The Peanut is 15-months old now. And if I could save time in a bottle, I might seriously contemplate freezing her at this age. Watching her intellect and cognitive skills evolve is truly amazing. I'm having a blast playing with her all the time and witnessing her development on a daily basis.
Now, before we go any further, let me just say that this post is not going to be one of those parental gloats about how amazing my child is. As my buddy p-man said recently, "I'd like to think I can retain some degree of dignity while being blown away by the geometric expansion of my child's abilities, her charm, her beauty."
That being said, one of the coolest things happening with the Peanut right now is that she loves imitating everything I do or say. Unfortunately (for her), I have a completely immature sense of humor. So rather than take this opportunity to teach the Peanut sign langauge, Latin, or how to read a baseball box score, I've been teaching her a few things solely for my own personal entertainment and amusement. For example?
- I taught her how to lift up her shirt, tuck the hem under her chin, and play the drums by slapping her belly with both hands. I'm hoping to one day teach her John Bonham's half-hour drum solo from "Moby Dick." (You kids do know who John Bonham is, right? Or am I dating myself again?)
- We play a fun game I like to call "Pants Head." We each go into the laundry basket, grab a pair of pants and put them on top of our heads. Then, as I yell, "Pants Head!, Pants Head!," we both run around the apartment together laughing our asses off.
- BossLady taught the Peanut an old Korean rallying cheer. Now, the Peanut will sometimes throw both her hands up in the air and yell, "MANSAY!" (which literally means 10,000 years and is analogous to the Japanese war cry "banzai.") The cuteness is unreal.
- The other night, I was lying on the couch and was flipping through the latest New Yorker. The Peanut, seeing me, went over to our newspaper rack, grabbed her own issue of the New Yorker, came over to sit by my side and then started flipping the pages of her magazine. The only difference was that I had a glass of wine and she a little sippy cup. Also, I chose not to chew on the subscription cards. But seriously? This is a kid after my own heart.
- Last week, I was eating an omelet and the Peanut was eating a sweet potato. While I was eating, I moved some egg onto my tongue, stuck my tongue out to show her the food, and then yelled, "Aarrgghhhh!" Of course, two seconds later, the Peanut is doing the same exact thing with her sweet potato. It was fucking hilarious (and, hopefully, Peanut won't repeat this in front of the BossLady or I'm going to be in big trouble.)
But our little "monkey see, monkey do" routine isn't just unidirectional. When the Peanut finds something fun and enjoyable, she loves sharing it with us in the hopes that we'll join her in the activity. Just the other day, when we were doing some arts & crafts at home, she pulled me and BossLady over and tried to convince us that chewing on crayons was MUCH more enjoyable than drawing with them. We didn't fall for it but I have to admit...
it did look pretty darn fun.
That last part reminded me of the time our oldest son attempted to get me to eat Play-Doh with him, using exactly the same techniques we used to get him to try new foods: "It`s really good -- just try a little piece! If you don`t like it, you don`t have to eat it all."
Posted by: L. | January 17, 2006 at 02:19 PM
Wow, the Peanut's growing up fast. She's adorable, MD!
Posted by: Brent | January 17, 2006 at 02:23 PM
Boy, if I could just get Bean to stop blabbering for long enough to actually hear or pay attention to anything I might wish to teach him, I would be thrilled.
you would tell us if her poop came out Azure blue or maize yellow as a result of her crafty snacking, right? Because, we would want to know.
Posted by: tpon | January 17, 2006 at 02:39 PM
What's really sad is that I am a visual person, so I can picture you both running around your apartment with your pants on your head. Very funny. I promise you, when she shows you her food at a restaurant with your parents in 2 years, you will not find it so funny. Cute pictures. My youngest still eats crayons, when she thinks someone isn't looking.
Posted by: Melissa | January 17, 2006 at 02:46 PM
Why must all men teach their children to stick food out of their mouths? Was this genetically instilled in all of you somewhere along the line? My husband, my brother, my cousins---they all play that food game with their kids!
Posted by: Leora | January 17, 2006 at 03:05 PM
My son is 18 months and is doing the same thing. It only get's better. The other day I said "shit!" and held my breath...
Peanut is ADORABLE!
Posted by: Alison | January 17, 2006 at 05:26 PM
Ho-o-o-ly CRAP the peanut is cute! I used to play a similar game w/ my dad, cept, we'd grab panty hose and underwear out of the laundry, and put them on our head. I have this great picture of my dad wearing tightie whities on his head, while holding up the legs to a pair of panty hose that are on my head. We're both laughing so hard in the picture... and I think I was about the same age as Peanut... You guys are making the most beautiful and fun-filled memories... one day she'll look back at the pictures and say.. man! my dad was so much fun!!!
Posted by: Corinne | January 17, 2006 at 05:33 PM
She's really enjoying those crayons eh?
Posted by: Chocolate Makes it Better | January 17, 2006 at 05:41 PM
Ahh...I remember the crayon-eating stage. That was soon followed by the Play Do-eating stage, the Lego-eating stage, and the loose change-eating stage. It's chaotic but fun. Enjoy all these moments, MD. They go by so fast!
Posted by: Teresa | January 17, 2006 at 06:02 PM
So cute. (And what fun is baby blogging without a little gloating now and then?) I don't know why, but toddlers seem to think it's hilarious to put things on their heads.
I thought the cheer was going to be "Highting!"
Posted by: lesbonstemps | January 17, 2006 at 06:10 PM
"Hey, I believe in god, man. I've seen him, I've felt his power! He plays drums for Led Zeppelin and his name is John Bonham, baby!" Nick Andopolis, Freaks and Geeks.
Posted by: dutch | January 17, 2006 at 06:44 PM
Bonham was good, but he was no Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs.
Posted by: Jason | January 17, 2006 at 07:14 PM
I think that would make you water.
Man, she is adorable!
Posted by: landismom | January 17, 2006 at 07:55 PM
Yay! Photos of the Peanut! She is sooooo cute, MD. I can totally see why she's got you and BossLady wrapped around her little finger. Those cheeks are absolutely scrumptious!
Posted by: Christine C. | January 17, 2006 at 07:58 PM
can't ever get enough of the elusive peanut sighting. hey MD! what is up? sounds like the peanut knows how to have a good time. running around the house laughing your assess off is the best you can ask for, isn't it?
Posted by: bitemycookie | January 17, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Hahaha. Pants!
Image 1 suggests it is difficult to keep them crayons lit whereas #3 shows the benefits of perseverance.
Posted by: p-man | January 17, 2006 at 08:38 PM
Pants made a good hat, for sure, but underpants...now that's comedy! I also recommend socks on the hands and doing a puppet show. Makes for lots of laughs. Peanut is too frigging cute for words. Crayons are too hard to clean out of teeth, though.
Posted by: margalit | January 17, 2006 at 11:36 PM
The Peanut is so freaking cute! She must be so glad to have such a fun and goofy dad.
Posted by: Susannah | January 17, 2006 at 11:52 PM
Did she open the New Yorker up to the comics first? I always do that.
Also, that box score thing could come in handy, MD. You need to work on that soon.
Posted by: Matthew | January 18, 2006 at 02:24 AM
You got your priorities right! She's so cute, you need to post more photos!!
AD
Posted by: AdventureDad | January 18, 2006 at 09:23 AM
Had to laugh when I saw the "Laugh and Learn" house behind Peanut. Suprised that plastic monstrosity fits inside an NYC apartment! My baby is obsessed with this house, so I guess she's inherited my interest in real estate! Gotta go---"it's learning time!"
Posted by: prosecutor/mommy | January 18, 2006 at 10:20 AM
Those pics of the Peanut eating a crayon are precious! She's so adorable, MD.
Posted by: A. Guerrero | January 18, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Did she come up with a good caption for the cartoon contest?
Posted by: Anne Glamore | January 18, 2006 at 01:11 PM
I love pictures of the Peanut!
Ok, and the belly thing? That's awesome. I'm going to try to teach that to E tonight!
Posted by: Linda B | January 18, 2006 at 01:36 PM
Now do you mean PANTS pants, like trousers? Or knickers pants, like panties? Because there's nothing funnier than someone with a pair of undies on their head. Please teach her that next. There are even ready-made holes for her eyes to poke through. Like a mask.
Posted by: Nothing But Bonfires | January 18, 2006 at 01:46 PM
Given your location and her fondness for "Pants Head," you need to get her a copy of Knuffle Bunny (if she doesn't have it already).
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 18, 2006 at 01:56 PM
The third photo says it all. Peanut is positively beautiful! I am trying my hardest to teach my daughter proper English. My husband has been busy teaching my daughter to speak like Omar from The Wire. So if you are in Target and hear a little girl saying, "Yo. I certainly hope you brought me a snack. Ya feel me?", then you know it's my daughter.
Posted by: misfithausfrau | January 18, 2006 at 03:07 PM
Pants Head!! You crack me up. What fun. Just don't throw on the BossLady's bra and run around the house like my dad did (by the time kids are old enough to "get" why it's funny, it's just embarrassing).
Posted by: the weirdgirl | January 18, 2006 at 04:55 PM
the Peanut is SO CUTE! What a fun dad you are.
Posted by: Nina | January 18, 2006 at 05:34 PM
Yea, those WERE the days, when you could be entertained by them for hours.
You're gonna be one of those "cool dads" that all of her friends are gonna like, but she'll be embarrassed by, right?
Enjoy it, MD.
She sure is cute...takes after the Bosslady, i bet...
Posted by: LeeMarvin | January 18, 2006 at 07:35 PM
Nice binky clip!
Posted by: MIM | January 19, 2006 at 12:31 AM
damn! why are Asian babies THE CUTEST? they really put american babies to shame in the adorable category.
Posted by: crazyvirgo | January 19, 2006 at 11:39 AM
Hopefully she'll skip the vicodin and scotch you bragged about taking when you had your lasik. Asshole.
You said:
> one of the coolest things happening
> with the Peanut right now is that she
> loves imitating everything I do or say.
Posted by: Concerned Visitor | January 19, 2006 at 05:36 PM
The pics of the Peanut are too cute. That's hilarious how she's imitating you. You make parenthood sound great.
Posted by: Pattie | January 19, 2006 at 07:03 PM
You're missing out. Chewing on crayons is SO much fun. =D
Posted by: enygma | January 19, 2006 at 09:00 PM
Can I steal Pants Head and pass it off as my own creation? Hours of enjoyment, I can just sense it...
The Peanut is ADORABLE!!
Posted by: Rbrown | January 19, 2006 at 09:07 PM
PANTS! The underwear on the head trick is a favorite between my husband and our daughter, too... it must be directly related to testosterone.
Posted by: Stacy | January 19, 2006 at 10:30 PM
Awwwww... Metrodad! I just noticed you have an asshole troll in the guise of 'Concerned Visitor'. You have TOTALLY ARRIVED, DUDE. ::high five:: Xanax for EVERYONE!
Posted by: Stacy | January 19, 2006 at 10:32 PM
I think all children need dads with an immature sense of humor. (After 10 years, my husband is still teaching our daughter stuff like that.)
The Peanut is beautiful!
Posted by: Donna | January 20, 2006 at 09:34 AM
Oh gawd she is adorable!!!!!
I just dug out some notes I had made when Lucas was 17 months old, because the crayon thing stuck in my head. Sure enough, I noted that he was entering the Crayon Eaters Anonymous Program (CREAP). I fear that the Peanut is headed there as well.
Posted by: panthergirl | January 20, 2006 at 01:15 PM
its bumper to bumper on the rainbow bridge!
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