New Puppy

New parents can be annoying. Take me, for example.

Hearing about the new tooth, the new word, the new thing he does with his tongue when he babbles, and what kind of a face he made the first time he ate spinach is in fact not all that interesting. Really, it's not. And while people will indulge you by looking at a picture of him on your IPhone petting the kitty, their interest in it is about 60-80% feigned.

Never once did I say, "I will never be that Mom and force stories and pictures of my kid on other people who are really busy at work." But I did say, "I will never be that Mom and force stories and pictures of my kid that really aren't that impressive on other people who are really busy at work."

Here's the problem. When it's your kid, (or grandkid, nephew, cousin, etc), it's all impressive. You really do think that what they do is unprecidented, advanced, adorable, and like, so smart. Way precocious.

And so you say, "Seriously, you have got to see what he's doing now. Okay, do it Oliver, put the plastic phone up to your ear like you know what it is. Ring, ring! Hello! Oliver! Pick up the phone! It's for you! Oliver! Oliver! Ring, ring! Ring! Oliver! Ring! Hello! Oliver! Hello! It's for you! Ring, ring! OHMYGOSHLOOK, he totally just put that plastic phone to his ear, did you see that? He totally knows what a phone is! How on earth did he learn that on all his own? Amazing! Oliver! Ring ring!"

It's like we've had a new puppy in the house for the past 16 months. He's not housebroken; he's loud; many times he won't sleep through the night; he chews everything; he likes to go for walks; he's adorable, cuddly and soft; decently loyal to his owners; and we pride ourselves on teaching him a handful of tricks.

I think we'll keep him.