J is for.........a Jumper in a Jar!

It certainly wasn't her first encounter with a frog, but it was infinitely more fun to photograph. Last July, hubby found another frog in our yard. He put it in a little mason jar for Sugar Bear to observe. Bringing the frog inside gave me a better opportunity to photograph Sugar exploring all that is froggy.


There was so much intrigue and excitement. Sugar Bear wanted the frog to come out of the jar and play right away. I had to keep convincing her to leave him in there, so I could snap a few pics.


She kept wanting to up end the jar, and tap him out onto the carpet. I am not sure how I didn't capture a photo of that. I suppose every time she did it, I quickly reached for her, and asked her to wait.


This little guy brought back so many fond memories for me. As a young girl, I would spend hours raising tadpoles into frogs. I clearly remember trekking down to our pond, and spending a considerable amount of time catching the tadpoles. I would then set them up with a really fabulous bucket. I would observe them day after day, and watch their slow transformation. I loved watching their little legs grow, and their tales shrink. It was a proud day, when they finally looked like a frog. Teeny, tiny little frogs not much bigger than my young thumbnail. In my opinion, they were the cutest creatures on earth.


I'd like to say that I promptly returned them to the pond, but I was naive, or ignorant, and didn't think about the fact that they would need their habitat. They would just one by one jump out of the bucket, and disappear. At the time, I don't recall being worried that they had a least a quarter mile hike to the pond. That is a really long way to go when you are the size of a thumbnail...and have no idea which direction to head. It saddens me to know that many, if not all, did NOT make it.


I wish my parents had paid attention, and helped me realize what was best for the frogs. As a parent, myself, I strive to teach Sugar Bear about all creatures, and how they deserve our respect. We are not bug killers in our home. I teach her that if they are not harming us, we should just let them be. As Sugar ages, I'd love to help her observe the transformation of tadpole, but I will most certainly make sure we get them back to their "home" safe and sound.



Finally, Mr. Frog escaped from the jar. At this point, Sugar wasn't entirely sure she wanted to hold him just yet, so I place him on a throw pillow for her to observe him (umm...yeah, I wanted a good photo background...sue me!). He jumped off the pillow no less than 40 times.



Next I took my turn at holding the sweet little croaker. It is no easy feat to hold a jumper, and take a picture, while keeping your toddler from accidentally squashing it when it jumps onto the floor. I have skills people......mad SKILLS! :)Oh yeah....High five!



Sugar could NOT get close enough. She wanted to get a really, really REALLY good look. I love this shot!



Shortly, she was ready to give him alittle feel....and a poke...and of course he jumped, and jumped and jumped which she found hilarious!



After Froggy Frog Pie was sufficiently tired out, Sugar was able to successfully hold him. I'm not saying that he was super crazy about the idea, but at this point, he was just holding his breath, and praying not to be accidentally smooshed.



Soon he gained some courage and made a mad leap for the window. I think the poor little fellow thought it was the light at the end of the tunnel, but alas.....it was just another opportunity for us to examine him in all his amazing glory.



As he climbed the window, sugar peered him and asked me repeatedly, "where's he going mom?" I replied with, "No where, baby! He is just trying to find his mama!" I don't know why for sure I always tell her about the animal or bug wanting to go back to it's mama, but I figure it just feels like something she can relate to. She always seems more than happy to let it go back to it's mama, so I figure it is good for everyone.



Before putting Froggerific back into his jar for the trip back outside and "to his mama", Sugar got a few more intense observations in. She declared him to be, "green", "small", "jumpy", and "cute", and she was quite right.



"Bye bye baby frog! We love you!" ......dang it....we didn't get her hands washed before she pulled this move...but it has been a few months since, and so far she is only a mild shade of green, and only croaks in her sleep.