Small friend

i have a small friend who i get to hang with every week.
he is very fun.
his skills have increased by leaps and bounds just in the short time i have had the pleasure of 'sitting' him.

he can now climb everything in the loungeroom - except for the mantlepiece (though he has not left it untried!) - no coffee cup is safe, nor handbag placed however high.
no plate or keyboard, phone, computer plug..

if i do not pay him enough attention, he will fix me with a mournful gaze and sign for a drink - upon reception of which, he pushes away scornfully. afterwards he allows himself a cheeky grin.

his vocabulary is also growing at a great rate. there are a few small quirks - like persisting in calling both parents 'dad-ad-ad' - and he has quickly worked out how to turn new knowledge to his own ends..

apparently just the other day he was in bed protesting his imprisonment most passionately. his protests went ignored, until there were soft calls of 'poo, poo..' a parent came quickly - only to discover a very small boy crying wolf: the nappy was empty.

small friend wakes from sleep so cheerily content.
eyebrows raised, eyes wide, mouth a narrow 'o', he flaps his arms wildly when excited.

small friend is quick to rush to the pram when the words 'outside' 'walk' or 'pram' are mentioned. even hunting for keys does the trick.

small friend has the sharpest eyes and ears. he will spot a bird when it's just a dark stripe on the horizon, and point with wondering excitement whenever he hears their song.

small friend acts the baby bird himself - ducking to get food from his elders, mouth wide open and limbs outstretched.
small friend totters round the yard with fangs of baked bean sauce dribbling down his cheeks...

small friend is growing too fast!