Fatherhood

Last night was cool. Patrick was in a playful mood ... dumping food and drinks all over the place, sneaking toys over the back of the couch (then getting upset when I passed them back to him), and climbing over everything. He also got a family game going ... with everyone ready for bed, he had us put his shoes on, then Papa and Mama had to put on their boots. It was all very funny and exciting ... mostly watching his intensity. Then, we had to follow him ... around and around we went. Through the kitchen, into the dining room, through the family room, past the front door and into the kitchen again ... over and over, around and around ... stomping our feet in some sort of family train! Every now and then, Jen or I would fall behind and invariably, Patrick would stop to make sure that we caught back up. We played other games, as well ... but we always seemed to head back to the train ... oh, and don't forget the shoes ...

This is the second night in a row that we were able to spend time and Grandma and Papap's ... Patrick enjoys it so much! We even had a rousing rendition of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with all five of us involved ... yes, Patrick is pitching in now. He runs from person to person, giving a bit to each one of us ... there is never a dull moment. Tonight, he repeated a new activity from last night. Last night, it was getting everyone involved in chasing him around the house ... tonight, we had this activity, but what we saw was that he wanted to play different games and wanted certain people involved. This is when he went to each person that needed to be involved and grabbed a finger, pulling them along. He even checked every now and then to make sure they were still following. Such an amazing child ... knows how to ensure that we sleep well.

We took Patrick to his cousin's volleyball game the other night. What a terror that could have been ... What fun we had! We got there and Patrick got fixated on the net bag of volleyballs that the girls were using ... he simply sat back and watched as they added and removed balls. Then, he sat on my lap as the girls practiced serving over the net ... all patience. Once the balls were back in the net, he did pick up the bag and attempt to carry it off the court ... I was impressed that he managed to get it off the ground; it was bigger than he is. As the game got going, he again sat patiently in my lap and watched the game; clapping at all the appropriate times. When his cousin got up to serve, he was wildly cheering and calling her name ... could you ask for anything more of an eighteen month old son! I couldn't believe how much fun he had and how well he behaved ... what a cool night!

"Papap, you need to learn to share." His words coming back to him from my nephew ... As a father, I am just getting into the phase where my son needs to learn how to share. There is a big wheel bike he likes to ride, wooden blocks he loves to knock over (regardless of how many times you build something or how complex it is), oh ... and I've heard the donut you have is his, as well. When families get together, this is a constant concern for me. Patrick is just to small to understand that someone else is playing with a toy that he knows he likes from experience. Also, there is a certain level of excitement over these toys ... just because someone else is using them. Although, I have to admit that he is very good at playing with others, as long as you do not mind playing his way (as I said, blocks get knocked over ... never built up).

The excitement of a cardboard tube: paper towel or toilet paper doesn't matter to a small child. I remember Patrick finding his first tube, after taking all the toilet paper off the role. This was not unlike taking all the Kleenex out of the box (although, the Kleenex go back in so much easier than toilet paper onto the role. This morning, Patrick got to be an elephant. He had an empty paper towel role that his Papap gave him ... clamped in his teeth, "Oooohaaaahhhooooh ..." What an amazingly beautiful sight and sound; my son at play. I'm sure the games are just beginning: telescopes, swords, creatures of the night ... the limitless options for a creative mind and a cardboard tube will give Patrick endless days of fun.

Patrick's favorite foods ... pizza and french fries. The sign for "more" ... regularly used and one of the clearest words he knows.  It's become "more food" as time goes on. Tonight, he got both in one meal ... courtesy of a great local restaurant! What I found hilarious was seeing the beard of pizza sauce and ketchup on his face. He eats everything with gusto ... picking small bits if we let him and chomping freely when we prompt him. While he's hungry and eating, it is a very focused event. He gets the food in his hand, on the spoon, or stabbed with the fork and then, into his mouth (generally, covering some portion of his face to get there). When he's just somewhat hungry, the games begin ... sometimes, clearing the table with food to the left and right, winging it's way across the room. Other times, he wants to spoon from the container himself ... a trial by error, if I ever saw one. And, when he's done, the real games begin....