made for walkin'

Mr. Yuck!

After breakfast as I was indulging in a little internetting, Jonah crawled over from his own entertainments and pulled himself to standing at my side. I leaned over to pick him up for a cuddle and noticed that he was working something in his mouth. This usually doesn't bother me too much in the kitchen because there is always a Cheerio to be found on the floor (no matter how much I sweep...).

Whatever was in his mouth this time, however, seemed a little tougher than a Cheerio, so in went my finger for the swipe. Out came something black-ish. At first I thought it was the black rubbery stuff you find in--I can't think of what you find it in, but anyway, it wasn't that. As I turned the object around between my fingers, I noticed pencil-thin legs curled around a broad thorax. I screamed and flicked the thing from my fingers. A few seconds and many shudders later I noticed that the boy had more to give. Out came the head. Then a leg. Another leg. And a final leg. Each discovery met with the same appropriate response from me and a wide-eyed curious look from Jonah.

When I was sure his mouth was clear, I realized that now we had bug bits all over the floor, because in my desperation to get them off of my fingers I had flicked and flung and flailed wildly. So out came the vacuum cleaner, and onto the upstairs landing went the boy (he doesn't know how to go down stairs yet, so that kept him contained). I hoovered as thoroughly as I possibly could and set to putting the machine away. Then I noticed the crumpled thorax on on one of Jonah's toys. I picked up the toy, carried it to the trash and flicked the little ex-critter where it could rest in peace.

After all of this, I went to retrieve the boy. He sat grinning at me as I encouraged him to, "Turn around! Come on, turn around and come down!" One little leg extended around and led his little rump to precede him dutifully down the stairs. Hooray! We have a breakthrough here. Perhaps bug bits are brainfood.


By the way: Yes, we are finally in a home!

Swimming...

One of the benefits of living in a hotel, besides the waffles, is access to a swimming pool. Unfortunately, ours was only open a few days a week. But when we were finally allowed in, Jonah had himself a great time. Here's a peek:

It's so hard to say goodbye

Since our departure from Utah we have been notified independently by both grandmas that they have found little Jonah diapers, of the...err...used variety, and felt bad about throwing them away.  Ah the love of a grandma--they even love your crap.

We found one in our car yesterday and it was frozen solid.  Could have broken a window with it.

Splish splash!

Jonah loves himself some bath time--and it doesn't matter whose bath time it is.  Be it his own, mine, JT's, or just an empty bathtub, the little monkey is there at the ready for splish splashing fun.  If it's not his own turn, he'll stand next to the tub squealing and throwing shampoo bottles, lids, bath toys, small animals, etc.. into the bath.  And if a shower curtain happens to be obstructing his view of his play arena, he impatiently bats it aside.  Needless to say, when Mom gets out of the shower not only does she need to towel herself, but the little dude and the newly-formed lake on the bathroom floor.

Also in watery fun, last night we took Jonah down to the hotel pool for his first chlorinated water escapade.  Judging from the giggles and shrieks that bounced off the tiled walls, he had a great time.

General Hospital

Their eyes locked as they noticed the closeness of their faces. She leaned forward expectantly, lips parted in anticipation. He reached out and gently touched her face. Her body jerked in reaction to his touch and all qualms flew out the window--she was twice his age, but it didn't matter now. She leaned forward quickly and all he felt was the whisper of a kiss before she was gone...

The above passage could be a smouldering excerpt from the latest Danielle Steel or Stephanie Meyers novel--or it could be Jonah's first kiss incurred last night at the Howard County General Hospital-sponsored play area of the Columbian Mall, Columbia, MD.

Later in the evening, the little Casanova denied a different girl smoochiness. Whether he's remaining true to his first love or he just doesn't like kissing is unclear at this time.

Documenting

Yesterday I played documentarian and videoed Jonah's day. I really really want to work on my little film, but our computer is broken :-(. I can't even share some of the still photos that I took. It was a gorgeous sunny day. Today is slushy snowy snoshiness and Jonah is finally down for his nap.