More Random Cute Stories About the Boy

• Today, Paxton and I were walking one of my client's dogs and we were noting the numbers on the mailboxes. Although he can count to twenty, he has some trouble matching the numbers with the names. He called fourteen "four", and I pointed out that it was "fourteen". He then called thirteen "three", and I again corrected him. When we got to 12, he hesitated and said, "that's twelve-teen". Oh, so cute!

• He's added to the list of cars he knows. He now can recite that Amy drives a "Skip-burban", George drives a "Civic", and Nana drives a "Focus". I still don't know how he can spot a Corolla from a mile away. I drive one and it still looks like every other car to me.

• Often, when he naps, I spend a little time getting some things done around here, and then for the last 1/2 hour or so, I lay down for a nap of my own. I have the monitor on so I can hear when he wakes up. The other day, almost as soon as I lay down, I heard him start to stir. I tried to ignore him and grab a few minutes of sleep. Then I heard him quietly start to sing a song from Music Together. He sang it quietly and slowly. "This train is bound for glory. This train is bound for glory. This train is bound for glory. Children get onboard. No more weepin' and a-wailin'. No more weepin' and a-wailin'. No more weepin' and a-wailin'. C'mon children, get onboard." I can't ignore my child singing old gospel songs. I just can't.

• We went to the mall for Paxton's annual picture with the Easter Bunny this week. He got to hang out with the bunny and chat him up a bit while we were waiting for his pics to process. We had a nice lunch. Did a little shopping. He played with the toys at the Children's Place. We even had Dippin' Dots for a dessert. The highlight of the whole day for him? Riding the "escavator". I was a little nervous getting on it with him. He, however, loved it. We may have to go to the mall more often just for that experience!

• We got an iPhone a couple of weeks ago, and per the suggestion of my friend Amy, I bought some toddler-friendly apps. There are some flashcards, some songs, some animal pics that will make the sound of the animal when you tap them. But what he likes best is an app that quizzes toddlers on everything from numbers and letters to colors, animals and vegetables. He loves it! I realize I'm going against everything I hold sacred by making him at video game kid at this tender age, but I reason that he's learning things while he plays. He can identify an eggplant, a firefly, upper and lowercase letters and any number. He still struggles with colors. I know now that he isn't colorblind, but it just isn't his strong suit. Watching him do those quizzes is just dizzying. He picked it up so quickly. This is the future. We start them out as tech whizzes as toddlers. It's stupefying.