We're very lucky.
Jack is the sort of child
we all assume we'll have
when we decide to have children,
and the sort of child
less experienced parents
congratulate themselves for.January and February 2004
March and April 2004
May and June 2004
July and August 2004
September and October 2004
November and December 2004
Blogs we read:
Monday, Aug. 09, 2004 - (Mamma)
That Pluto Stare
Jack's current favorite!
I Spy: An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait
Jack is a very engaging boy.
Or rather, Jack *can be* a very engaging boy.
He has a tendency to look people straight in the face, and when he likes them, he has a charming smile that is rapidly giving way to flambouyant expressions of flirtatiousness.
But he's a discriminating soul, is our Jack. Until he's decided that he likes you, he has a level stare that gives the impression that he's looking through your eyes into your soul.
In photos, it looks less intense than it is, because you can't see this tiny boy's eyes boring into you.
For some reason, they seem to assume that babies should automatically reward them with smiles and laughter if they pay any attention to them -- but no one has yet convinced Jack that he "owes" anyone a smile.
He watches people closely, until he decides that he likes them -- and if he does, he rewards them with beautiful smiles!
But, we'll have to work with Jack on moderating that stare as he gets older -- because it could be considered very rude in someone old enough to be presumed to have social skills.
Nontheless, I hope he remains as discriminating in making friends as he grows older, though perhaps a bit less obvious about it.
Of course, strangers aren't the only ones who see that Pluto stare...as evidenced by the fact that we have photos of it. We are treated to it any time we suprised or annoy him. If I take too many pictures without stopping to talk to him without the camera between us, I can be sure to get the stare. If we break the routine -- if I don't go to work on a week day or if Dad goes to work early in the day on the weekend, we're sure to get that stare. And if we keep the two-penny tyrant up past bedtime, we are guaranteed the stare.
Good thing I think it's cute, eh?
