The Routine

Hi Jack,

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying life with you right now. You're the best alarm clock ever, where I wake up to a wonderful whirlwind of:

Songs - "Tinkle, tinkle," "hmmhmmmhmmm," and ABCs with a lot of lalalala
Attempts at counting "two, two, two, two, three, two"
Randomly jumping and bodyslamming yourself
Most recently, "dark, dark, dark, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights,"
And my favourite, "GGGGOOAAAAAAALLLLLL, hockey, hockey, hockey."

Once up, you run from your room at Mach speed to make sure all your car, truck, and train books are still in the house and begin strategically moving them throughout the living room so you are never more than three feet from a vehicle book at any given moment.

Then we're on to breakfast - usually pancakes, waffle, or toast and a pile of fruit. Once consumed, we're back to the books sprinkled with a healthy does of Theo taunting, hugging, and poking. A new routine we've started is giving Theo treats, where we place a small biscuit on his nose. The last few mornings you've run from your chair and froze in a wide-legged stance yelling "nose" (pointing dramatically at your nose in case I'm not understanding your uber-happy rants). We proceed to give Theo five treats, which is never enough, and then head back to the living room to read and play. I can't wait until you learn to throw the ball this summer as I think you and Theo are going to love the backyard.

As for the nightly routine, I usually get home around 5:30 and am greeted at the door by a super happy kid yelling "lights, lights, lights two, two, two". Since we've put the Christmas tree up, Mom has given me the honours of turning on the lights with you which we begin with a 1-2-3 count (hence the "two, two, two" sequence).

After dinner, it's usually downstairs for some hockey, wrestling, and random toy throwing. As soon as I ask if you want to head downstairs, it's like you've been hit with an adrenaline dart. You take a dramatic pause, yell "HOCKEY" and run to the stairs. It's truly awesome. I've tried filming it several times but as soon as the camera comes out you're somehow able to control this outburst. Once downstairs, we usually only get a few hockey shots and passes in before you start running around from play station to play station (that you mother has so wonderfully maintained and regularly updates based on your boredom levels). We usually get 30-45 minutes before it's bedtime but I cherish this time and love the random body slams, hockey shots, and things you find amusing (you've got the best laugh ever).

As for bedtime, you get some milk as we read more books about cars, trucks, or trains. Then it's into bed for some singing of "Twinkle Twinkle" and ABCs. You haven't started following along yet but if I stop you usually jump in with your best attempt at each song and have got the melody figured out quite nicely. Then I leave the room and am entertained by another 15 to 30 minutes of random singing and recollections of the day. I love it and look forward to doing it again tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Twenty-One Months

I just got used to saying you were just about 21-months old, and now look. I have to say you are 21-months old. And then I try not to cry when I think about how two-years-old is hot on our heels. This month, we've had a hard time convincing people just how hockey crazy you are. You seem normal and somewhat mild mannered. But when dinnertime is over, you know the next thing on the agenda is to head downstairs and play hockey with dad. At the very moment that word crosses our lips, you go into hysterics, running from the table screaming, "Hockey, hockey, hoooocckkeeeyy." And then will often follow with a list of the words you associate with hockey, "Puck, puck, puck. Scooooore. Gooooal." I often hear you in your crib in the morning preparing yourself for the day by repeating, "Hockey. Scoooore."


Your other favorite "passing the time in my crib in the morning until mom drinks half a cup of tea and feels capable of coping with a rambunctious 21-month old" past-time is trying to master songs. Dad has worked really hard with you on Twinkle Twinkle. Regardless, your rendition is usually closer to "Twinkle twinkle...star...wonder...are." Short, sweet, and to the point. Just what your momma likes in an orator. The best part of your morning gabber fest comes when you start to mash together all the words you know. "Mommy, daddy, scoooore, star, Theo, light, hockey, hockey, hockey, digger, beep beep, mommy, gooooal, daddy, daddy, daddy." And then somewhere in the middle of it all you sneeze, laugh to yourself, and my heart melts another little bit.


One of our newest challenges has been trying to explain to you that you are going to be a big brother next year. Whenever I try telling you momma has a baby in her belly, you look at me like I am a) crazy and b) completely unaware of what I am saying to you. Sometimes, you lift up my shirt and poke my belly button. Sometimes you gaze back into my eyes and say baby and it makes me want to cry. Like all moms, it is sometimes tough to imagine having another in our family we could love just as much as you. Those little feelings of guilt find their way in sometimes as I realize you won't get to be the center of the family universe for a whole lot longer. But, I also see how fondly you gaze a little babies and love to see them wiggle and move. You have so much love in your heart, little one, that I can't wait for you to share it with your brother or sister. You will be an amazing big brother, and who better to teach the next one in our family about the wonders of diggers, hockey and stickers.



Love,
Your Momma