Jan 10 2008
I Want My Baby Back (baby-back, baby-back)
“R used to be my sister when we were little babies. Then I grew up to be a big boy and she didn’t grow, so we sold her to O’s family.”
– Benjamin, age 4, to his Grammy, age something greater than 4
Our son likes to make up his own narratives while playing. Sometimes he goes a step farther and riffs fiction in everyday conversation. I don’t mean lying. It’s much less sinister (so far) and shows a creative flair that makes his author-wannabe dad proud.
In fact, in the quote above, he employed one of the most engaging methods of storytelling — mixing truth with fiction. Alternate history, if you will. Our friends Sir J (commenter Josh) and Lady J do, indeed, have a baby daughter named R. They also have a two-year-old son named O, according to sources.
No actual baby sale took place, however, because they still haven’t paid us. That and our agreement that R’s pretty darn cute and sweet might just motivate us to repossess her.
On another note, I changed out the banner for January, and you might have to force a refresh to see it. While I thought the first one was funny, I couldn’t stand the clutter any longer. Why didn’t somebody tell me it was so horrible?
The one up now is a robin during a March snow in Bella Vista, Arkansas (one of our old haunts, and where we brought our baby boy home after the doctor pulled him out of my screaming wife).
I’ve been changing out my banner monthly for about a year now. What better way to reflect than by visiting my Past Banner Pictures page?
I do like the new banner better than the old one. The old one was engaging, but like you said, somewhat cluttered. The impromptu fictional diatribes are fun, eh? Last night at dinner my eldest refereed a face-off between a lion and a tiger. (His spoon and fork respectively.) No word on who won, but it was quite ferocious!
I think I like your October banner the best. That bird thingie was captured so wonderfully.
Lady J told me about this yesterday. I’m willing to let R’s baldness be on your shoulders for awhile instead of mine. O has started with the imaginative stuff. Nothing as cool as a tiger fight, but he does turn ordinary toys into magical things from movies. He is now the proud owner of a time machine, even though it’s really R’s.
I too, like the new banner more than the last one.. I was tempted to say something, but it IS your blog.
Love the new pic…..
(darn Simon got here before me this morning!)
New banner is better. The old one was amusing at first, but not particulalry beautiful once the humor wore off.
Norah’s imagination is developing nicely, though still a few years behind Ben’s. She climbs into the dining room chairs and pretends to eat from the plates there. “Mmmm” she tells us as she eats the air. During meal time, she has started bouncing bits of food about on the table while making animal noises. “Bark bark” says the pizza crust. It’s possible she’s just very confused…but I’d rather believe she understands make-believe.
Okay, that’s very cute! And what a story it would make - I mean, they had a movie with Robin Williams about the boy who grew too much. Now your son can write the story about the girl who wouldn’t grow at all ;-)
All - Yep, the other picture was better as a one-time “hey, isn’t this kind of funny thing.” By the way, that one was from the Arkansas side of Texarkana.
Simon - Ah yes, the big cat fight. Ben likes for us to pretend to be lions so we can lion fight. Lately, he’s big enough that it kind of hurts when he tackles me.
Josh - She’ll get some beautiful hair before you know it, which will of course increase your tab.
Dave - You were a little late. I’ll just guess you were busy.
Moksha - And isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen when she does that?
Frigga - I can’t think of the movie you’re talking about, but I would like to see Ben’s fleshed out into a film. You got the budget?
Wow, the way everybody is bad-mouthing your banner, kinda makes you wonder, duddn’t it? Like they were waiting for permission or something ;-)
Like, what if you were to say… oh, never mind. I was feeling a little mischievious there for a second. But I got over it…