Every now and then, I notice some ordinary thing that is a part of my everyday life but which I typically tend not to notice. Really notice. Like my car. The other day, I looked out the window at my car and my neighbor’s cars and began to ponder how odd are these large metal boxes on wheels that carry us to and fro while we just sit there….and daydream, and eat, and talk on our cell phones, and hardly give a second thought to our journey.  And, lo and behold, fifteen minutes later we’re clear across town. Bizarre. I feel like a Jetson. ("Jane, his wife…..") I mean, how great can the leap really be between a car and one’s own personal little space jet?  Point is: these moments of wonder are rare, for me. I have, for the most part, grown accustomed to the world and now simply expect things from it.  I typically just hop into this amazing metal box on wheels and expect it to carry me to the grocery store…quickly, safely, comfortably.

Over the past few weeks, baby C has become much more curious about the workings of his world.  He is taking it all in. And, it is all a great big discovery. He is fascinated and seems almost overwhelmed by all the new things he is discovering. He is full to the brim with wonder.  It is beautiful.

Not long ago, he noticed the ear. For C, ears are the most fascinating thing on the human face.  He spent much of a church service recently clawing the side of my face in a desperate attempt to turn my head around in order to examine (ie: pinch, scratch, pull) my right ear.

He has discovered, also, those dark dots on one’s skin that we call moles. They must look quite out of place to the uninitiated: C employs his sharp little finger nails in an attempt to scratch my dark dots off of my skin. Belly buttons, too, are fun to grab. Sadly they don’t twist off, despite valiant efforts. Oh, and the tongue. It’s fun to move it around in one’s mouth to test out all its twists and turns.  It’s also fun, apparently, to stick it out so that you can rub it with your finger and see what it feels like on the outside.

And, let us not forget the ceiling fan.  These modern inventions are, if not the most amazing things in the world, definitely the most amazing things in one’s house. C, lucky child, has his very own ceiling fan in his room. And, the one over the dining room table does its best to distract a hungry baby while momma heats up the baby veggie of the day. Which brings us to the baby food jar…

…And here we veer away from the realm of little baby wonder and into the realm of little baby greed…..The baby food jar holds a very special place in my baby’s little heart, the sight of which causes rapid breathing and spontaneous arm flapping. And, if the sight of the baby food jar is not quickly followed by the taste of the jar’s contents, disgruntled baby whines and moans ensue. Needless to say, C is continuing to enjoy his food.