One of the coolest things that the BossLady and I are noticing about the Peanut these days is the development of her personality. I'm not going overboard here and saying that we can already see defined character traits or anything like that (c'mon. The kid's only 12 months old!) But we are slowly starting to notice the evolution of a unique and independent sense of humor. She's generally a pretty easy-going and well-adjusted kid so she often walks around with a cute smile on her face. But we're now starting to notice that there are some things that just crack her shit up and tear her to pieces.
Not surprisingly, the Peanut doesn't find my hand puppet reenactments of Supreme Court confimation hearings very amusing. Also, unlike other babies, she's not always enamored of funny faces. She will laugh when being tickled...but only if the tickler is the BossLady. As for playing Peek-a-Boo? Most of the time, she can take it or leave it. It depends on her mood and the amount of poop she's got in her diaper. So what DOES tickle her funny bone and fire up her giggle synapses? Here are a few recent barnburners...
The other day, I was napping out on the couch and the Peanut silently crept up to me and quickly rammed her tiny little finger up my nose as far as it could go. I jumped up suddenly and screamed "What the Fuck?"...only to look down and see the Peanut laughing her ass off hysterically at my reaction. Seriously, she thought it was so uproariously funny that I thought she was going to wet her diapers (just kidding. The kid pees like a racehorse. Her diapers are ALWAYS wet.)
The Peanut also seems to be a big fan of dichotic humor. In other words, when she sees something that contradicts her normal perceptions of reality, she thinks it's a hoot. Every once in awhile, I'll put baby clothes on my head, wear her bib around my neck, suck on a pacifier and pretend to drink from her bottle. Cracks her up every time. Even though she can't speak yet, I can look at her expression and hear her inner voice thinking, "you are one strange and funny motherfucker. I'm not exactly sure why I find you amusing but that is some seriously funny shit."
Like I said before, she's not really all that ticklish. But once in awhile, the dog will sneak up behind her and suddenly start licking her feet. All of sudden, her face will break out into a giant smile and she'll go into a giggling fit. I'm not sure whether she's laughing at the fact that it feels funny to have a dog's tongue on one's tiny toes or because she thinks it's hilarious that the animal whose food she's always eating got her back. Maybe she's learned that revenge can be sweet...and funny.
Toilet humor also cracks her up. Not the kind of toilet humor involving dirty jokes or off-color language. I'm talking about actual humor revolving around the toilet. The other day, I was taking a leak when the Peanut pushed open the bathroom door and came barging in. She grabbed one of her little bath toys (a rubber turtle), peered over the rim of the toilet and dropped the turtle in. Although a smile came on her face, she didn't start really laughing until I palmed her head like a basketball and tried to keep her at arm's length while I finished taking a leak. Ever seen a grown man pee into a toilet containing a plastic turtle with one hand palming his daughter's head and the other hand holding his johnson? Now, THAT'S some funny shit. We BOTH had a good chuckle over that one.
Hmmm...and I wonder where the Peanut gets her sense of humor. Anyway, I have to admit, she's much funnier than I am. Maybe she'll have a long and distinguished career in stand-up comedy. Who knows? Can you imagine?
("Thank you. Thank you. I'll be performing here at The Crib all night. There's a 2-drink minimum and please make sure all bottles are sanitized before entering the club. You've been a great audience. Really. By the way, nice boobs, lady. You packing any milk in those bazookas? Whatta you say we go backstage and grab a drink? You burp my back and I'll burp yours.")
Damm MD you crack me up. Sheesh I thought my kid had a wicked sense of humor. The funniest thing to my youngest right now - 15 months is when her sister says Hey Laaady to her dad and I. (She has seen Crank Yankers a few too many times.) Oh and yes, I can totally picture the bathroom thing, I am such a damm visual person. I nearly peed my pants.
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | October 27, 2005 at 10:18 PM
"Ever seen a grown man pee into a toilet containing a plastic turtle with one hand palming his daughter's head and the other hand holding his johnson?"
Yes, minus the plastic turtle. ;-)
And it's my opinion that kids start showing their personality and preferences pretty early. thNut certainly had preferences for food, playthings and what was funny since she was only a few months old. They really are just like "little people."
Posted by: tod | October 27, 2005 at 11:50 PM
Class clown of 2022? the Peanut.
I can see the yearbook page now.
Posted by: landismom | October 27, 2005 at 11:50 PM
Wait till she gets older and starts screaming things like "CHICKEN!" and then collapses into giggle fits in the middle of her first grade class while her teacher looks on in horror!
Or does that one only happen to me and my son...?
Posted by: Queen of Ass | October 28, 2005 at 12:06 AM
LMFOL
stilll laughing........laughing........ahhhh laughing......
my nephew once asked my sister when he was going to get a chest as big as mommy's and why he wasn't furry....that was the last time they showered together.
Posted by: crazyvirgo | October 28, 2005 at 12:41 AM
She sounds like a secure and happy little girl! And I wonder where she gets her sense of humor from?? Too funny, MD.
Posted by: Beth | October 28, 2005 at 12:49 AM
You've Just Been Ghosted -- Come Over to My Site And Grab A Puking Pumpkin!
Posted by: margalit | October 28, 2005 at 01:25 AM
Very sweet post. The turtle in the toilet was a nice visual. Did it improve your aim? Maybe we need one of those in our house. :)
Posted by: Sassy | October 28, 2005 at 02:37 AM
She's funnier than you? Nah, i don't believe that. Let me know when you'll be on the comedy circuit, Iäll come and se you. Don't think the two drink minimum will be a problem. Is there a maximum?
AD
Posted by: AdventureDad | October 28, 2005 at 04:54 AM
MD...the Peanut's right. You are one strange and funny motherfucker! That's what keeps me coming back here every day. Great post. Had me in stitches.
Posted by: Brent | October 28, 2005 at 09:41 AM
I'd love to see your hand puppet reenactments of Supreme Court confimation hearings. It's got to be funnier (and more rational) than the real thing!
Posted by: Leora | October 28, 2005 at 09:42 AM
I think the Peanut has a bright future in stand-up comedy. That's one of the funniest bits I've heard in a long time...especially coming from a 1 year-old. So funny, Metro!
Posted by: Brad | October 28, 2005 at 11:02 AM
It's good that you notice her sense of Humor. She seems pretty funny. I always try to catch what makes my son (19 mos old) laugh. It is different everytime.
Did you use the turtle as a target?
Posted by: bill | October 28, 2005 at 11:20 AM
Ha ha ha! What does it say about me that all the things the Peanut finds funny, I do too? Great post, MD!
Posted by: Anna | October 28, 2005 at 12:21 PM
Related to your last post, maybe your future is in hand-puppet Supreme Court nomination re-enactments? Now that's some funny shit...I'd pay to see that. And I'd pay to see the Peanut shove her finger up your nose just to see her cute little reaction.
Problem solved! See, MD blogging CAN solve problems and pay the bills.
Posted by: RBrown | October 28, 2005 at 12:36 PM
Dude, you crack my ass UP!
Posted by: MIM | October 28, 2005 at 12:56 PM
my brain is burning from the visual.
the peanut is JUST as creative as you are - plastic turtle urinal cakes! brilliant invention.
Posted by: bitemyccokie | October 28, 2005 at 05:36 PM
My 20 month old loves to run up to anyone in the house and lift their shirt to poke their belly button. If he succeeds he giggles so hard he falls down, if he fails he'll poke his finger at your stomach and yell no as he is running off.
Posted by: Shannon | October 28, 2005 at 06:51 PM
No wonder she laughs at that stuff ... it IS hilarious!
There are certain words that send Lucas into sidesplitting hysterics, one being "iota". "If I see one IOTA of crumbs on the rug..." is likely to do it.
I actually made him laugh until he peed his pants the other night. I was bugging him to go to bed, and finally as he was making his way there he saw a quarter on the floor. He said, "Oh this must be my tip!" to which I snarled, "I'll give you a tip... get to bed before I beat you up." Now, since getting beaten up bears no relation to ANYTHING in this kid's life, it resulted in wet pants.
It's great to have that kind of an audience, no?
Posted by: panthergirl | October 29, 2005 at 02:49 PM
Here's a peek into your future: Your beautiful daughter is running around naked and suddenly comes running up to you, shoves her ass in your face and says, "Smell my bottom! Smell my bottom!" then runs off. A fucking laugh a minute, lemmatellya.
Posted by: Stacy | October 31, 2005 at 09:55 AM