While I never wanted the boy to grow up too quickly, I did yearn for some interactivity in his younger days. Though younger babies might not understand cause and effect relationships, they demonstrate them regularly. For example, babies are born with a handful of reflexes. Like when they're scared, their fingers extend out and their hands raise up towards their heads (known as the "Moro" reflex, it happened 100% of the times that we closed the microwave door for several months). And while this was fun to be able to cause a reaction from the boy (no matter how involuntary), it made me feel a hint of cruelty knowing that I was scaring him and enjoying it.

The cause and effect things we generally find the most fun involve either farts or poop. After all, I'm his primary male role model. Who better to enjoy farts and poop with?

For a short while during his early infancy, pushing his knees up towards his chest would induce a fart. Many Saturday afternoons were spent enjoying this. I'd laugh, he'd laugh, it was great. But what was, and continues to be, even more fun is the phenomenon of the "poop chair."

He's got one of those Fisher Price Kick & Play bouncy chairs, with the calming vibrations. With a success rate of over 95%, putting him in this chair would make him poop within 5 minutes. Again, I'd laugh, then he'd laugh (then I'd call someone else to change the poopy diaper). Naturally, it became known around our house as the poop chair. Probably not what Fisher Price had in mind.

Now, we can have the same sit and poop experience by putting him in his high chair. It's still funny, though now it's a little more gross. Do you know how bad some baby food smells? Combine that with poop. *shudder*

All I'm really saying is that I often marvel over what little things about my boy make me smile.

And that sometimes, I wonder if my maturity levels have gone up or down since becoming a father.