Now I can speak Jack

One more post about the vacation. Spending two straight weeks with my nephew has taught me a lot. He is a very good baby. He doesn't really cry (except the last two nights, but that's a different story). But I think what I learned most about him is that he doesn't just happen upon trouble, he LOOKS for it.

You think you're safe with him in your hotel room until you turn around for two seconds and he finds a knife. Or you look the other way and he downs a bottle of hotel shampoo, or he's licking his Vapo-rub lid.

One afternoon I had him by myself in Las Vegas. I hid every ounce of lotion and anything sharp I could see. He seemed bored for awhile. I thought it was both adorable and hilarious when I turned around and saw him checking to see if his heart was still beating. Looks like he found his first aid kit. And he knows just what to do with his stethoscope.

For those of you who don't know Jack, he was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome which essentially means he was born with half a heart. Thanks to modern technology and miracle-working surgeons, you wouldn't know that unless you checked out the cool scar running down his chest.

After the first night of the trip, Jack woke up at 6:30 AM. Earlier than I would like to be awake on vacation, but when he walked up to my bed, pointed at me and said, "Wawa" I was happy to be awake along with him.

Wawa is my name by the way. Jack has other words that I learned the meaning of.

bampa = Grandpa
geh-ow? = Will you get me out of this thing you have me trapped in?
bite? = I want a bite
light = Look! a light
taco? = will you give me a cracker?
paco? = Will you sing Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree? (this is often accompanied with him opening and closing his fists)
sow? = Will you sing Itsy Bitsy Spider? (accompanied with him moving his fingers like he's knitting)
pecky? = at first we thought he was saying "Becky" which is Mom's name. But it turns out he wants you to sing Patty Cake, Patty Cake Bakers Man.
ou-sigh? = Will you let me go outside?

That last one I seemed to hear constantly. He always wanted to go outside. And when he did he headed straight for the cars. I don't know what he was hoping would happen out there.

Sweet baby boy.