Dearest Juliet,
I had the greatest night with you tonight. You are growing more and more in to your own person and it is fun to be able to share time with you.
I made up a new game in your carseat today where I made your legs do all sorts of things - clap together, go in circles, kick - along with some song I have instantly forgotten. And you seemed absolutely delighted. True, I could only think of a handful of things I repeated over and over (note to self: work on creativity) but you seemed so amused. When I got to the kicking part one time, you moved your leg away from my hands and showed me how you could kick to the song on your own. As if to say, "I get it,
Mom." But in a sweet way.
When we got in the house, you raced right over to the sofa. You pointed up to it and looked at me. I usually ask you where you want to go to read a book or cuddle when I get home and you usually slowly walk over to the sofa/glider/rocking chair, but today you were proactive. Me and Mommy, here, pronto! We've started letting you watch little pieces of a movie called Ponyo, so you will often request that after a while in your adorable little voice by saying "Ponyo! Ponyo!" and pointing at the tv. (I am having second thoughts about letting you watch anything though.)
Speaking of which, your singing is absolutely precious. I'm trying to learn the words to Awake My Soul in one of our little booklets and now, each time you see the booklet, you pick it up and start singing with sweet sincerity. I've noticed that "dada" makes it in to a lot of the songs lately. But so passionate and loving those songs are. I know I won't be able to remember that - I don't have much of an ear for the way things sound. So I hope we record you soon.
After we got home, we went outside with Dada and Dog. More laughing as we run and you locate little things to show to Dada. You have decided that he absolutely loves rocks and any time you see one (and it is often), you pick it up, examine it, and whisper "dada" as if to yourself. You seem convinced that he will love this treasure as well.
You are also a fan of sticks. We got a great deal on LivingSocial for a year's membership to the Elmwood Park Zoo. So we took you this past weekend and it was interesting to notice the difference from the last time we went there, on your 1-year-old birthday. Now you're mobile, for one. And you want to spend a lot of time walking back and forth and picking up rocks. Sometimes you crouched down and seemed to peer in at some of the animals, but most of them were sleeping so I couldn't tell if you were genuinely looking at them or mimicking me! And eventually you found two sticks you hit together while you walked around and then put in holes in the perimeter's fence. They were a hit, though they seemed kind of dangerous. (Isn't everything?) At first I thought the highlight for you was going to be walking up and down a ramp, but once you saw the otters scampering around and swimming, we had met your joy. You laughed outright when you saw first saw them. And you continued to laugh joyfully at them. Every time they went in the water, though, you said "uh oh." Maybe you thought they weren't supposed to do that.
We also got a great deal on a membership to the Mercer Museum via LivingSocial. We took you there as well. You fell asleep in the car and slept in my arms for most of the trip. (It's not exactly kid-proofed there.) But you woke up in time to visit the kids' area, a really cute setup that included a hen sitting on a nest, which you picked up and carried around, and a little rocking chair on a kids' size porch next to a tiny butter churn. It was adorable to see you sitting there. I tried to snap a few pics, but you are fast. I am afraid we haven't been very good picture-takers since you've become so mobile. We're just trying to get you not to eat the dog food, I guess.
So those will be two of Daddy's options when he is looking for something to do with you this year. I am very proud of those finds. If we go twice, they have paid for themselves. And hopefully they will encourage more visits then that! Also, Daddy took you to his first playgroup at our friend Savanna's invitation. And it seems like great fun! I'm glad he found something like that to take you to because I really enjoy things like that but it can be hard for a stay-at-home Daddy to find a place to fit in sometimes. I am so tickled thinking of you two having a blast there. I heard that you love the parachute. And last time you and Daddy made a few hand-prints for me in paint and that makes me sooooo happy. You see, I'm sad we didn't get hand prints of you as a newborn. Dada says that it would have been really hard to get you to be still for that, but I still wish we had your hands somewhere to remember how tiny they were. For many months, we had little tiny hand prints on the bathroom mirror from Dada's demonstration of how hard it would be. I loved those prints. Luckily Dada washed the mirror, because I don't think I could have done it. But what remains in my mind is the joy at seeing them again and again. It is as if you have made your imprint on our life in the same way. Subtle yet constant, and overwhelmingly precious.
So tonight we ate our dinner and took our bath. Your hair had that adorable crazy look to it, all light curls and crazy wisps. Lovely. And we snuggled to sleep, singing and telling a story and saying a prayer, and you looked at me with this look like you might be the happiest little girl in the world. And it filled my heart with joy to see it. While we snuggled before bed, you kept hanging your head upside down, arching your back over my knees. You seemed so pleased and would pop back up to look at me and then, whoop, back down you would go. I would trace the lines of your little jaw, your rib cage stuck out, and your round little tummy. No longer a little baby, you are becoming our child, our little girl. I sang to you some more instead of tucking you right in to bed. (Bedtimes are MUCH better now! I lay you down sleepy and tuck the covers around you. Then we do a tradition you started unexpectedly. Once day when I laid you down and bundled you up, you raised one little arm, waving your hand and said "Night Night." It sounded more like Nigh Night actually. So I answered back. And now as I leave, we say softly to each other, Nigh Night, Nigh Night, Nigh Night. And once I am out of earshot, I sometimes hear you talking softly until you fall asleep. It is so peaceful - I never thought we would get there. By no means are bedtimes always smooth, but I thought we were going to have to choose between letting you cry in your crib or holding you all night. This is better for everyone. Though I do still like our snuggles. Hello tangent.) So the song I sang tonight is from a CD I remember listening to when my brother, your Uncle Zach, was a baby. Of course, you have the girl version and he the boy, but some of the songs overlap and this one I just love. So I will end with that, dear one. Daddy says that once you go to sleep, when we talk about you he can't wait to see you, like Christmas. He almost wants to go wake you up! And tonight I know exactly what he means. I know that right now you are in the room next door, sleeping peacefully, and my heart feels like it may explode. What a good day.
Your tummy is full.
We've taken a bath.
I tickle your toes -
we both have a laugh.
I turn out the light
'cause everything's right.
So let's say good night to the world.
Today is fading
but tomorrow is waiting.
Waiting for baby to wake up and play.
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