Vacuosity

Sugar and spice

So I thought it might be time for another Jaime update, seeing as it's been forever since I've written about her, she’s changed so much, and I have such a horrible memory that I need to get some of this stuff down or I never remember.

She is about 151/2 months old right now, and truth be told, not all nice. She is, though, probably the funniest toddler I have ever known. I say that with an admitted bias. Kids are always funnier, more expressive when they’re at home and comfortable, plus you spend way more time with your own kids, so your far more likely to catch them at their best.

And Jaime’s best is pretty good. She knows all the parts of her body now, and I mean everything, thumb, bum, belly, chin, teeth... you name it, she’s knows it. Also she really likes to roughhouse. I was swinging Jordan around today, and she was screaming with delight and wanted her turn. She would be furious when I’d out her down. But she understood what taking turns meant and waited patiently on her chair for Jordan to have his turn, though she was right back over the minute I set him down. I would make her say “Up” before I’d pick her up. “Hup, hup” then kill herself laughing.

Her vocabulary is growing too. Some of her words are: Hot, hat, head (what’s with the H’s?) dat (that) and others that I can think of right now.

If I said before that she understands what is said to her, it’s even more so now. It’s deeper things though, and she fully understands. I can ask her whether she wants something, without even having it to show her, and she’ll decide.

We were in the living room today. She had finished her drinking box, and was trying to get help getting that last bit out (the part you can never get that drives you crazy). I asked her if she wanted some milk instead. She shook her head no. She really wanted the juice. I told her to give me the box and I would go get her another. She gave me the box and I asked if she wanted apple juice. She nods yes. It felt really strange to be having this fully comprehensive interchange with a supposed baby (who’s no baby but wasn’t she just?).

She can follow multiple step instructions now and she really tries to clean up a lot. If she spills, she’ll go and get a cloth to wipe it up without even being asked or telling anyone what happened. Her ability is lacking but the intent is there.

Also, we really have to be the lookout now because she’s at that “putting” phase where things end up in the strangest places. Several times I’ve found facecloths in the garbage after she was done with them. I found her socks stuffed inside a vase, and toys in the laundry hamper. All around the house are things placed just so, and it can only be one person. At present a Hot Wheels car is “parked” on the foot of the dining room table. I know this is normal kid stuff but it’s fascinating. What makes her do it? What’s her reasoning?

Also, like Jordan at this age, she gets upset when I have to leave for work. She’ll do the “pick me up” routine because “as long as I’m being held you can’t go anywhere, or at least if you do, you’re taking me with you.” Then everything is intensely interesting, her hand, her shirt, let’s go there, let’s go here, anything as long as you keep holding me. It’s both funny and heartbreaking.

She can, of course, walk all around by herself, stand up from lying down, climb down from the bed and couch, so many things.

She’s been mean too. She’s taking to pinching Jordan’s cheeks really hard. If you scold her she’ll put her head right down on her chest, looking forlorn, even cry, but 10 seconds later she’s trying to get him again. And at the meeting, don’t even get me started about the book study. There, she’s phenomenally bad, there’s no other word for it. She delights in making noise and being funny, once I had to bury my face in my arms and hide behind the other attendees because I was laughing so hard. My eyes were streaming.

And, of course, she wants to do everything that Jordan does. If he’s playing with it, she wants it. If he’s doing it, she has to try. Video games, she’ll take the controller. If he’s climbing on me, she’s got to too. That boy has an admirer for life.

Well, I’m out for now. Suffice to say that she’s an incredible girl, who leaves me in amazement at her every day. I can only imagine what she’ll become. Actually, the truth is I can’t imagine it, I’ll just have to wait and see.

posted by David @ 11:47 p.m. 1 comments