Jake can READ!!

It's official. Jakey can read. He's not quite up to obscure Russian literature yet, but he's gettin there. It's funny how one day they just wake up and put it all together. He has always loved books. Loved us reading them to him and if we weren't available, he'd just make up the words. He's been reading individual words for quite a while now, but never whole sentences. Last night, he just did it, and kept doing it, and hasn't stopped yet. I can't explain how proud I am of him.

Well, I can try.

See, I don't do a lot of things well. I can't dance. I can't sing. I can't solve higher math. I can't play any instruments. I can't get excited about reality TV. There's just all kinds of stuff I can't do well, or for that matter...at all.

However, I can read. I can read and read and read. I love it. I like reading anything. Even books about subjects I'm not even remotely interested in. I can't tell you how many cereal boxes I have read all six sides of in my life. Go ahead and check, there's stuff on the top and bottom.

I'm thrilled Jake is so interested in reading. There's so many great books out there for kids now. When we were kids, there wasn't that great of a selection. We did however have the greatest format in literature come along when I was little, "Choose Your Own Adventure". Man those where great. My favorite was the G.I. Joe series. I confess to skimming ahead to see if I was going to drown in the swamp or capture Cobra Commander. A guilty pleasure indeed. Now though, they have books about every possible interest a kid could have. Tons of 'em. Seems about 25% of bookstore shelves are filled with toddler through juvenile books. I love it.

So Jake, buddy, welcome to the world of books my man. I hope you stay as enthralled with reading as you are right now. You're such a cool kid.