Tuesday, April 10, 2001

SECOND CHANCE (April 2001)

The little boy is now 15 months old.  He's learned to crawl and walk, and with each physical achievement, there are parallel advances in his mental prowess.

Were my children as clever, perceptive, bold, or curious as this little one is?  Why do I not recall the moments of their childhood accomplishments?
First he crawled and then he walked.  Each milestone predictable.  But I am awed as I have watched Brandon's face when he realizes what he's accomplished.  His eyes grow big and his little mouth forms a tight O.  And then he seems to think and he does it again.  And again.  Over a period of time he perfected crawling forward and suddenly crawled backward, giggling at the experience.  After weeks of struggling to walk forward, he discovered he could walk backward, not yet knowing that he must look over his shoulder to see where he was going.  Once again, big eyes and tight O as he bumped into the wall.  Now he's learning to march, but it's really more of a foot stomp, for he raises only his left knee.

Until this past week our northern winter has kept us isolated indoors.  Recently on a sunny day we went outdoors for a walk.  Almost running as toddlers do, he refused my hand.  I wanted to go this way; he wanted to go that.  And so we did.  Brandon spied his shadow and squatted to touch it, a puzzled expression on his face when he couldn't pick it up.  He found a sloping driveway and insisted on walking up it.  Half way, he turned around and, with his little feet struggling to keep him upright, Brandon discovered the sensation of coming down a hill.  Repeatedly, he went up the pavement, turned round, and came down, chortling each time.  But for my eventual boredom, we could still be there.

There was a breeze that day and we faced into it.  Suddenly Brandon threw back his head, mouth agape.  Pausing a moment, he laughed as he felt the cool breeze rush into his warm little mouth.  We walked a few steps that way, his head tilted back while he sampled the air.

Dawn, his mom, and I had read that the use of sign language helps a child communicate before he's able to do so verbally.  Therefore, when he was about six months old and began eating baby food, we began simultaneously signing and saying "drink," "eat" and "more."  Now he signs if he's thirsty or hungry.  If we think he's eaten enough but he disagrees, he signs "more."  He's even begun signing and speaking simultaneously as we do.

I'm beginning to feel as though we adults are now walking in place and Brandon's running ahead.  A few weeks ago, he was sitting in the child's seat of the shopping cart as Dawn pushed it down the aisle.  When she looked away from the merchandise and down at Brandon, he was rapping his fists together.  Dawn thought this was odd behavior until she realized they were passing the shoe department.  Brandon was signing "shoe."

Brandon signs and says Mommy and Daddy, and he identifies Matt's parents, Pappap and Nana, saying their names and signing (simplified by us to double "p" and double "n") at the same time.


We've taught him to sign and say "Kitty."  However, I think he associates this with the two cats that share this condo with me.  It's likely that when Dawn tells Brandon they're going to Grandma Kitty's, Brandon believes he's coming to see the cats.  He's gleeful when he spies them and he'll point, flick his cheek with the sign for cat and say "key" (his spoken t's are silent!).  I look forward to the time when he understands there are THREE kitties here.  Oh well, at least he smiles when he sees me.

I logged in my children's baby books the first day each sat up, rolled over, stood and walked.  But I don't recall an emotional reaction, merely the mechanical notation.  I find such joy in watching this little one grasp concepts and explore new challenges.  I am amazed and amused whenever we're together.  Thank heaven for a second chance.



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