Chandler’s growing vocabulary

Recently Chandler has transitioned from a grunting neanderthal baby to a nattering chatter box. The other day I walked into his room to get him up after his nap, and I thought I had walked onto the set of the View.

It is so much fun to hear him come up with all sorts of new words and phrases and watch as he experiments with his new found communication skills. About a month ago he had begun asking “What’s that?” It was great for him to be able to communicate with us and ask us for more information about the world around him. But we didn’t always know what he was specifically asking about. Then he transitioned to “What is that NOISE?” or “What is that THING?”

Some of his new phrases are ones we have taught him, like, “Thank you, Mommy” or “Wrong again, Daddy.” But other ones seem to come out of nowhere. For instance, when Mommy told him it was snowing, Chandler said, “That’s exciting.” WHAAA? 

Maybe my favorite so far is “that’s funny.” We were watching a video I made (you’ll see it later) and he was laughing and then out of nowhere he said, “That’s funny.” I just about melted. He now knows I LOVE hearing him say that, and so he says it to me all the time. Does life get any better?

A lot of people like to say things like, “As soon as they can talk, they can talk back.” I really hate that mentality. I don’t know, maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, or I just like a good challenge. Since Chandler was born I’ve been teaching him how to make my life more difficult. I eagerly encouraged him to learn to crawl and walk. I showed him how to open doors. I challenged him to climb out of his crib. I showed him how to whittle shivs out of wooden train track pieces.

So what if talking could open the floodgates to back-talk? I love a good debate. But oh, wait…maybe I’ll just raise my child to be disciplined and to never talk back. (All the experienced parents know that was a joke…whether I meant for it to be or not)

Cool

Chandler: Mommy, what are you doing on the phone?

Ashley: I’m making dinner reservations for Chinese for Sat night.

Chandler: Oh. That’s cool!

Grandma: Chandler, you’re cool!

Chandler: No. Papa’s cool!

Never again (except for every day from now on)

This morning I made a break from my normal routine of leaving the house at an ungodly hour and instead got to greet Chandler as he woke up. It was fun to see him, but then as I told him I had to go to work, he took my hand and said, “No Daddy, stay.”

Little jerk.

How am I supposed to leave after that? This was especially endearing because it came from the kid who usually gives me an elbow to the jugular when I lean in for a hug. 

I was pretty close to calling in sick. “Yeah…looks like I’ll be sick for the next few years. Yeah, just until my son stops being so darned cute. Thanks for understanding.”

Things Chandler did today that made my jaw drop

I don’t want this blog to turn into brag blog (or a brlaog…as the kids are calling them these days) but recently Chandler has been blowing my mind. He’s at a stage where every other thing he does makes me go

After posting this short list I’ll go back to writing about my struggles as a father.

First of all, just the other day, almost over night, Chandler went from barely being able to put two words together to being able to give George W Bush a run for his money in a debate (let’s not make this political. Republican or not, you have to admit that guy doesn’t talk so good). So Chandler’s newfound speaking skills have been knocking my socks off. 

Things he said or did today:

1. I asked Chandler to clean up the three puzzles he had spilled to the ground before playing with another toy. Not only did he say, “Okay,” he put every piece back in each puzzle and then stacked all three puzzles back on the shelf where he got them. He then proceeded to play with the next toy.

2. After spotting a Kermit the Frog lunch box in a store, he asked, “Take it home?” I told him we couldn’t take it home and he said, “I’ll buy it.” WHAT? Where did he learn that? And wait…does he have a job? Is he holding out on us?

3. After dinner at Fuddruckers (swanky!) we were getting back into the car and out of the blue, without being prompted at all, Chandler says, “Thank you for dinner, Mommy.” 

The Daddy Complex: Hug It Out

I don’t do a lot of reblogging here on Improvising Fatherhood, but this is so good I have to share it with you. David Vienna, author of The Daddy Complex, wrote about the power of hugs, and I know exactly how he feels.

thedaddycomplex:

If you’ll allow me to be completely honest, I wasn’t one of those people who thought a hug could make anyone feel better. I know it didn’t work for me. When I was in college, my bike got stolen and I was pretty upset. My girlfriend gave me a hug to cheer me up. But after the hug, my bike was still fucking gone. So, my mood didn’t change. (It’s a wonder we didn’t last.)

Apply that same equation to any and all times someone tried to cheer me up with a hug. I mean, sure, I like hugs. They feel good and stuff and are a fairly solid way to express affection, but I never really thought they had magical healing powers or anything… until I had kids.

Last night, I wasn’t feeling great and Wyatt was being a bit bossy. I didn’t have the energy to go toe-to-toe with him. When I told him it was time to put jammies on, he yelled, “No!” and danced away. I just sat there rubbing my temples. He returned and asked, “Are you sad, Papa?”

“Yes,” I said.

He asked, “Would a hug cheer you up?”

Again, I said, “Yes.”

He wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed me tight, adding a kiss on the cheek. And I’ll be damned if it didn’t cheer me right the hell up.

Not even an hour later, Wyatt got upset about something. He said, “How can you make me happy, Papa?”

I knew what he was fishing for. I said, “A hug,” offering something I’d defined as relatively useless just three years prior. He opened his arms wide and I gave him a big hug. He hopped into bed smiling. As I tucked him in, I asked, “Are you happy?”

He said, “Yes.” And I knew it was true because it was true for me, too.

Dolla Bills Y’all!

Chandler picked up some dollar bills from my wallet.

Chandler: Washington George! Washington George!

Me: George Washington?

Chandler: YEAH!

Me: Who taught you that?

Chandler: Mama BB!

He then took the dollars and ran.

Shoe box of Lies

My mom reminded me of a story from my childhood today. When I was in 1st grade, I got to participate in my first school field day. It was a day full of sports and athletic activities such as three-legged races and long distance frisbee throwing contests.

Scores and records were kept track of and at the end of the day the winners of each event were given ribbons. I won nothing.

That day when I got home the very first thing I did was search the house high and low for a suitable box. I asked my mother if she had a shoe box I could have.

“What for?” she inquired.

“To keep my ribbons in after next year’s field day.”

Daddy Fall Down

So recently I mentioned that my old nickname “E” has fallen away and Chandler no longer calls me that. But my old nickname is not the only thing that has fallen. In this house, I am constantly falling. 

You see, as a father, I don’t bring many skills to the table. But as a comedian, I am an expert fall guy. I can do pratfalls that would put me in the Chevy Chase Hall of Fame (if such a thing ever existed). And Chandler LOVES seeing me fall down. And if it looks like it hurt, that’s even better. And if Chandler gets to push me down, well that’s just the cherry on the top.

So recently I have earned a new name. I’ll come home from a  long day of hard work ready to see my loving family. And like out of a scene from “Daddy Knows Best” I’ll walk in the door and say, “I’m home!” As I walk up to my son to give him a hug I’m greeted with a push to the chest and “Daddy Fall Down!”

“But Chandler, can’t I get a hug first?”

“No, Daddy. Fall down!”

There have been times that I have gone to wake Chandler from a nap, and before his eyes are even open, just from hearing my voice, he will say, “Daddy Fall Down!”

“Here’s your juice Chandler.”

“Daddy Fall Down!”

“Okay Chandler, time to put your shoes on.”

“Daddy Fall Down!”

“Hey Chandler, want me to fall down?”

“Daddy Fall D - YES, PLEASE!”

And of course…I fall down every time.

Little joys

Last night I taught Chandler the joy of putting chips inside your Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich.