It is unbelievable to me that just a few short years ago the big brother and sister of these two were getting together for play dates. Fast forward four years and now J and H are hanging out. I think J could sum up H in one word: fascinating.

J would tentatively extend his index finger at H and then hover around him. Then he would back away slowly and sit in my lap keeping his eyes trained on H. Then he carefully went through the toys he had out, selected a few rings and set them at H’s feet. Then H who was sitting in his Mom’s lap, reached over and took the rings. J seemed quite satisfied with this accomplishment and went on to doing other things.

After awhile, H needed to stretch out, so we put him on J’s quilt. J apparently thought that H did not need to be laying out on the quilt, as he first squatted beside him (as you see in the picture), and then tried to tug the quilt out from under him. I’m not sure if he did not want him laying on the quilt, or if he thought he should be laying under the quilt (because that is J’s favorite game). I moved J on to other toys (and a nap), but he would always go back and check on his new buddy.

It amazed me how interested J was in interacting with H, I can’t quite remember A having that active interest in other babies at this time. After H left, J cried at the door. Poor boy! Obviously he is looking forward to sharing his rings again soon!

A has always loved reading books. I can remember when he was around 1 and a half we would get a big stack of books from the library and just sit in the chair and read for an hour every day. When J was an infant we used to read to him the same way we did with A, and I wondered if he would share the same interest in reading A has as he got older.

As J has really started to develop his very distinctive little personality it is funny to see how he shares and is different from A in so many ways. He has developed the same love of reading as A does, but J prefers books that have real photographs, photographs of animals, and have some sort of touch and feel aspect (pretty typical for his age). J will go grab a book from his room and carry it into the room proudly in his little chubby hands and then promptly throw it at your face if you aren’t watching. This means “let’s read it!” And where A would cuddle up next to us on the floor or in a chair, J always stands. At attention. And he pokes at the book and stomps his feet in delight with pages he likes, and claps his hands.

And if he likes it well enough, after you finish the book he will grab it and toss it to you again for you to read. Good thing they make sturdy baby books!

Despite having numerous items that could be designated as safe push toys, J’s go to item is our vacuum. Whenever I get it out he scurries over to it stands up and immediately starts trying to push it around on his own. Sometimes I imagine him happily vacuuming the whole house….hahaha.

Yes I took a picture. Don’t fret, my hand is on the vacuum. And no we don’t let him actually push it around the house. That would be ridiculous. Or the best way to vacuum ever…