path to the dark side

Jalen is just getting over a growth spurt. He was not himself for a couple of days as he had it pretty rough. Unfortunately, he broke out of it ready to fight. He became this mean little sucker whenever he was feeling a little irritable. It's not anything that has to do with crying if that's what you're imagining. It's more like a screaming reptilian monster out of a B-horror flick. Man, he was mean! Just when I was raving about what a great kid he is, his dark side emerges. I have to admit that he had me laughing. Amusing, yes, but I was scared. Not to worry though, I've got Master Yoda on the speed dial.

curiously standing

Jalen is now standing and took his first steps...just kidding! He does like to stand, though, with assistance. His least favorite position is lying down. He's very active and rarely stays still. He loves jumping up and down when being held up. He's such a curious little guy too. He loves meeting people and going out to look around. Actually, what I'm trying to say is that he reminds me a little of Curious George. I've thought this for months and just a few days ago, our cousin mentioned that he reminds her of Curious George. This is Jalen's not-so-great impersonation of him (the foliage adds very little effect as well). By the way, Jalen does not know how to stand nor pretend yet. I just keep forgetting that he's still a baby sometimes.

favorite pastime

Okay, I've held off long enough, but it's time to exhibit the bathing baby. This kid absolutely loves taking a bath. His only peeve is having too much water in the tub because it freaks him out a little. He loves bathing so much that he often gets a little ticked off when bath time is over and will complain for about a minute. Please note that I've taken great care to create a tasteful yet elegant photo of Jalen so as to not embarrass him when he later finds out.

through the looking glass

Jalen has been such a great kid that it has almost been (dare I say) pretty easy. I guess it's been easy hard work. One thing is for sure--forget that aversion that I had to pee, poop, boogers, drool, toe jam, vomit and flatulence. It's not that I'm into that sort of stuff now, but I'm not running away from it. The less than ideal sleep schedule...you get used to it. The occasional cranky spells...it's probably 10 times worse for him. Still, it's great being a parent. Though, sometimes I think it would be nice if I could be outside looking in. It's great enjoying someone else's kid because it's all play and no work. I do wish that I had more time for my nephews because it's these early years that are really memorable. My nephew, Aidan, is walking now and I feel like I missed a lot of time with him before he got to this point. The problem is that I'm so focused on Jalen. Raising your own kid is a little obsessive. You can easily lose yourself when caring for your child. If it weren't for this blog, I would probably forget to think about all these great moments. As hard as it has been to organize my thoughts at times, I'm glad to have this to reflect upon.

for my next trick

I remember our friend's mother asking us, "What is the most surprising thing about parenthood?" Eumi quickly replied, "That I could love something so much, so immediately." I was not surprised that we shared that exact same answer. Love for your child is like no other. It preys on your mind and soul. For that reason, parents can't stand being away from their children.
A couple of weeks ago, during tummy time, I turned around for 5 seconds. When I turned back, Jalen was on his back. This was his first time flipping over on his own. I was excited but also a little disappointed that I missed this much anticipated moment. I immediately sent a text to Eumi (who was at work) and she called me instantly, excited and eager to know. Everytime your kid does something new, you love him/her more. It's a strange occurrence. That's why you don't want to miss any moments. It's an excuse to love your kid even more.
A few days ago, I put Jalen down for tummy time and he's poking his head up and around like a periscope. It's a thrill to see him figure things out. It's always a surprise when he does something new. Someone told me recently that all he did for the first couple of years was lie around and watch his baby grow. Tempting...a bit unrealistic, but tempting.

beware the elf

I caught a little elf that has me all addicted. Jalen, he is called, meaning lively and animated. He kicks and grabs and coos and screams. I can watch and stare all day. Beware the power of this magic elf, he'll catch you in a hard way.

homebound

I remember how difficult and stressful going out with Jalen used to be. I can't even remember all the little things that I used to worry about. It's never good to be cooped up too long, even for the baby, so it's important to get out. These days, it's quite simple and easy. It helps that Jalen appreciates going out. The hard part is just getting motivated. We're always trying to catch up on chores and rest most of the time. We also feel an urgency to get back early because Jalen needs to sleep.
I remember a time when good weather or an upcoming weekend would bring anxiety because of a desire to venture out. Nowadays, all I want to do is go home. Home, though, has a new meaning in my life. It's not someplace that you can go to or anything that you can touch. Eumi, Jalen and me, together, is home.