The Shadow Game

Holden is getting so big. But even more than that, I feel like he is just acting older lately. Now that he can walk so well, he just seems a little bit different in the way he approaches everything - older. I can see him watching, learning, imitating... and it amazes me how much he soaks in. Actions and reactions, sounds and words. It's like one big Shadow Game. He is just learning so much now. And so fast, it seems.

He especially loves to watch, mimic, learn from, and just generally follow around other little kids.

Yesterday we were over at Grandma and Grandpa Himes' for lunch after church, and Holden's cousins were there, too. He was so funny the way he just did exactly everything Naomi did. He just takes everything in and spits it right back out. She walked to the living room, he walked to the living room. She touched the turkey figurine, he touched the turkey figurine. She walked over the the chair, he walked over to the chair. She petted the dog, he petted the dog. It was so so cute to watch.

But even more than other children, Holden is captivated by his daddy. He loves to be with and held by Mommy - no denying that. But when Jared comes into the room, Holden just looks, watches, waits for Daddy to talk to him, waits to see what Daddy's going to do.

In fact, Jared is going to be the percussionist accompanist at a few events coming up, so he's been practicing lately. And he gets the big djembe out, and gives Holden a maraca. So the whole time Daddy's drumming, Holden's walking around the living room shaking his maraca right along with the music. Acting just like Daddy :)

But I watch Holden watching Jared and I when we're talking - just taking it all in, learning how to interact and, basically, how to be a man. And, frankly, sometimes it's a little frightening to think about just how much we, as parents, are going to impact/determine the kind of person he will become. It definitely makes me remember how much of a model I need to be. All the time. And while I am the stay-at-home mom and definitely spend more time with Holden then Jared gets to, I'm still pretty sure that when it comes to ultimate role model, Mommy will not even be in the running with Holden's hero: Daddy.

watching Daddy give the doggy a bath

♥

“He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
-Clarence Budington Kelland