The Talkster

Ruben is the quiet baby.  He slept so much as an infant, we barely got to see his beautiful blue eyes.  Even less often, we heard him cry.  He was just that awesome second baby - the one that convinces you that you could have tons of kids.  It's not that June was a particularly tough baby, it is just that Ruben was so darn quiet.

Until now.

This kid talks all the time.  He constantly is making raspberry sounds allowing the drool to run down his front as his tongue flaps in the wind.  He augments this tongue movement by slowing it down and moving his whole lower jaw as he blurts, "Blah, gblah, gblah!" As he chases after my heels while I'm walking around, he whines, "mmmummmum, mmummmummm." Those are just the open mouth sounds.  We made the mistake of taking him with us to the John Deere Classic golf tournament where thousands of adults walk around silently for a week.  I had Ruben in the sling so I could have complete control over his movements.  Plus he's always happy when he's in the sling.  He was so happy, he was singing and humming to himself all day.  The marshalls would hold up their "quiet" paddles and Ruben would keep on singing his loud monotone, droning song.  Only one gentleman gave us the evil eye.  Everyone else just turned around and stared. The day wasn't a complete waste though - we got to ride a school bus from the parking lot to the gate.  Super fun for June!

Besides the open mouth, drooly consonants and the inner monologue that leaks through his vocal chords, Ruben loves to laugh.  And he has this beautiful wide-open-smile-laugh.  He laughs at June almost constantly.  Who knew it was hilarious to walk back and forth between the couch and Nova! He loves to play peek-a-boo, especially with Jan who always throws a washcloth over his face after he's been fed.  And of course, Dad is funny enough to jump over.  When he's caught in a fit of laughter, even his shrill cries aren't enough expression for him - he gets his whole body involved in this violent happy dance.

My current favorite is this combo heavy breathing/snorting/chortling.  This kid is hilarious!