Chapstick November 6, 2009

“Please Mom, get my chapstick?”  says a plaintive voiced Lucas at least five times a day. 

You see, applying chapstick has become one of Lucas’ focal points of interest these days. He loves it. I mean really loves it,  like a cherished friend, a favorite confidant, a secret treasure.   There is one stashed in my bathroom drawer which keeps him occupied while I get a quick shower,  and he has another one stashed in the car by his seat.  Both locations provide  ready access in case of emergency lip dryness, boredom, or the need to spread red waxy goo around his mouth for the sheer joy of it.  And, believe me, there is joy written all over his face many times a day.  

Kiel tried to borrow some today in the car, and just as he was applying it to his top lip, up from the back seat comes Lucas’ sternest voice,  ”That’s enough dad, that’s enough.”  (Mind you, this tube has gouges off the top from fingernails trying to get the small cap back on, so it’s hardly smooth enough to spread on one’s lips anyway…and he’s two years old.) However, this simple token is one of the few things Lucas gets full ownership of and naming rights too, and it is a Big Deal. 

 I love that he’s claimed these little red tubes for himself. It brings on his biggest grins,  fosters his self-confidence and lets him have that one thing he can always control.  Who knew something so small could bring so many wonderful gifts?  In a world of being bossed around by parents and a big brother, I’m sure it fills a need for him that goes beyond having ultra smooth and kissable lips. I adore it, and hope it lasts.  Plus, I just love his cherry scented kisses.  They are a Yum in a life that gets overly complicated. Yum, yum, yum.

Lucas Reilly April 30, 2008

Lucas is walking! He’s been hovering in the almost walking zone for a few weeks, but really started to walk for locomotion, not just practice, about 5 days ago. This means that my prediction that he’d be walking at 10 months was true. (Yeah for Mom!) He’s now eleven months and has started to pick up the pace a bit already. He does his best barefoot of course, his little toes gripping the floor as he moves along, but even in his new sporty Vans he’s getting around. He protested their existence at first, but he’s already learned that once mom has her mind made up there is little use in complaining.

It’s a big thing this walking business. I’m loving it, he’s loving it and David is running for cover when he needs too. We’ve taught David to “go high” when he wants some space from the ever attentive and affectionate Baby Monster. So David keeps company with his dinosaurs and new V-tech computer that Bart gave him in the window seat quite often. It’s better than hitting Lucas or knocking him over or hearing them whine at each other. The window seat is David’s place, so when Lucas gets to visit, he is just ecstatic.

Speaking of ecstasy, Lucas has three things he is in love with right now. The broom, the swiffer mop, and the dishwasher. I had to put the broom in another closet because he was licking it way too much for my comfort. Ever since he could crawl he has loved the broom. He did and does chase me around when I sweep trying to catch it or disrupt the pile of dirt it creates. I used to play defense with my leg to keep him at bay; now I’m just fast. The swiffer mop is lighter and cleaner (as I remove the disposable dust thing) and it’s a close second to the broom. If the pantry door opens he is there rooting around for it. He wields it like a knight’s lance or javelin depending on his mood. Now that he can stand, he yells with utter delight, handle in hand, one foot off the floor, ready for action. Then there is the dishwasher. Ohhhh the delight of the dishwasher. At first, it was the soap dispenser…Hey this opens and closes. Then came the bottom rack…Hey, I can move this in and out and pull things out of here. Then the ultimate discovery: If no one is looking, I can spread eagle face down on the door and lick that cool, cool plastic. Ohhh, it’s just heavenly.

He’s still in the mouth-as-primary-sensory-unit stage, so it’s only natural that the dishwasher door, broom and swiffer should be licked. What else is it there for? When removed from these beloved items he protests like you’ve just chastised him for some wrongdoing. It cracks me up, these utilitarian love affairs. I can only hope that his infatuation will stick around through his teenage years, when he can put them to use as intended, and wonder what will come next.