Our five-trick pony...

It is so amazing to see these babies demonstrate that they can learn new things. Millions of connections are being made every day in that curious little brain, but it takes a while for the results to become visible to an expectant Mommy and Daddy. Well, they are starting to show up in Davis and I am just as amazed watching him as I was the first go-round.

Here are some of our blondie's newest tricks, none of which are actually useful except as an endless source of entertainment.

Act 1: "Pat, Pat, Pat."



Act 2: "The wave."

Act 3: "The bbbtthmhthhmhbbbb....."

Act 4: "Dada." (Well, 1 out of 2 parents in this house think that is what he's saying.)

Act 5: This just happened about two hours ago and I was pretty shocked. You can hear in my shrill, annoying narration how excited and surprised I was when our little "Davis in the Box" revealed this new skill.

You can see Jack was just as surprised as we were when Davis "boosted" himself. Oh, and it's time to lower the crib mattress. Fun times.

So, what happens when Baby Davis doesn't do his tricks on command?

That's right. He has to get down and give me twenty. Actually, his unsuccessful attempts at crawling usually result in these little baby push-ups.

Next trick on the docket: We've begun teaching him Sign Language in hopes of replacing the shrieky Pteradactyl cries with the simple sign for "MORE." I am told (and will simply have to trust) that it's not too early to start, so we are giving it a try.

Today at lunch Jack signed "more" and repeated OVER and OVER... "More, Dave? Do you want more? Do this, Dave. Look, Dave. Do this. DAaaaVIS!"

He finally said, "Momma, he won't even look at me! I think the first word we need to teach him is his name."