Gesundheit!

Some days Ben makes Jamie and me feel like (quality) stand-up comedians, proving to be a most generous audience particularly when he is overly tired. At these times, the slightest action (a kiss, a hug, a tap of the nose) or even a word can send him into giggles that delight the heart.

Last night I was nursing and rocking him to sleep, and he sneezed. "Gesundheit," I said, as I usually do. A small chortle escaped his milk-mustached mouth. I couldn't resist trying again. "Gesundheit!" He again laughed, this time a belly giggle. With successive repetitions of the word, his laughs got louder and louder, and pretty soon Jamie was peeking around the corner of the kitchen, abandoning our dishes which he had been washing to watch the exchange. It lasted a good five minutes before Benjamin seemed to habituate to the sound of our magical word. It took considerably longer than five minutes to get him back to a sleepy mood. Regardless, we certainly enjoyed this "healthy" dose of laughter.

Reassurance

Ben has a cold. So early this morning we took him into bed with us, and he snuggled right down between Jamie and me. He slept soundly. Around 7 a.m. or so I felt a light patting on my arm and looked over to see Ben, sleepy-eyed, looking at me. He then turned his head toward Jamie and reached out a pudgy hand to stroke Jame's cheek. And then he closed his eyes again, content. Slept for another hour. He just need a little reassurance.

A penchant for bubbly water

So at 4 mos., 2 weeks, Ben already likes sparkling water. It took his dad 3 + years of knowing me before he "converted" to the "tasteless, sugar-less, soda". Ben doing it in a matter of days is a record. I thought I was the only one offering him a sip out of my glass ever so often. Come to find out, daddy has been slipping him the bubbly as well. [And yes, there are some incriminating photos floating around facebook involving beer bottles and wine glasses, but we promise we truly limit the little guy to water.]

The first few tries were hilarious, with Ben wrinkling up his nose, and the water pouring liberally down his chin. But now he laps it up from the rim, and gums the glass a bit as well. Since Ben has just started teeting, I do wonder if the cool glass is part of the reason he now looks at us with imploring eyes whenever we have a glass of something cool and refreshing in hand.