Smiles, Coos and Monsters

Caleb is growing...in more ways than one. Not only is he our little chubby monkey, but his personality has really begun to emerge. In the past week he has begun to smile at us with big toothless grins. They are all too fleeting and we have yet to catch them on camera, but once a day or so we catch him sitting around with a very pleased look on his face that breaks into a smile, letting us know that he certainly can recognize his mom and dad. Most of these open-mouthed grins are directed at daddy, who knows just how to trigger smiles and the coos that will soon become giggles and words. His little personality is certainly growing!

We had our first monster in the middle of the night. Noah was crying out and when I went to get him, he would not stand or stop crying. My first thought was that he was ill and I kept asking him where he hurt. Nothing but crying in reply. Finally, cradling him in my arms while sitting on the floor, I said to him, "Noah, you are scaring mommy. Do you feel sick?" Suddenly the words came tumbling out. "Scared. Monster. Scary Monster. There." He pointed toward his closet where the night-light makes a shadow off the dresser. In relief, I nearly laughed, but caught myself as I hugged my small boy with tears on his cheeks. The monster was very real to him...and his shaky voice and trembling hands nearly broke my heart as I hugged him. "A scary monster? Oh, Noah. That must be so scary for you. I'm here." I turned to face the monster head on. "Go away, you monster. Get out of here. You stay away." I turned back to Noah and told him that monsters are scared of mommies and daddies. I also explained that he had a special light that scared monsters away. I held his hand as we walked over and turned on the lava lamp on his book case. This light, I promised, would keep monsters out. I tucked Noah back into bed after rocking him and whispering how much I love him. Even though a few other fears have recently emerged (sudden encounters with bugs, being outside in the dark, charging rhinos on Curious George), we are now 2 weeks monster-free.

Noah's First Fat Lip

Unfortunately, Noah is at an age where he simply must try everything. It doesn't matter how bad of an idea it is, he wants to make sure that either it won't work or that it is really as dangerous as we tell him it is. This has led to more than a few tantrums over things including my inability lift him into the branches of a three-story-tall oak tree to pick acorns, not being allowed to play in the knife drawer and, notably, one that occurred when I wouldn't let him lick the sidewalk. (Okay, to be honest, we've actually dealt with that particular compulsion more than once.) Today he wanted to put his slide in front of the tree in our back yard before sliding down it. Travis and I told him it wouldn't work, that he would slide into the tree, that he would get hurt. He patiently listened and then waited for us to stop monitoring his every move. Suddenly he had moved his slide to the tree and before Travis could get to him he was sliding down. At the bottom of the slide his face met the tree. So, with the wisdom that comes with a fat lip, Noah now knows that mom and dad sometimes tell the truth...you can get hurt if you put your slide in front of the tree and insist on sliding down. Not that knowing this will matter much when we disallow his next daring stunt.

Back to Work

Things have gotten very busy this last week. I am ready to go back to teaching a class at UNL this next week and it has really been a scramble to put together lessons and prepare. Travis' new work schedule will keep him home on Tuesdays to watch the boys in the morning and maybe give me some office time on Wednesdays, while my mom will watch them on Thursdays. I am looking forward to having time out of the house, giving me time to teach and work on my thesis. It is hard to make that time on my own, so taking up the class has kind of forced me into it. Leaving the house is the most difficult part of the day, but once I start writing up lecture notes or editing papers I remember how important it is to me to have an intellectual life that gets me out of the house and distracts me from dirty diapers, laundry, and toddler temper tantrums.

Caleb is still focused on eating and sleeping, not doing much else yet. However, from time to time he smiles in his sleep and we look forward to the times in the day where he watches us walk around the room or gazes contentedly at the lights.

For his part, Noah has started to find that not everything happens as quickly when the baby is with mom or dad and has become frustrated at times. If he wants juice, he may have to wait for a couple of minutes while dad finishes changing Caleb's diaper. When he wants help setting up his train set, mom may need five minutes to finish feeding Caleb. For the most part he handles this with grace, but there are times when he feels he needs our undivided attention...NOW! Noah will point to the baby carrier or attempt to bring it to us, saying "rock" meaning "put the baby in here and rock him while you play with me." Of course, Caleb is not always okay with this plan. They already know how to pull us in two directions at once. If you call and we don't answer, it's probably because our house has become a noisy place...two children screaming at once drowns out the ringer on the phone.