Madness #20--Mr. Personality

Pretty much since the day Marty and I first had our "we should make babies together someday" conversation, we've dreamt about what our children would be like.

Not just what they would look like, but what different personality traits of ours they might exhibit. Dramatic like Mommy? Funny like Dad? Smart and nerdy like Mommy? Able to grow some pretty cool facial hair like Dad? Unable to freakin' parallel park a huge truck even though she's been driving it for three years now like Mommy?

We seemed to think that the moment we first held child number one in our arms, we'd have our answer. Forgot to factor in the time it takes for a baby's real colors to show through. I mean, for the first couple months, all infants really do is eat, sleep, and poop. With the occasional smile thrown in to keep its parents entertained.

Well our little Mo has finally begun to take on some characteristics of his own. Little quirks that deem him weird enough to be our child, but just awesome enough to be our child, too. And since I'm fortunate enough to get to stay home with him, and spend all day learning new things about my special guy, I thought I'd share some of my favorites.

Quirk #1: Keeping all his ducks in a row.

The other day, I was doing some work on the computer while Marty played with a handful of pens. My back was to him, so I'd turn around occasionally to see what he was up to. One such turn-around revealed a very precise row of pens on the bed, nearly parallel and equidistant to one another. And when I complimented his fine work, he smiled at me, then removed each pen, one by one, placing them back in the drawer they came from. Someone seems to have inherited his mother's irrational need to have things "just-so" around the house. I may not be clean, but you can bet that the candle-holder in our guest bathroom will always be at the exact same angle every time you come over. I'm so proud to have someone else share in my lunacy.


Quirk #2: Fridge fascination.

Now that Marty can point at the things he wants, we've enjoyed a new level of communication between us. The amount of tension and frustration in our house has certainly lessened since he just shows us why he's upset instead of crying about it and letting us scramble to do the guess-work. One thing he's always pointing at is the fridge, and he's not happy until you've opened it and let him peek inside. At first we thought it was his way of telling us he was hungry, but we've come to realize he just likes to look at whatever happens to be growing on the shelves. His father does the same thing. Open fridge, survey contents, shut fridge door. A harmless, but quite frequent ritual at our house.

Quirk #3: Feeds off of a good reaction.

He's already got a flare for the dramatic. Whether he's dancing around the living room, elbows high in the air, or trying on Daddy's clothes, Marty loves to get a reaction out of you. Preferably a laugh or squeal, even more preferably in an octave only dogs can hear. And if something makes you smile, he'll repeat it until your smiles are so fake your teeth hurt. We like to humor the little guy. Who knows, maybe he'll be a theater buff like Mama. Or a comedian like Daddy. This one could go either way, but in the meantime, we're just enjoying watching him make a goober out of himself in an effort to keep us entertained.


Quirk #4: Not so big on the rides.

Unlike most kids, who beg their parents for a quarter so they can enjoy a 30-second horsie ride in front of the dollar store before heading home, our munchy munchkin hates the thought. We've tried horses, fire trucks, monster trucks, little seats that just move in a circle--he screams bloody murder. He's the most boring kid to take to Chuck E. Cheese. He'd rather just carry one of the red ski balls around than do anything else. Not sure where this trait came from, since both Mommy and Daddy love rides--loopy loops, upside-downers, and everything. We'll just have to work him into it. Man him up a bit before his friends make fun of him for chickening out.

Quirk #5: Already obsessed with Sesame Street.

What mom hasn't ever put her child in front of the television so she can have just a few moments to herself? Guilty. But my "clever plan" to keep him occupied so I can actually shower on a more regular basis has backfired. He's addicted to Sesame Street. When it's on, his eyes almost glass over, and no amount of distraction can keep him from his favorite show. Guess I'm just glad I get to control how often he watches it. Our tv system is pretty difficult to operate, so at least for now, Mommy decides when it's time for some dancing monsters and alphabet songs. Hmmm. Who else in our house gets obsessed with certain tv shows? And has their own version of the glass-eyes look? And will have the occasional drool stain on their shirt to show off just how tuned in they are?

Quirk #5: Our creature of habit.

When my mother-in-law watched Marty for a week, I was so worried that I'd forget to tell her about all the little rituals we do on a regular basis. We hit the wind chimes every time we walk up to the front door. We stroll down to the mailbox every afternoon, hand-in-hand. We sing songs during diaper changes, and call his cups "sippys". And my goodness, if I forget to carry out even one of these tiny habits we've formed, a certain little guy lets me know. He'll fuss until we go back out to the front porch and hit the chimes. He'll start singing and chatting when he's getting his diaper changed if I'm silent. What a good little reminder-er I have! But if we're still calling cups "sippys" in high school, our creature of habit might have to start breaking a few of them.

Quirk #6: Bookworm-status.

Marty and I have always loved to read. This year, we're even having a reading contest to see who can conquer more pages by December. So it's only fitting that our littlest family member be hooked on books too. He'll carry his pile of cardboard goodies around the house, then sit down and open them up. He'll move his eyes as though actually reading, and turn the pages when he feels he's given that spread a good pause or two. And the books that are more interactive, like the ones that have little squeakers in them or that have flaps you can lift to reveal things underneath are prized possessions to our reader. We're already arguing about whether to buy him the Harry Potter or Hardy Boys series first.

Quirk #7: A very manly shoe fetish.

Someone just loves to wear shoes. Maybe that's why he somehow managed to collect at least six pairs that fit him at the moment. Not counting his Elmo slippers. But he'll bring me his shoes, and hold them out to me until I put them on for him. I think he assumes it means I'll take him outside, but usually by the time his shoes are on, he's just so excited to be wearing them that he forgets about playing in the yard and happily toddles off. Where did this little fetish come from? I won't even tell you how many pairs of shoes his father has.

So that's our son in his own little nutty nutshell. Thanks for taking the time to get to know him better, as we continue to learn just how funny and quirky he's turning out to be.

We'll keep you posted if he starts belting out Broadway showtunes or eats Top Ramen breakfast-lunch-and-dinner. Monkey see, monkey do! Or is that Moseley see, Moseley do?

Either way, we're just fascinated. Is it wrong to just sit and stare at your child for hours on end? With the same ferver usually spent staring at the fridge contents or reading about Clifford the Big Red Dog?