Daddy Dan

I am always amazed at the speed in which The Babito is growing up and the new things he learns every day.

Here’s some examples:

• When it’s time for me to give him his bath, he walks upstairs, takes his teddy bear and binky into his room and puts it on the chair, without me even telling him to do it.  He knows after his bath we’ll be coming back to that chair to read a few books before he goes to bed.
• In the bathroom, he gets the kneeling pad off the counter and puts it on the floor next to the bathtub.  While the water is filling up he throws all of his bath toys in the bathtub.
• He knows Target.  If we’re driving by a Target anywhere he recognizes the sign and yells “Tahhh-get!!!”  (Do you think we shop there too much?  And do you think he likes Target too much because he knows he’s going to get a toy or a book EVERY time we go there, despite my wife and I always agreeing that he has ENOUGH stuff already?)
• He remembers things from earlier in the day, and tells me about them the minute I get home.  Today it was “I bump my head.”  He bumped it early this morning when my wife dropped him off at the sitter’s.  After that it was the usual “Want play cars?”
• One night, when he was extra wired up, I was chasing him around the house after his bath, trying to brush his teeth.  I finally caught up to him in the hallway.  I sat down on the floor, put him on my lap, and brushed his teeth.  Now, every time I finish getting him in his PJs he goes and sits in the hall and waits for me to come and brush his teeth.

Tonight was the first time I’ve seen him since Sunday night.  I’ve been leaving the house before he wakes up (which is normal), and getting home after he’s gone to bed.  It’s been tough, but he remembered every ritual we have together and he did them all again tonight.  I love that we have these little special things together.  My wife has similar morning rituals with him too.

When our phone rings he almost always says “Papa,”  because my Dad calls a lot and doesn’t get to see The Babito too often.  Tonight was different.  As I was giving him a bath, the phone rang and he said “Daddy.”  I think I need to get home a little earlier, and that’s what I plan to do as much as possible.  I have a few more really busy weeks at work, but it should be fairly clear sailing after that for the rest of the summer.

Maybe we’ll go to Tah-get.