Clifford and the boys

Jacob went to his first movie on Wednesday--Clifford the Big Red Dog (and something something) complete with popcorn, drinks and buddies. He lasted about 15 minutes, which is 14 minutes more than I thought he would. The movie was free, so, no worries, man.

Afterwards, we went to a bookstore in the same shopping center and happened to hit it right at story hour. At first the boys sat around the table and listened politely to the first few sentences. Then as more children arrived who were well versed in how to behave at an official storytime, our boys ran around pulling books off the shelves and, god forbid, pushing the books that played a little jingle, and worse, touching the books that our storyteller Cruella, had placed in her official "HANDS OFF I'M GOING TO READ THAT, DAMMIT" basket. We hightailed it outta there and headed over to our next stop for some lunch. Jacob was tired and so was I -- this was way more than we normally accomplish in 2 days, let a lone a few hours!

Tasty pointers, anyone?

Jacob has sucked his index and middle finger (pointer and middle man!) since he was about 4 months old when he started to prefer his fingers over the paci. At first I loved this finger thing over the paci (always needing to be washed and lost, etc.). But now I'm worried that those shriveled prune fingers will become permanently waterlogged, not to mention the orthodontist bills.

I am putting off action until he turns 2. Right now, Eric and I have started a verbal campaign: "Big boys don't suck their fingers..." just trying to plant that little seed. Also, I am putting it off because a) I am a natural procrastinator and b)I also dread taking away J's little soothing routine. Plus, I was a thumb-sucker 'til kindergarten (albeit in private once I reached 5/6 never at school!) and can totally sympathize.

Jacob needs those fingers! Blankie and the gang are how he sleeps and how he deals with new things and uncertainty -- not to mention separation anxiety. Who am I to mess with his psyche by taking away his little crutch? After all, who doesn't have a thing or two they need to get through the day when the world seems big and scary?

But the fact of the matter is that it's me that relies on those fingers: Tired and cranky? Wired and wacky? Hand over the blankie and more often than not, the index and middle finger of his right hand pop right in his mouth and the soothing begins. And, since he's still not verbalizing all of his needs yet (although the verbalization has begun in earnest!), its a cue I can take to read his emotional status. Blankie and the fingers signal: Hey -- time out here. I'm a little: a) overwhelmed, b)in need of a nap, or c) bored to tears.


The trouble is, my dermatologist happened to see him doing it while sitting in the stroller as I was the patient last month. She said to to nip it in the bud because it can cause bad eczema (sp?). She said to use hot sauce. Ouch!

I patently dismissed her advice. After all, I happily sucked my thumb way past toddlerhood. But then I saw this stuff called "Thum" at the drugstore. It's some kind of lacquer that you paint on the fingers and the main ingredient is cayenne -- but the lacquer keeps it on the finger until you remove it. (Not sure how you remove it -- with nail polish remover? I need to read the directions again). Anyhow, it's this weird little product that looks like it was made in the early 70s and forgotten about. I bought it and tucked away in the closet, along with the ipecac I hope we'll never use, the neosporin and the big guns diaper rash creams and powders.

We'll see what happens this fall. I'm thinking that with Jacob, hot sauce may not be a deterrent! He will probably lick his lips and tuck back in to those tasty tiny fingers.

Driving Mr. Baby

jacob is obsessed with driving. Even though he has logged many (hours I guess?) behind the wheel of many a cozy coupe at the tot lot, the driving bug had not really taken hold until after we were at a local farmer's market a few Thursdays ago and jacob got to sit behind the steering wheel of a real fire truck. He totally loved it and was hamming it up with the firemen. I guess something about them having to look up at him as he held the steering wheel appealed to him?
Since then, when we stopped off at a pizza place for a bite while heading back from NJ a few weekends ago, in order to head off a tantrum from a toddler who did not want to sit and eat and had had enough of sitting in the car (with another hour or so still left on the trip), I had the brilliant idea to show him a video driving game complete with steering wheel, all kinds of buttons to push and pedals (but they are useless at this point!). He's been hooked ever since, exclaiming "I drive!" when we walk out to the car or after he gets out of his car seat. And he's not kidding. In fact, after a quick trip over to the tot lot (I know, should be walking but I was totally pressed for time) for swings, slides and sand box, i got him out of the back seat and he proceeded to run to the driver's door and said "I drive!" No slides, no swings, just the real gasoline burning deal. Ok, dude. Just fill'er up with gas and have 'er back by 10. Oh, and drop me off at home, wouldya?

Stars and stripes on the 4th

We're not flag burning people, although it does look like that in this picture. It was just a hot, hot day. Actually, just a weird way light found its way into my camera (still using a film camera and scanning the negatives).

This year, we made it to our first local 4th of July parade even though we've lived here for 8 years. We had no idea what we were missing. Lots of parade goers, marching bands, fire trucks and tons of politicians since this is an election year. Even spotted Gov. Ehrlich (but couldn't see close up how his hair was handling the heat). We met up with Jacob's friend Samson and his folks and found a shady patch on a small hill from which to watch...and play...and run down the hill...and back up again...and again. Thank goodness for the afternoon nap because it was a good excuse to cut out on patriotism and head to cooler indoors. We were flagging in the heat.

A time for everything

For Jacob, it was time for a haircut last Saturday. Eric's longtime hair cutter, Laura Lee (stylist to the stars--or at least local tv and radio personalities), opened her own shop in waterside Locust Point, so we decided to give her some business. Little did we know she's awesome with tiny first timers.

Jacob sat in the chair all by himself (with a very large booster seat), donned the cape and was really good for most of the long session that included trimming with the scissors then overall shaping with the shears. It was actully me that cried as he first sat in that chair looking so grown up already. Then, as our lame distractions became just plain annoying, and he had had more than enough, the tears started flowing from our little caped customer.

It seemed to take a long time to cut a 21-month old's seemingly sparse mop. And for all that trouble, time and cajoling, Laura Lee wanted to charge us just $10. Eric pays $20 or $25 (can't remember which) and while those that love him know he can be difficult at times, I suspect that Jake was a tad more challenging in the chair. We tipped accordingly.

All was right with the world again as newly-shorn Jacob discovered Laura Lee's extensive toy collection, which included trucks, trucks, cars and more trucks, and he came to love her little shop.

We played a little putt putt on her miniature green (didn't Darren Stevens's boss in Bewitched have something like that in his office?) and talked politics. Laura Lee displays a picture of incumbent Governor Bob Ehrlich on her wall. It's not the press-office head shot. It's a real 4x6 of him with a little tow-headed boy --either his own or Laura Lee's son--I forgot to ask. But the thing is that she has the picture because she was his tenured stylist for a time before he got into the gubenatorial side of life. This is good because finally I can ask her what is the deal with his hair? She says that all that hair is really his own, but that she is not responsible for the bowl-shaped side burn distortion he now sports. Good to know.

We then ambled down Hull Street toward the water for an impromptu lunch at Hull Street Blues and in typical quirky Balto. fashion, saw a little mini train display in a window of a formstone-clad rowhouse. That made J's day. And when we go back to My Grandfather's Place for the next haircut (hmm, in 2010 with the way his hair grows?), I suspect that Jacob will be saying "Wanna see trains!" Gotta love Baltimore, hon.