I'm sitting here listening to him wailing for daddy (who had the nerve to go to the bathroom). He sounds as though the world is ending, right now, as I type. I could hire him out for Irish wakes. And though I hear this particular sound
at least once a day, my little Thomas never fails to make me laugh, smile, and feel very wanted and needed.
A little bit about Thomas:
Thomas John Cazier Hooten was born August 19th, 2008. He very insistently came into this world five weeks early because, we think, he had a lot to get done and he needed to get started as soon as possible.
He has laughed to himself since the first day he drew breath. He is an exuberant little boy who has what we affectionately like to call his "man hands."
He is my only Italian looking baby. I am grateful that I have at least one baby who looks like I may have contributed some of my DNA.
His first word was, "Hi" which makes sense because he happily talks to anyone he meets. Of course, for the most part, they don't know what he's saying.
He is in LOVE with Blues Clues. It's the only thing he really wants to watch on TV. Boo Boo, as he calls it, is his favorite. He knows all the appropriate hand motions to every song. He sings all the songs, and he loves Steve.
He loves to play the piano and sing along to his own musical um....compositions (?).
He loves to talk on the phone. Most of his conversations are gibberish, peppered with "hi, aye you, (I love you), and bye."
He also loves to jump... on the trampoline, off of the furniture, on daddy.
And he loves to color... on paper, doors, windows, walls, everything. (which reminds me, as a bonus grateful, I'm grateful for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser).
He has a propensity for stripping down, even removing his diaper. And if we don't catch him quickly enough, he deposits said diaper on the dining room table. (Also grateful for Clorox wipes).
He loves putting on shoes (any shoes), going bye-bye in the car, or to the backyard, and once to the front yard without permission. We now have protective covers so he can't open the door by himself. He is one of the children that helps make baby proofing a profitable business.
It only took him about a month to figure out how to scale and vault our safety gate.
He doesn't settle down for naps. Rather, he just goes and goes until the moment he falls asleep. I have seen him fall asleep in the oddest of positions.
He is a busy, busy boy.
He said his first clear, full sentence last week. It was, "I need to go bye-bye." I responded with, "You need to go bye-bye?" He nodded his head and said, "A Sas-ee." (which means either and/or with Max). "You need to go bye-bye with Max?" "No," he said, "With Daddy."
He is a joy and a wonder to watch. I love his little fishy face kisses, his knock me over hugs, and his obsession with his bum-bum. I love how when you call his name, he responds with a long, drawn-out, "Yeeessshhh?"
He insists on calling me, "Mom" even though I always refer to myself as "Mommy."
When asked, he will accurately tell you what cars and monkeys say, but thinks it's
very funny when I ask him what a cat says, and he emphatically responds with "cat."
He has so much to say and I understand very little of it. But it is getting clearer and clearer by the day, which is amazing to witness.
He is that boy who will probably end up with more broken bones than all of my other children put together. He is fearless (except when it comes to sitting on the potty-- that's scary). He is tender. He is snuggly, and mischievous, and very, very two.
He just came in to hug me, say goodnight, and drool on me a little. He melts my heart.
And I am very, very grateful to be his mommy. And I can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead.
And he is still laughs... a LOT. I hope someday he will let me in on what's so funny, but I have a feeling I just might not
really want to know. :-)
