Hayden has been making some pretty remarkable discoveries lately ... things that we take for granted have been discovered ... and cherished by our precious little guy! He has a knack for learning quickly and has put his knowledge to use ... although we put the high locks on the doors months ago because our innovative angel learned how to unlock the doors and let himself, or the puppy out, we're learning that toddlers have a way of making any "child-proofed" thing more like "child proves it's not so child proof!"
- Hayden has learned the most efficient way of removing himself from the confines of his car seat. AAAAHHHH! After some fearful moments of mommy and daddy pulling over and re-fitting the shoulder straps while calmly explaining in toddler terms the need to leave them on, the problem has subsided ... for now! :)
- Hayden has realized that the snacks are on the top shelf of the cupboard ... and has also learned that if he climbs just right, he can reach up and grab some fruit snacks or cheeze-its fast enough to not get caught ... most of the time! He is seriously like a jungle animal when he starts climbing ... so flexible and balanced ... one time he apparently didn't move as quickly as his normal routine and realized that he was a foot off of the ground, and got scared ... mommy came to the rescue and now he asks for a snack instead of venturing up the cabinet on his own!
- Mimicking ... the wonderful art of copying each and every word, phrase, or action that you see! I have two younger brothers who made adolescence much more interesting by putting that art to work, and Hayden has made each and every day a little more exciting by sharing his newest lessons learned with us. He loves to put his stuffed animals through whatever he's done or will do. "MOO" is his stuffed cow that has been his best buddy for months, and "Tiger" has just joined in the group. He tucks them in and says good night ... he puts Moo in his chair at the table for snack ... he lets them sit in his little trucks and he drives them around ... and he even buckles them into the car seat for a ride! The other day when I brought one of Hayden's car seats in to clean it, he decided that Moo and Tiger should go for a ride! :)
Our little guy is definitely all boy, too ... his favorite thing to do involves anything that has to do with wrestling, throwing a ball, or making "vroom and beep-beep" noises as he skates his cars across the couch. A nightly ritual that has developed is Hayden jumping on David's back and getting a lift around the living room - HE LOVES IT!
Hayden's spirit and excitement for each and every new thing he learns is so refreshing, and he is such a little ball of happiness - it's seriously so contagious!
In his book "Dangerous Wonder," the late Mike Yaconelli encourages readers to rediscover the child in them and apply it to their relationship with God ... to take Jesus at His word when He said,
"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." I pray that just like our little guy and every child in every place, the Lord renews your excitement, your spirit, your hunger to learn something new every day - He is putting it
all before us, we must open our eyes and hearts to take it
all in. The business of life makes us tired, both physically and spiritually, but I am thankful for the joy the Lord brings to us and pray that you receive it ... and share it with each and every person that you meet. What an awesome God we have to bless us with little ones to truly teach us more about the most important ways to live and things to know in life!
