Life in Audio - Vincent at 18 months

To best understand Vincent at 18 months you must use your ears.  Given just the sense of "sound" the listener will either crack a smile as big as Texas or run for the nearest soundproof room.  Because this little boy is a cacophony of sounds.

From across the house I hear your ferocious and surprisingly deep, lion/bear/dinosaur roar.  It might be in response to a favorite book (such as "The Lion and the Mouse") or the sighting of your stuffed black bear perched atop the shelf.  Your pig "oink" comes through the nose and is given in reply to any reading of "Baby at the Farm" or "Click, Clack ABC."  Sometimes you growl just to flirt with your momma because it makes me laugh, swoop you into my arms, and exclaim, "You scare me!  You scare me so much!"  This is one of your favorite games. 

Unfortunately and fortunately, the much beloved growls and grunts are being replaced with a more sophisticated form of communication, true words.  In the last two weeks you started combining words.  One of your first sentences was, "Daddy back."  For now, he is your favorite and listeners would be quite taken aback by your shriekish cries when he walks out the door. 

Listen carefully and you might hear the shuffle, stomp of little feet galloping across the house.  You gallop, gallop, gallop in response to music, clapping, and others' attention.  The back leg shuffles forward while the front leg slams down.  Precious, quirky, and completely you. 

If current loves are any indication of future achievements then a crack of ball to bat, the swoosh of ball to net, or the thump of football to chest is forthcoming.  Right now you can kick the soccer ball across the lawn, one kick after another.  Being held high in the air by your daddy's strong arms to dunk a ball in the net is nothing short of thrilling.  And you can throw a ball straight to your sister across the room. 

Now if solely relying on my sense of hearing then I would be truly disturbed by a few moments in your day.  For you never utter a quite yelp of protest, you screech and scream until untrained ears might be convinced you are bleeding.  Good thing your momma and daddy know better!  In those screeches you are communicating your desire for independence, distaste for the word "no!" or that your sister has something you wish to possess such as your momma's lap, your juice cup, or any given toy in the house.  You are an opinionated little guy and can "hold your own" in the world.

Then again, if only using my ears there is so much I would miss!  The silent wonderment as you are lost in your independent tasks of play and exploration outside.  The joy in watching your chubby little fingers pick up and devour well seasoned meat or your prized culinary treasure, Doritoes!  The stillness of you on my lap first thing in the morning, munching on a bowl of Cherrios, watching "Curious George" turned down low.  The rare occasions of you on my chest in the middle of the night as I rock you back asleep.  The sweetness of those long lashes closed in slumber, cheeks chapped from hours spent outside.  The smell of your green apple hair straight from the bath.

So while I can still hold you in my arms, I will treasure the sight, sound, smell, and feel of Vincent Laws Anthony.  Because before long you will be all grown up and off to school, off to discover the world with your own four senses.