You've got a point!

So I'm currently watching a Lifetime movie.  Yes, it's Saturday night.  And yes, I did say Lifetime.  Shit.  I chose a Lifetime movie out of all the options.  I even own a few DVDs and a Wii.  Is this the moment?  The one I'll look back on when I have mom hair and mom jeans?  The moment when I chose the Lifetime movie out of all the other options?  

But there's a reason I'm admitting this on the Internet and not just keeping it as my dirty little secret.  It turns out the main character's name is Declan.  And everyone but Faye Dunaway's character (yes, that Faye Dunaway) can figure out how to pronounce it correctly.  She keeps calling him deCLAN instead of DEClen, and it's driving me crazy.  Did I give my kid a name that people are going to mispronounce?  I love being Lana (Lawna), but I hate when people call me Layna or Lahna (rhymes with banana).  I hope Dec doesn't go through that yearly ritual in class where he's anticipating all the ways his teacher might butcher his perfectly wonderful name.  And while I understood people's inability to pronounce Guilfoyle, Corcoran is surprisingly difficult too.  And I have a friend who shall remain nameless who still spells my last name Cochran even though I've been married now for almost five years.

But this blog is really about Declan, and boy did we have a day today!  We're going through one of those leaps right now, and it's been so much fun.  In addition to throwing balls and a couple of new words like doggie and ducky (trust me, they are different), Declan has finally, finally started to like books!  He's still not interested in sitting down and listening to stories, but he's started bringing me and Rich books and pointing to pictures inside.  Tonight, he made me go through Brown Bear, Brown Bear five times.  I'm aware that in the future that might get annoying, but tonight, tonight it was lovely.  And it wasn't even the best part.  

As you all know, pointing revolutionized Declan's world.  A good point and grunt and Declan can communicate his wants and needs in a very efficient way, thank you very much.  And so we've spent a lot of time lately naming the things he points to.  Most of the time, I have no clue what he's actually identifying, so I improvise.  But sitting next to our kitchen table are three flower pots.  He's been pointing to them a lot, so today I decided to ask him to point at the flower.  Lo and behold, one chubby little finger stretched out right in the direction of the orchid. Not sure if it was really what I thought it was, I tried a few more times and sure enough, he was pointing to the flowers.  

Then we tried the light, then daddy and both times he pointed right to the place.  We were so incredibly thrilled.  Of course we tried "point to mommy" but Declan just looked at us.  I'm like his shadow.  I'm surprised he didn't just point to himself.  

But the coolest part was when Declan pointed to a flower and a doggie in a book and to the light in his room.  I can't believe I just wrote for 20 minutes about Declan pointing at the correct thing, but for us it's a complete revolution.  To me, this was just as amazing as Declan learning to ride a bike.  It's surprising how something so little can bring moments of such pure happiness.  God I'm cheesy.  First the Lifetime movie, now talk of pure happiness....  Next, I'll tell you about how home is where the heart is.  And the next thing you know, my blog will have a teddy bear border.  And when you see me, I'll be wearing a corduroy vest with a turtleneck underneath.

BTW, next week's Nora Roberts movie has Brittany Murphy and Smith Jared from Sex and the City.  Guess Faye Dunaway knew what she was doing.  And Jerry O'Connell as Declan Fitzgerald has some Emmy-worthy moments. Maybe Lifetime is cool!  Or maybe this is how they get you.  Gotta go, I think I need to go look at minivans online. 

p.s. Here is a direct quote from my husband as he comes into the room "what are you watching?  This movie sucks.  Is that Jason Donnelly?"  Am shaking with laughter.