Favorite Things

Perhaps like many a toddler, Finn has clear preferences for certain objects, his own little collection of favorite things. The below list goes beyond Finn's requisite toddler attraction to household objects unintended for little hands, with a particular penchant for technological gizmos adorned with noise- or light-producing buttons, of course with a strong preference for the TV and computer. These are some of Finn's current favorite things:

George--Finn adores his little pajama-clad Curious George. Sitting on his changing table, George greets us every morning and often receives hugs and kisses. Sometimes Finn is happily distracted with an examination of George throughout the entire getting-dressed process. Other days George is put in the crib, after Finn has vacated, presumably for his own nap. Most often George is put back (one of Finn's favorite words) in his spot before we head downstairs to start our day.

Churches--For no reason other than something to talk about while in the car, I started pointing out churches to Finn on our way to day care. We pass three on the way to Margie's and four on our route home. It now seems he looks forward to seeing the churches; he often declares "church!" before we've even pulled out of the garage.

Switches--They turn the lights on and off, like magic. Really who wouldn't want to flick them up and down all day long?

Brushes--Like clockwork, Finn runs to the bathroom hollering "brush" and pointing to the bathroom counter as soon as we find ourselves upstairs. He desperately loves the electric toothbrush and even has his own brush attachment with which he brushes the wall, the door, his books, his belly, and once in a while his, or my, teeth. (When he first noticed this gadget, while I was using it for its intended purpose, I should have been wise enough to simply put it back on the counter, out of reach. I should have been smart enough to realize if I gave it to him once--even if motivated by a desperate momentary need for a distraction as I tried to wash his face during a fit of protest--I would be condemned to give it to him again and again and again.)

Books--Finn's book addiction started with "E-i-e-i-o," or a red covered-copy of Old McDonald McDonald Had a Farm that has wheels to spin on each page. Now, when his flurry of activity finds its way to one of the baskets of books, Finn will plop down and browse through almost any book. He sometimes looks like a mini-adult, sitting on the bottom step, book on his knees, turning the pages. He "reads" in the car, in the kitchen, and really loves to explore his books while sitting on the couch by himself. At night before bed some of his favorites include:
-Good Night Chicago,
-Goodnight Moon,
-Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb,
-Corduroy's Sweet Surprise,
-Gossie,
-Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, or
-Bear Snores On.

Balls--This list would be sadly incomplete without Finn's beloved balls. He most recently has grown attached to three-mini balls that Santa left in his stocking, a soccer ball, a basketball, and a baseball. He calls them all "soccer ball." He really goes crazy over any ball he sees, from eyeing the neighbor's collection of full-sized balls as we walk through the backyard to seeing a picture of a ball in the newspaper to the huge, red, cement balls in front of Target, hollering "BALL!" as a sort of battle cry whenever one is spotted.

The hollering is perhaps the best part. Finn declares his affection for these and many more things close to his heart...crackers, Elmo, of course, up, hat...in the form of a gigantic declaration.

Fish-like in the Bath

Finn is bouncing at the side of the bathtub as it begins to fill. Before there is even a half-inch of water in the tub, he is attempting to throw his leg up and over the side—good thing he is nowhere near tall enough or coordinated enough to do this, yet. (When he is capable of climbing into the bathtub on his own, I will really be in trouble.) As if he were a fish that had accidentally flopped out of his bowl, Finn is almost “flapping” on the bathroom floor anxious to get into the water. The only problem, the boy still has his clothes on! I am well aware that if I don’t strip him down soon, he’ll be happy to take a swim, clothes, diaper, and all. At our block party last year, Finn had a similar idea and crawled into a kiddie pool fully clothed, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Luckily, he doesn’t fight me as I pull his shirt over his head. He even raises his arms to cooperate. He seems to understand that the quicker he is naked, the quicker he will be able to hop in and start splashing.

Once he’s down to his diaper, he actually starts to run away from the bathtub…if only I knew what he was thinking. He scampers into his room and finds two of his favorite balls. Running back into the bathroom, mini-basketball and mini-soccer ball held out in front of him, he is smiling as if to say, “No bath would be complete without balls!” Quickly, throwing them into the water, he looks at me, ready to be lifted in.

So I undo the diaper and cast it aside. Holding his hands above his head, I count, “1, 2, 3” and up and over he goes, landing on his behind with a splash. He takes to the water like that fish I mentioned earlier, grateful to be back in his natural habitat. As with everything Finn does, he is moving a mile a minute, first popping up onto his feet to pull all the bath toys out of the basket attached to the corner of the tub. At the same time, he is thrilled that the water is still gushing out of the faucet and sticks his hand under the stream to send water spraying everywhere. Then---Plop! In the blink of an eye, Finn is on his belly, face in the water, blowing bubbles.

Tired of blowing bubbles, Finn moves on to attempt a new trick. At first I cannot figure out for the life of me what he is trying to do. So, let me describe…still on his belly, the water only half-way up, he awkwardly throws his wet little head back and to the side. At the same time, his right arm is sort of stuck near his hip and his left arm is pushing against the far side of the tub. His flailing legs are kicking water all over the place. It seems as if he’s trying to gain enough momentum to flip over, but can’t quite manage it. So, he rolls back onto his belly, rearranges his arms, and pushes off to try again to flip onto his back. I catch myself laughing at him because he looks so darn goofy doing this, and I am still unsure what he is trying to accomplish. He looks a bit like a fish caught in a net, flopping around, trying to escape.

Eventually he manages to flip onto his back, and he looks up at the ceiling with a huge grin. Evidently he was trying to float on his back. As his mom, maybe I should have realized that. Yet, how did he know to do such a thing?



--JAK

Frenzied Play II

We've recently been exposing Finn more and more to the basement, especially since this frightfully frigid Chicago winter has us holed up inside and boy has been needing a diversion from his standard playroom. As you'll see, unlike the rest of our old house with its surfeit of walls, down below is a pretty wide-open space, perfect for full-on toddler frenzy.

In addition to the risible zaniness, you'll doubtless get a kick out of profile shots of our son's impressive girth - think Tommy Lasorda, circa October 1988 . . . arms flailing and everything.



--JAC