Garbage Trucks and Escalators

Hi, precious one!

Last Friday, we went to the mall for lunch. While we were waiting for a place to sit at the restaurant, you and I were checking out all the ceiling fans. Oh, there were lots and lots of them to see, and you were smiling really big and making your "sign" for "fan" and making your "sign" for "please," so naturally Nana was taking you around to see each one. Nobody can resist your smile, Derek. Especially Nana.

There were even fans outside, which you were very sure you wanted to see. So, I picked you up and took you outside. You were pointing at the fan and making the "fan" sign and smiling and happy. And then, what do you think happened? A big, shiny garbage truck pulled up! You couldn't decide whether to look at the truck or the fan. It was a challenge! I asked you if you wanted to look at the fan or the truck. And you said, "Tuck." And just then the "tuck" started backing up, and it made "beep, beep, beep" noises. I explained to you that drivers of big trucks can't always see small things that are directly behind them (such as the man and his little boy who chose that very moment to walk behind the truck!), and so there is a special warning "beep" when the truck is backing up. I hope you will remember to always be very careful when you are behind a big truck.

Reaching for the camera!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Just then our table was ready, so we had to go sit down in spite of your reluctance to do so. We ordered our food, and then I offered to take you for a little walk in the mall so you wouldn't have to sit in that high chair for such a long time, and your mama thought that was a good idea.

By the way, your mama looks so pretty all the time. It is like there is a light shining from inside her, because your baby brother is going to be here soon. We are all very excited about that!

Anyway, you wanted to run and run through the mall. You did not want me to hold your hand at all. For such a small person, you certainly can move very, very fast! Good thing Nana moves fast, too. The jewelry store was a favorite place, with such beautiful, shiny things right there at your eye level. Fortunately, they were behind glass, but that didn't stop you from trying to touch them. Who can blame you? I wanted to touch them, too.

And then you spotted the escalator. It is one that has clear sides, so you can see it going up or going down when you are beside it. You ran over there faster than I thought possible, and you looked at it with great admiration. Here's our conversation:

Derek:  "Pfthbluhbltha!"

Nana:  "Do you like the escalator?"

Derek:  [smile] [sign for please] "Pfthbluhbltha!"

Nana:  "Would you like to go for a ride on the escalator?"

Derek:  [big smile] [sign for please...sign for please...sign for more...sign for please]

You are certainly becoming very proficient with your sign language, Derek, and it's wonderful to be able to understand what you would like.

So I picked you up, and up we went on the escalator. You were so happy! Oh, you loved your first ride on an escalator. We came right back down again, because I knew your mama would be wondering what happened to us! Nana hopes we will be able to have many more wonderful adventures together, sweet one!

Big squeezes,
Nana