this morning. Lo and behold she took her two index fingers and pointed right at the thing. I started moving onto other body parts. I thought this skill was limited to locating her nose. Nope. She found her ears, eyes, and mouth next. What the hell? What else does she know?? I asked her for specific toys and to point out animals in a book. Butterflies, Fish, Giraffes, Elephants, Cats, etc. Crap! I mean ... Gooood Girl. She knows all of these. So she's clearly comprehending, just not communicating. But her babble has picked up considerably and some new syllables are coming out. Ending her made up words with 'TH' and 'L' sounds n' such. The documentary continues.

Interesting note: We're going to a wedding this weekend and it will be the first time Mommy will be without her daughter overnight. Ohhhh boy. That, coupled with an open bar. Oh my! Anything can happen! I apologize in advance for the Drink n' Dial - "Izza bebe ohkaay?"