Joyful noise

Benjamin learned to make a joyful noise this week. He also has discovered a new octave in which he can sing (shriek).

If you hear it, you aren’t quite sure if he is upset, complaining or just chatting. Typically, it is a series of high pitched squeaks and shrieks coupled with some ah, ah, ahs at a lower pitch. He says this all while chomping (he looks like he is chewing gum) and wrinkling his brow or raising his eyebrows, depending on the mood.  His whole conversation may not sound like words to anyone else, but Jeremy and I know how to translate: “Mommy and Daddy! Are you not listening to me? My gums hurt! And, let me tell you another thing. I am not too pleased that I am stuck here right now. Pick me up so I can see what is going on! If I am going to be miserable, I might as well be on the move and seeing the world.”

(He is a very mature baby with a very big vocabulary!)

Jeremy had to work today, so Benjamin and I took a long nap and then made a trip to Babies R Us to pick up a new car seat. (Thank you Nana and Papa!)

On cue, Benjamin grinned at anyone who looked his way. I keep waiting for him to learn to wave, because I am certain he will hold court from his perch on the grocery cart. He already has the “You may kiss my hand” thing down. Anyway, on the way in the sto9re I heard, “Oh my gosh, look at those huge feet!” Then, “What cute brown hair.” And then, “How old is he?”

Prying him away from his adoring audience, I wandered through the store (a very dangerous store in which to wander) and collected some items with my coupons. Then. a very nice clerk helped me load it all in my car while Benjamin cooed and blew raspberries at him.

From there, we headed to my friend Mary’s house to return some maternity clothes that I still had sitting at my house. We just never get to that side of Cincinnati, so it was a good excuse to visit. Here is Benjamin playing with her two boys.

He had fun, but I think he was quite overwhelmed by the time we left. He isn’t used to quite so much handling from boisterous toddlers. He sees kids like them at Miss Linda’s house, but I don’t think they get quite so close. :) It was really cute to see how excited they were to play with a baby and how confused they were that he couldn’t play back.