I’ve been observing Donovan these last few days, and it’s amazing to see how he functions in this world.  The way he thinks and decides things.  The way he is perceived and how he reacts to others.  Seeing how a person goes from being born into this world not knowing how to do anything, to teaching him about everything and seeing how he takes it all in and applies it is pretty amazing.  It’s a big responsibility, but it’s been so much fun.  Teaching him to roll over, to crawl, walk, say “bye-bye,” to remind him to look where he’s going, slow down, and so many other things.  In the midst of growing up way too fast, comes his need/want for independence. 

Example 1: The daily pick-up.  Every day when his dad or I pick him up from daycare, he sees us and doesn’t greet us with a hug anymore (“Oh Mommy! Daddy! I’ve missed you soo much today! Please take me home!!!!”). Instead he stops what he’s playing with, gets up and walks straight to the fridge.  He eagerly waits for us to open it, then he grabs his lunchbox (he knows which one is his), hooks it over his shoulder and says, “bye-bye” while waving to everybody and goes right out the door.  Of course, I’m talking to his teacher, asking about his day and have to tell him to wait for mommy as he anxiously waits at the door.  The lunchbox, almost as big as he is, stays in his hands as we walk together out to the car. 

Example 2: His way.  Time spent at the dinner table can be a fun family time for us.  Other times, if Donovan is given something he’s not too thrilled with then sees us eating a slight, adult version of the same thing he has, he wants what we have.  And trying to just scoop and feed it to him is no good anymore.  HE wants to use his spoon and put it in his own mouth.  Same thing with changing his diaper.  We fold up his dirty one and he is so eager to put it in the trash.  If we don’t let him, tears will quickly stream down his face accompanied with screams as if to be saying, “HOW COULD YOU!?! YOU’RE SO MEAN!!!” 

Example 3: Godzilla.  Forget picking things up with his hands and examining it intently.  Stepping on it—repeatedly— is how he sees whether something anything is hard, soft, slippery, crinkly…. this method often results in him falling.  Falling on his bottom, his face, or ending up in the splits from the object sliding out from under him.  The latter happening more often than the first two. 

Example 4: Older kids are awesome.  It doesn’t matter what they are doing.  Running around the playground.  Playing on the basketball court.  Standing, waiting for their parents to finish buying something at the mall.  I find him not only watching them, studying them, but he’s wanting to play with them.  Some kids who looked to be about 7 or 8 were playing basketball and Donovan walks right up to them, fearless, asking to play with them.  The older kids let him and within minutes, Donovan is hugging them.  And my heart melts.  What a sweet, sweet little man. 

I’m constantly trying to figure you out, Donovan.  And just when I think I have, you throw us another curve ball.  But I love it.  Every day is an adventure.