Like a bowl full of jelly.

Whew! On-call months are no good for blogging. Apologies for the lack of updates. It doesn't mean Jonathan hasn't done anything new or exciting recently! He cut his ninth tooth (finally!) and loved Trick-or-Treating on UVA's Lawn. He walks just about everywhere now, preferring it to crawling, and his greatest goal in life is to be able to climb up on the couch. Also, he's had a few spots of temper, and tried to pinch us when we don't do what he wants. So he's also discovering what "time-outs" are in the playpen.

I had so much fun with Jonathan this weekend, though, that I had to take a break from my busy schedule to share a cute story. He was so glad to have both Mommy and Daddy home all weekend. Actually, there were times when it seemed he could do without Daddy. We like to get together for a "family hug" with Jonathan in the middle, and everyone gets a kiss on the cheek. Jonathan didn't want to share, however, so each time Chris came over, Jonathan slung an arm around my neck and pushed Chris away with the other hand. It didn't help that Chris and I both cracked up each time. Jonathan kept smiling, but he really meant it! Nobody hugs his mommy except him.

So Chris took some time to watch the football games on Sunday, and I lay down on the floor to boost Jonathan on to the couch, and to play with the Little People he got for his birthday. Jonathan likes to cruise around the living room and stops to check in with me every two or three times around the circuit. I guess he though I looked bored at one point, and he decided to cheer me up. He came right up to me, screwed up his face and pushed out his belly. Then he started bouncing up and down on his toes, grunting, and shaking his belly like a bowl full of jelly!

Well, it was so bizarre that I was kind of torn between laughing and taking him in for some sort of psychiatric evaluation. My next thought was actually that maybe he needed more fiber in his diet, but a diaper check was negative. He seemed fine, though, laughing and happy. So he tried it again, and it was so odd looking that I burst out laughing. That seems to have been the response he was hoping for! He started laughing too, and laughed so hard he fell backwards onto his butt, which made me laugh more. After the giggles subsided, he got up and did it again. That kept us amused for a few minutes, and then he went back to his circuit. If he saw I wasn't smiling, though, he made sure to come over and "belly dance" for me again.