I showered today.  It was great.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let me backup.

Sarah
came to visit us a few weeks ago.  Raines is IN LOVE with his Aunty
Sarah.  As most of you know, Sarah has big blue eyes, a big smile, and
she sang to him constantly.  Raines smiled and flirted the entire time
she was here.  She’s totally his type.  Anyway, Sar and I were hanging
out and gabbing, when she mentioned that she wanted to get Raines some
toys, but she wanted to wait to pick them out until she was in Denver –
you know, to make sure she didn’t get him something he already had. 
So….what toys does Raines have?  I surveyed his room:  there was a
couple of stuffed animals and a baby mirror that makes him cry
(according to Parents magazine and a few million others, all babies
like to look at themselves in mirrors….except, of course, for my
kid).  Suddenly, I remembered – BABY GYM.  My homemade baby gym!  (see
“she’s crafty” blog for pics).  Proudly, I rigged it up, using a couple
of my bracelets.  “Interesting” she said.  Sarah wasn’t nearly as
excited about my baby gym as I was.  She changed the subject to music. 
What music did I play for Raines?  Now in THIS category, I am
PREPARED!  We do a Baby Dance Party almost every day.  The kid has his
own playlist.  So in the mornings, we often do either classical or
opera, and Raines enjoys listening to the Beatles and Green Day in the
car.  However, for Baby Dance Party time, we shakeIT-shakeIT-shakeIT
like Justin T to bring sexy back because with just one look we can hear
a bell ring…MAMMA MIA HERE WE GO AGAIN MY MY, HOW CAN I RESIST YOU? 
Tactfully, Sarah asked if I had any “kids music”.  I realized that she
was probably NOT talking about my rendition of “I’m too sexy for these
diapers, too sexy for these diapers…”  Off to Target we went.  Raines
is now the proud owner of toys.  Real toys!  And a Seasame Street Sings
CD.

I
gotta be honest – I was skeptical at first.  It didn’t help that Raines
was only mildly interested at best.  At worst, he was annoyed (see pic
above).  But then, recently….he started playing with the toys!  I
think his vision is better developed, along with his hand coordination,
so we went from “What is this stupid plastic thing in my face?”  To
“Ooooo….brightly colored plastic…Made in China….GENIUS!”  I can
pop him in his bounce chair with some plastic rings and make lunch.  I
can even — sob tears of happiness — shower.  He stares, breathes
fast, kicks and tries to grab onto his toys. A whole new world has
opened up.  Toys – what a concept.  Thank you, thank you Sarah.

ps. 
Sarah -  I have “Rubber Ducky” stuck in my head.  Everyday.  All day. 
For this, I may never forgive you.  It’s now running neck and neck with
“Hey Jude” for Raines’ favorite song.