Motherese: Month Nine
Posted on 07.29.07 to Clare, Motherese, Parenting, Personal by JoanMotherese
Vol 1, Issue 9
My dearest Clare,
This month, you decided that you’ve just had about enough of being a little baby and became this tiny little person with the personality quirks you’ve displayed. Most notably, you’ve learnt to communicate you wanting something by staring at us and screaming away. We found that out when we first offered you durian, and when your father decided that you’ve just had about enough of the king of fruits, you stared at him intensely and yelled away, only to stop when we offered you another morsel of the fruit.
You also displayed similar behaviour when you wanted to drink more my shark’s fin soup (the diver in your daddy will just die if you develop a strong palate for the delicacy), when your Baby Einstein videos have finished, or when you basically just want to be carried.
Conversely, you’d firmly push things away when you don’t want them. And when you don’t want to eat anymore, you’d clasp your mouth firmly shut and would remember to continue doing so while whining about being force fed. Now, that’s what I call determination and smarts (which I’m secretly glad you’ve got but leaves me rather frustrated too).
You’ve also learnt to wave “hello” and “goodbye”, which is so endearing to see. You’re slowly learning to clap too, and when you hear people clapping, you’d wave your arms around because you aren’t sure about the mechanism of clapping yet – that you’d need both hands to meet. When you’ve decided you are ready to go home after spending the day at your grandparents’, you’d wave wildly at everyone else because you just want to go home fast.
The only person you don’t wave goodbye to is me. Although I must say, you don’t cry as badly when I leave for work in the morning now, which really help eases the guilt of me not spending the day with you.
You’re always exploring, my dear baby. I love that you are always so inquisitive about the world around you – sight, sound and touch. You’d throw your toys out of the playpen just to hear what sound they make, and watch your father scramble round the living room to pick them up. You touch my face, my lips, my arms all the time when I’m feeding you. You stare intently at the people and surroundings whenever we take you out. Life is never a dull moment for you as you constantly keep yourself occupied, and us too!
Lastly, you now laugh when I make funny faces at you. You understand that I’m playing a game with you and you’d belt out your heartiest laugh, along with a really cheeky smile on your face. We’re connecting so much more now, Clare. I feel so much closer to you as we are beginning to communicate better with each other. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have you.
Love always,
Mommy
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Comments ( 4 )
Congrats. It seems more than 8 months ago that I first saw her on the day she was born.
I’ve got news, too. Talk to you soon.
E added these pithy words on
Jul 30 07 at
9:54 AM
oh joan, i need you to teach me to get over my fears and unwillingness surrounding being a mum at any point in my life! i think you need to knock me around the head to help me get over myself and the stupidity of my thoughts! great post the one on Oprah…thanks!
jos added these pithy words on
Aug 07 07 at
7:21 PM
clare is just gorgeous…sometimes she’s just all eyes…heh…i like the one of her sitting in the trolley…hee, what a cutie…i love her cherry dress…if only they came in my size…hmmm
jos added these pithy words on
Aug 07 07 at
7:24 PM
hey cool, i just realised your pendant is a camera…oh, i better stop leaving comments now…way too many…psycho lady taking over…
jos added these pithy words on
Aug 07 07 at
7:27 PM
