Cold Spaghetti

I’ve explained his time with the camera is now over. Notice how fingers are slowly finding the nose. The nose has become area for thought when trying to decide the best course of action after disappointment.

All that excitement can wear out a little man.

How we conduct Time Out. (As guided by Doc Spock.)

1. We told Will about Time Out.
2. We give a warning*.
3. When he does said offense a second time, we:
4. Pick him up and carry him to a chair, facing the corner.
5. Start the red timer at 2 minutes.
6. Hold him in our laps** until the buzzer goes off.
7. Explain why he was in Time Out, and end with a hug and kiss.

*Warning = “If you dump the cats’ water bowl over again/If you pull the safety guards off the cabinets again/If you play in the water cooler again… you will sit in Time Out.” These are really his only offenses, so currently, Time Out is only over these things.
** He’s too little to stay in a chair by himself, the hold in the lap techique is a Doc Spock move.

It’s tough to be stern about Cheerios on the floor when faced with this.

— Sings (some) of the echo song* back and forth.

— Pokes the eyes to check to see if you are awake.

— “Helps” get dressed by holding his arms up and trying to put his hands in the arm holes. (We cue him by asking, “How big is Will?”)

— When asked (and often when not asked) gives hugs and kisses.

*The song “Be My Echo” was first done by the great Madeline Kahn and Grover; now Ernie and Elmo have a rendition — cute, but nothing on the original. It’s a staple song in our family’s repertoire. Click here and scroll down to the ‘Sesame Street’ section to hear a clip from the original.

I am acutely aware that these are the precious moments I should be treasuring, as I will miss them one day.

— Sprinklers. He loves to drink from them (“agua! agua!”) He also likes to stand under the spray, point up in the air, and say “rain!”

— Sampling the smells of different candles. Will insists on having equal opportunity to “sniff” each lid. (His sniffs are actually snorts, but he is very intent on doing this with everyone. In fact, if you sniff one without sharing, he’ll point and command a re-visit until he’s been allowed to share in the scent.)

— If he passes a candle, no matter if it’s lit or not, he “blows” on it.

— At the bedside, he puts up his arms and commands “three! three! three!” until he is picked up and tossed into the pillows: “one…two…THREE!”

— When pushing his lil’ tikes shopping cart, he never slows down for corners, walls, people, pets, or other potential hazards. He takes them all head-on, full-speed.

— While getting his diaper changed, he picks up the fresh diaper and tells you who is on the front (Elmo, Ernie, or Grover).

— He loves to run full speed into your legs (you have to be careful to bend a bit, or he’ll knock you right over) and plant a big kiss on whatever part of the body he hits.

— When nursing and cuddling in my arms, he reaches up, honks my nose, and smiles.

We took everyone Sunday morning to the Zyde-Cajun Brunch at Ye Olde College Inn. Boudin, Crawfish sauces, and grits are among the menu’s selection. Here were are, posing for a photo while up on the dance floor enjoying the band (and Will!)

The band at Ye Olde College Inn’s Zydeco-Cajun brunch!

Will sits — it’s part of his dance routine. Think “Ring Around the Rosie.”