Where do they come up with this stuff?

As I said in my last post, my precious baby is more like a little man every day. I’ve had a lot more time to spend with him with the holiday season, and it’s been wonderful witnessing all the things I usually miss when I’m at work, leaving the house before he awakes in the morning and returning only a few hours before his bedtime. I never knew how much goes on during that time. Since just before Christmas, these are some of my Jacob’s new developments (or maybe just ones I’ve noticed since I’ve been around and able to spend more time with him!):

1)      Manners! Joe (husband) and I are casual people. In spite of our settling in New England, my Ivy League employer, and his expertise in early music, I believe we both would be best described as “down to earth.” To go along with this, we have been all too remiss in teaching my stepson (now 8) and son (a year and a half) any etiquette whatsoever. Hey, I’m originally from southern Ohio and Joe’s from the Jersey shore. What can I say? Anyway, without any instruction on our part, our little guy has taken to using “please” and “thank you” like it’s nobody’s business. I was shocked the other day when Jacob said “up peeeez” and then “thanks” when I picked him up. Ever since, he’s been saying “peez” and “thanks” or “thank you” for everything.

2)      Potty developments. Recently, I mentioned that my son had a way of announcing the contents of his diaper just after he had made his delivery. Well, today was his fourth official pee pee drop off in the potty. Today’s began with “I want potty peez,” was followed by five minutes of me exchanging the books he flipped through while sitting there, and ended with “all done pee pee” and a potty full of the stuff!

3)      Descriptions. I was pretty impressed when my little guy started saying things like “it hurts” and “noise” and “deep freeze” (to describe the cold weather)…but he has impressed me even more with “loud noise” and “big ball” and “heavy box”  and “ hot?” while placing his palm with open fingers just an inch or so above his cooked food. The cutest was when he and Joe were playing with a ball in the kitchen the other day. When daddy kicked the ball fast and high, Jacob shouted “Oh! Nice!”

4)      Words with lots of syllables. Today when we were looking at animal pictures online he said “heepo [pause]…pottamus”. Enough said.

Are you impressed? I am such the proud mama these days…especially since I’ve been home to see it all unfold. What’s new with your little ones? I know who you readers are, and I know you have kids or relatives who are amazing you every day. Do share your stories!

Happy holidays!