Reminiscing An Old Toy

This story may only be funny to Paul and I since we've got firsthand experience with the instigator, but I must write it nonetheless. We need to savor and preserve these funny stories, especially for later years when we're dealing with teenage attitudes.

Ian has been fighting a horrible cold the last couple of days. You knew he was miserable looking at his continuously wet, chapped face. Yet, he still managed to find moments of amusement.

When Ian was about 3 months old, we got him a Jumperoo, a jumping apparatus meant for babies under 25 pounds. Ian absolutely loved it and could really get some serious air time using it. However, he outgrew it long ago, and so we put it away for the next baby. Once Laurel was able to hold her head up on her own, we got it out again. The first time Ian saw her in it, he ran over and began playing with the attachments on its "dashboard". It was obvious he remembered using it and wanted to get in, however it had a new driver.

While Ian has a cold, I've been trying to keep the kids in separate rooms, hoping Laurel wouldn't catch it. I was watching Laurel roll around in the family room, when I heard music coming from where Ian was playing. It seemed familiar, but I couldn't figure out which toy he was playing with that made those sounds. Then it dawned on me, he was playing with the Jumperoo. Too cute, I thought, that he still liked to play with its beads and spinning adornments. Laurel and I continued to play, when suddenly I heard little grunts and whines in addition to the repetitive music. I decided it was time for me to check out what Ian was doing. I walked into the living room and found him inside the Jumperoo. He obviously realized the minute he got in that he was too tall and could no longer jump in it. He deperately tried to get out, but the seat was too tight around his toddler thighs to release him. As I reached down to rescue him, I couldn't help but laugh at my giant trying to enjoy his old toy.