The Fourth Dimension

Every morning, when it’s still dark outside, Jakey and Mommy read “books” in bed.  These books are technically store catalogs, and a brochure James got from some lady construction company that has a picture of a “tee-tat” (kitty cat).  We can’t recycle this full color brochure because Jakey loves to look at Juan the Tee-Tat.

When we’re reading these books, particularly the Crate & Barrel Land of Nod kids’ catalog, Jake likes to pinch the pictures with his little crab claw and say “open, open.”  Apparently this means he wants to touch the “fire enen” (fire engine) or drive the toy car or play with the art supplies.  Yesterday we were listening to Christmas carols on the TV and it showed a picture of icing covered tree cookies.  The little pincher came out, “open, open!”  The concept of dimensions is not yet a limiting factor in Jacob’s life.

This topic of dimensions reminds me of a conversation I recently had with one of my pregnant girlfriends.  She kept telling me how her doctor does 4D ultrasounds.  I was a bit skeptical… isn’t the fourth dimension the space-time continuum or something?  What does it show you… your 3D baby, in the future?  Talking back to you as a teenager, from the womb?  I found this conversation terribly amusing.  My friend… not so much.  (According to the internet, 4D ultrasounds show 3D babies with real-time movements representing the fourth dimension.  I’m not a scientist… but this seems to be using quite of bit of artistic license when it comes to physics…)

Today Jacob called his grandma on the phone for a “chat.”  He held the phone up to his ducky book, “Ducky!” as well as the Christmas tree, so she could see them.

Maybe Jakey has discovered this elusive fourth dimension?