Ah, to be 18 again - 18 months, that is. I have been living vicariously through the eyes of my not-so-wee toddler lately and I tell ya, it`s one helluva ride. Peaks and valleys. Thankfully, the peaks nowadays are far more common than the valleys at this point.
It remains a constant source of amazement to Michele and I that such a spirited child is a product of our genes. It`s pretty strong evidence that we are all born with a certain nature; old souls reborn into this world to learn the lessons we need in order to be free.
`Chuckles` or `Chuckelhead`, as Kael is often referred to these days, is finding life positively thrilling now that he has mastered a few basic tricks such as eating with utensils and opening and shutting, well, anything that will open and shut. Those initial months of colic sure seem like a lifetime away at this point. He loves to laugh and play, a direct influence of spending his days with his Mom, whose sense of humour has a depth which continually surprises me.
Momma's boy
About a month ago, he also began to enter a cling-to-mommy phase. Only Mommy will do. Not Papa, not grandma or grandmaman - ONLY Mommy. The problem with that is that mommy is 7 months pregnant with Kael`s sister and not really in the mood to constantly lug the weighty little guy around. It seems that his brain has developed to the point where he realizes that he is a separate entity on this planet and the thought of a world without Mama strikes fear in his young mind. It can be frustrating for both Michele and I because on the one hand, she can't handle it physically, and on the other, my sensitive nature doesn't enjoy the constant rejection.
Speaking of weighty, the kid weighs a friggin ton! He is bigger and heavier than the majority of two year-olds we have encountered thus far, and even outweighed and was taller than my cousin's three year-old. Along with the stocky Black male genes, it might have a little to do with his healthy eating habits as well. We`re very lucky that he ingests almost anything we feed him - including olives, brussel sprouts and asparagus. Hell, he eats a more varied diet than my fourty year-old brother!
On his Papa's side, he has inherited my penchant for exploration. Whenever we bring him somewhere new, you can be sure that he will be fearlessly checking every nook and cranny of the place within minutes. His great curiosity is an admirable characteristic - unless you happen to be the one in charge of supervising him. Then, it`s a hell of a lot of work. If it is quiet for more than 20 seconds, we suddenly find ourselves panic-stricken and one of us bounds out of our seats to find him before the wailing begins. I feel like I have grown a spring in my butt because every time I sit down, I`m pretty much back up within a milli-second to tend to the boy. It's safe to say there are no dull moments when the Kman is awake.
Despite his insatiable curiosity and tendency to venture off into unknown territories we`d rather not have him explore, he does listen extremely well. When we say no, he not only understands, he more often than not obeys, too. The exception to the rule is when we are out in a park and he is walking on his own. During these occasions, when he want to go straight, he turns around and goes back. When we say turn left, he goes right. And so on. Perhaps it is a prelude to the upcoming terrible twos we have to look forward to.
One certainty is that the kid knows what he wants (again proof that personality is not necessarily hereditary). I can`t even count the times that I have tried to entice him into a game or play with a certain toy, only for the Kman to turn the other way or walk away completely uninterested, not even acknowledging my effort. It`s as if he is saying, `Are you trying to tell me what I like? Pa-sha!
I dig baby talk`
His only comprehensible words so far are `duck` and `that`. He has said `Flea`, Dada and a few random other words, but not often enough to qualify as part of his vocab yet. `That` is the most often heard because he wants to know what everything is without having to say it. Whenever he picks anything up off his plate, or turns to the next page of the book, he points to various things to ask us what they are - even though he already knows. And he always asks both of hisparents to make sure he is getting the correct answer because he`s meticulous. And thorough. Sometimes I say something different just to see his reaction, and sure enough he`ll pause, then keep asking me until he gets the answer he was seeking all along. He may be a wild monkey-boy, but he`s no dummy. He also enjoys telling stories in the form of babble. To think that one day all that stuff is going to come out in words we can understand is a thought that generally keeps me awake at night.
New Edition
It`s hard to believe that it won`t be all about the Kman soon. I can`t see how he is going to share the spotlight, but, like Flea, he'll have to learn. Let's hope that it doesn't take as long as Flea though, as she remains stubbornly opposed to Kael's presence. The way he clings to Mommy now could be a sign that he subconsciously knows what's coming. Either way, no matter how much warning we give him, the addition of his sister to the mix is sure to be a real shocker.
Seeing another cousin`s tiny six-week old baby the other day was a reminder of what is fast approaching in our household. It was exciting and a bit scary at the same time. Just as Kael is starting to become a self-assured toddler, we will again be starting the process again from scratch with a spaghetti-necked, helpless infant. The tar poops, the swaddling, the sleep-deprived nights etc. It`ll be easier because we are more confident in our ways, but it will very difficult if the Kman decides not to cooperate.
We are not counting on it, but we are definitely praying for a calmer temperament from our second one. Another winter with a colicky baby is unthinkable. I suppose if that is the outcome, then we`ll have to deal with it, but it would be about as unfair as Bill Gates buying a lottery ticket for fun and winning the jackpot. The fact that our situation is less stressful (ie we have job, furnished shelter, and we are re-acclimatized to Canada) is assuring should stress have any influence on causing colic.
Finally, I will try to spare all the cliches associated with the joys of parenthood, as you have undoubtedly heard them all many times over. Suffice it to say that they are all true. What maybe isn`t always repeated is the relentless amount of work it takes to do it right. As someone said to me before Kael was born,'being a parent is both the best - and hardest - thing you will ever do in life.'
The more I experience through Kael, the more that comment rings true.
