Z is a real boy now

Remember before when I said Z was starting to have opinions? Oh yeah, things have gotten real. Two examples:

1. Sunday night we ordered pizza. Z had previously successfully consumed homemade pizza crust so I gave him some of this crust. He was delighted and went to work gnawing on it. Unfortunately for him this crust was not breaking apart like the homemade variety and, with his enthusiastic shoving of the entire thing into his mouth, was looking to be a delightful choking hazard. So I took it away and gave him a teething biscuit instead.

You would have thought I chopped the child's hand off.

He turned beet red, screwed up his little face and just wailed. Wails into sobs. It was so incredibly dramatic that I couldn't help myself- I laughed. I'm sure he's going to love that reaction when he's a toddler.


2. This has happened at a few bedtimes now. I lay Z in his crib and as I walk towards the door he's squawking and crying until the moment it closes behind me. And then all weeping stops. Seriously, this kid is not dumb. "If I squawk, will Mama stay in the room? No? Okay then, let's explore the crib."

While it's somewhat shocking to see the rage that only a wordless baby can express, it's kind of cool too. Z is becoming himself, if that makes sense. This chubby-cheeked, adorable, kissable little baby is becoming the amazing person I am going to get to know and love. A real person, just like me and his dad, with his own thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes. It's really amazing.

Remind me of this when I look like I'm about to blow a blood vessel during one (of many, I'm sure) of the temper tantrums this amazing little person is sure to throw in the future.