Theo the brainiac

Tonight I was getting Theo ready for bed, which has become somewhat 'difficult' at times. He's a bit of a night owl, and although he's only 2 and a half he's not interested in being told when it's time for bed. We'll get him in his jammies, read a couple books and get him quiet in the crib, sing a song to/with, him but when we leave the room, 1 of 2 things happens... 1) he screams for a few minutes then tires himself out and falls asleep; or 2) he stays up singing and counting for long time, a much as an hour.
But that's not why I'm writing this. When Theo goes in for the night he needs a few things, namely his Blankie, a book or two, a small stuffed giraffe originally named George but now named Sophie (another story for another blog post, yeah I'm trying to get back in the habit), and a Nalgene sippy cup filled with water. Some nights the cup has too much water or not enough water so that problem will need to be rectified prior to leaving, the cup also needs to have a sticker with his name on it, "T - H - E - O, see daddy?". Again, this is not why I'm writing this, but we are getting closer.
Tonight, as I was preparing to read to him, after he sat in for 3 stories in Baybub's room (Jacob, if you couldn't guess), Theo asked for his water. I had just filled it and placed it in his crib against the far wall, I got up and went to


grab the bottle and hand it to him. He became incensed. What I didn't realize was that he needed to get the water bottle "by me own self". I put the bottle back in, however I (stupidly) put it against the front railing. After Theo reminded me, I put the bottle back in the same spot where I had grabbed it from moments before. Keep in mind it's in the crib, which has railings roughly 40" high, about up to my belly-button. Before you start guessing that he scaled the crib, jumped the railing grabbed the water and hopped our, he didn't.
Here's what my little man did: first, he walked to the end of the crib and nudged it a bit so he could squeeze his arm in between the back of the crib and the wall, then he was able to move it away from the wall far enough where he could jam his big belly into the space. Now, though the 1.5 inch space between the slats in the railing he was able to touch the water bottle (so close, yet so far). So next, he knocks the bottle on its side and pushed it so it rolled to the front railing of the crib. After that he proudly marches back around to the front, reaches through the slats of the railing and grabs the bottle with his left hand. He raised it up as high as he could get it, well over his head, then with a flick of his wrist he got the bottle to crest the top of the railing and in one smooth motion he raised his right hand (which wad already holding Blankie mind you) and triumphantly grabbed the water bottle, now freed from the jail that is Theo's crib. Finally he raised it to his lips and took a belt off its plastic nozzle, I'm sure he's never tasted water so sweet. He didn't say 'see old man, I'm quite capable' or even give me a knowing glance...
He just quietly returned to the carpet in the middle of his room, now ready for me to read "The Pigeon finds a hot dog", by Mo Willems.

Not sure where he'll apply these amazing skills in his life, but I'll be watching.