Neil playing in a fountain

Neil loves water. I mean I have written this so many times in this blog, it’s getting to be a cliché. But every day it gets confirmed, and we are simply in amazement at how much he is attracted towards anything that flows, splashes, waves, undulates… He is truly at home with water.

The new activity he has discovered is playing in a fountain. Near Milpitas City hall, there are some fountains on the ground, so they are easily accessible. That place is just perfect to take him to play – it is about 10 minutes of walk from our place. Very convenient. Secondly, the fountains are near a glass building, so not only can he play with the water, but he gets to see reflections of water and himself – both of which he loves. Thirdly there are various flags right next to the fountain, and for some reason he is fascinated by waving flags. I guess he loves everything that is fluid. Fourthly, the City Hall is located on a busy intersection – which means hundreds of cars every minute going to and fro. After water he loves cars going about. Especially the big ones – he gets really awed by SUVs. And when a bus or a truck goes by, he is simply mesmerized. So mirrors, water, flags and cars – all the things he loves are concentrated at this point.

The approach to the fountains is fun in itself. When we go up the ramp, he sees them and realizes that it is flowing water. I let him enjoy it from about 15 feet, and a few moments later he gets focused on it. Then I take him a little closer, and his anticipation builds. I take him within a couple feet, and he is jumping with joy, trying to free himself from the stroller. He sticks his hand out, and I oblige him by letting it soak. The fountain is a bit erratic, so while soaking his hand he gets half his side wet. But there is only so much you can do sitting in a stroller. So I take him out and he jerks his feet, trying to get in even before I take him close enough. After a while I put him down.

The tall fountains are little difficult for him, because they splash a little too much. They have a bit too much force too, for Neil to really play. However, the ones at the end are short – spewing water for about a foot. He sits down besides the oozing water and tries to hold the stream. I don’t know exactly what he wants to do but he gets that earnest, focused look on his face. He is completely engrossed in the experience. After about twenty minutes, he realizes the water is too cold for him, but even after I pull him out he still wants to go in. Even after I change him into dry clothes, he still looks at the water longingly.

What can I say, I guess he loves water.