My Little Buddy

I spent Friday and Monday working from home. I really wanted to take those two days off but work was hectic so I ended up working from home.

I hate to do this because then I get stressed about work and I'm constantly checking work email, although I really can't do a lot of substantive work beyond forwarding emails and replying. I also get stressed about Ivan because I'm not paying any attention to him.

But despite this, it was nice to be home with him. I hadn't done it in a while. It's different when both Andy and I are home than when it's just me, Ivan and Mariposa.

I used to take a week of on average every quarter or so but I haven't done it since the fall.

Ivan has changed so much. He's a little almost-conversant person now. In addition to taking care of him, I can now talk to him, truly engage him and interact with him and play with him. And he really understands everything I say and ask him to do. And he really loves to help and do chores.

It's so much fun. I didn't expect it. I always wondered what do people do with babies and toddlers. I thought time spent with a child would be boring. This was of course before I had Ivan. I've loved taking care of him every minute. But now it's so much fun on a different level. I can see his personality emerge. His likes and dislikes and he stubborness and his sense of humor. He definitely has a sense of humor and likes to laugh. It's really funny. He cracks up this hysterical laugh out of nowhere. I can teach him things. He gets excited about everything. He wants to participate and interact. We read books together and he loves it. He loves to play with his Thomas the train set--well he actually likes to put the tracks together, there are lots of bups. We solve those wooden puzzles together. However, he still loves the vaccuum cleaner (as my mom said, his first love) and wires.

I've decided to take a week of in early May, as soon as work quiets down a bit, to spend time with him at home. I can't wait for it. We'll have so much fun. And by then I assume he'll be even more talkative and be even more engaging.

I can't wait.