16 months.

Jack is 7 months older than his cousin Calla; my sister’s daughter who was born last June. I think he’s still trying to figure out how to react to her.

Last weekend as we were visiting my family in Alabama during Easter, I paid special attention to the two of them. I tried to imagine what Jack was thinking:

“Is she a fellow toddler citizen? Not quite yet.

Is she a puppy? Maybe.

What am I supposed to do with her? She keeps staring at me.

Why does she keep touching me? Why does Daddy look upset every time I start to reach back at her?

This is weird, man.”

For me, as Jack’s dad, watching him try to socialize with his very feminine little cousin was kind of like hoping your dog doesn’t bite someone else’s smaller dog at a park.

Fortunately, I think he realizes that she is no threat. That became evident to me when we were hanging out in the storm shelter and Calla stuck her fingers up to the side of his eye, then plopped her leg up over his. He didn’t move; he just sat there, confused.

It was like in an Eighties’ sitcom where someone knows they’re about to get pie-faced but instead of moving out of the way, they just stand there and take it.

By the end of the weekend, I think Jack began to assume she really is a baby friend. They read a book together and then had a lot of fun out on the swings in the backyard.

As many pictures that have been taken of Jack in a swing, none of them have ever been featured onThe Dadabase because Jack doesn’t look like he’s having any fun; just very stoic.

This is the exception. Jack’s cousin doesn’t walk or talk yet like he can, but she is able to show him how to have fun; even if she is a girl.