Thoughts on Growing Up

The BabyMoose is back! Except I'm not really much of a baby any more. I'm a toddler! Does that make me the ToddlerMoose? Mom still calls me "baby", though. I try to make her see that I'm a big boy with all the things I can do, but she says I'll always be her baby. How embarrassing.

You're wondering about the things I can do? Well, I've been walking and running for quite a while now, and I've also taken up dancing. When I'd like to hear some music, I point at the remote control for the stereo and wave my arms around above my head so mom and dad get the idea. I love to dance with dad, I think he's better than rides at an amusement park (which, I admit, I've only heard about)! He swings me and spins me and throws me, and hasn't dropped me yet! I try to dance with mom so she'll feel included, too, but it's not nearly as fun. She won't spin very fast, or for very long, and she definitely doesn't jump! Plus, her belly is in the way! I'm still not quite sure what's up with that. She still points at it and says "there's a baby in there, Benjamin". I just nod, pat her belly and say "baby", too; but I secretly wonder if she's off her rocker.

Guess what we have in our house? A tree! I know, isn't that weird?? I thought trees belonged outside! But I'm glad this one is on the house, it's beautiful. Mom says it's a Christmas tree. It twinkles with lights and is sparkly and has all kinds of things on it! Also underneath, there are presents!!! Now, I've had some experience with presents, and I know what to do with them, but mom and dad won't let me touch them. At first I was miffed; but they said I would be able to touch them someday soon, so I content myself with staring, pointing, and exclaiming. I also do this when we're driving around after dark and I see houses that have lights on them. It's amazing! Have you seen it?

Another thing I'm into these days are tractors, trucks, cars... pretty much anything with an engine and wheels. Vacuum cleaners fit into that category. Oh, and trains, too! Choo-chooooo! I'm pretty good at that noise. I've also got a bunch of animal noises figured out- horses, cows, pigs, kitties, birds, even camels! Dad taught me that one. Mom says he's a pro.

Oh, here's some evidence of how grown up I am: I only take one nap a day, now! I stay up and play all morning, I have such a good time hanging out in my room with my toys and books. When it's time to eat, I can feed myself, and pretty darn effectively, too; the last time I was at the doctor, they said I had grown two whole inches in one month! Feeding myself was pretty hard at first, but I'm finally getting the hang of it. When I eat yogurt with my spoon, I can clean that bowl right out!

I've got to go now, but like they say, Merry Christmas!