ROARRRR!! Is a reoccurring sound in our household. Jackson's most recent obsession is dinosaurs. It all started in the fall after Daniel, a friend of Jackson's from preschool, shared his love of dinos with him. Jackson was immediately hooked! Now he only reads dinosaur books, only watches dinosaur videos, only wears dinosaur shirts and pjs (so much for all of his ADORABLE Gymboree cloths!), and ONLY wants to play with his dinosaurs. When I say he is obsessed, I mean he is OBSESSED! He is often in what Matt and I refer to as "dinosaur mode" which is when he acts like a dinosaur. Jackson can mimic a variety of dinosaurs, however the T-Rex (or as Jackson refers to it as "a Sharp Tooth") is his favorite. He often does this at home, however also does this in public! When he is in this mode it is very difficult to get him to step out of his character. Jackson replies to any question exactly the same...with a load "ROARRRRR!" No words can be used, no eye contact is made...just ROARRRRRRRR! I adore his creativity and intensity, however we are trying to teach him about when and where he should do this. Last night the Coco family came over for pizza. Of course, Jackson was in dinosaur mode and scared the Coco's oldest daughter, Sophia, who is three years old. When Sophia started to cry Jackson laughed and said, "Silly Sophia, dinosaurs are extinct!"Tonight before bed Jackson and I read...you guessed it...a dinosaur book! It is a very interesting book about some of the largest dinosaurs to ever walk the earth. The book discusses scientists, how they find bones and the fact that more dinosaurs might still be waiting to be discovered. Jackson looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Do you think that I can discover them?" I answered, "Of course Jackson!" He then said with excitement, "I am going to go to college and be a taliontologist!" (As you probably guessed, he was trying to say Paleontologist.) After a short pause he continued with a very serious voice, "Mommy, I am going to have to bring my bucket and shovel to college with me." He then ended by telling me that he is not sure how college will help him because he already knows how to dig "really good". (This is the same four year old who told me the other day that he did not need to go to preschool anymore. He said, "I already know everything they try to teach me.")
