The number one comment about Jacob these days is what a happy baby he is.

Lately, I’ve been struck by the things that make him laugh.  Sometimes, it seems like nothing at all.  Often, it’s his own ability to crawl across a room or pull himself up to stand by holding on to a table or a chair.  Other times it’s my real or feigned coughing/choking (this worries me a bit), or the funny faces or silly sounds someone makes for him (his grandpa Karl is particularly skilled at this).

One night a few weeks ago, John was home in time to see Jacob before he went to bed.  He started to play with a new toy while he held the little man on his lap and Jacob lost his mind with giggles.  I was finishing some evening prayer while this happened (and taping it, clearly), and the smiles on their two faces turned out to be all the prayer I needed.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9JUt6WVdJ8&w=560&h=349]

Of course, Jacob likes when we lift him up, when we spin him around, when he’s on the swings at the park, and when we dance with him.  He also giggles when he’s in the sling and I start to walk down stairs.  All these things must simply feel like bouncing to him, but even with that logical explanation in mind, he seems to enjoy the stair thing more than one might expect.

The other day we bought a new ball to play with, and bouncing that has the same effect.  We are always in motion these days, and it can be exhausting, but it’s super fun.  Thank goodness the ball currently holds his attention longer than most other things do these days.  It’s nice to play with a “big boy” toy with the little guy (a little easier on my back!).

I love that Jacob is such an active and curious little boy and that the movement of objects around him so fascinates him.  I imagine he is fluidly learning laws of physics when I play these games of motion with him, and I hope that all these playtime experiences serve him well in learning about his world.  Maybe that’s a lot to get out of a bouncing ball, but I don’t think so.

Either way, these smiles and your giggles are good for my soul.