Baby on the GROW

Something's changed. I can't put my finger on why. Naina's suddenly, well, changed.

Example, running has always been fun. But now there's more exciting and dangerous ways to run.



Not clear in video but that is my german record player she is bouncing up and down on whilst gathering breath.

She's started jumping with both feet coordinated off the ground (as in straight up and down). Sometimes barefoot on the pavement. Jumping on the sofa is also FUN. I swear she approaches escape velocity.

She's watering the garden in a socially acceptable manner. She understands complicated instructions - like come on Naina, let's water the garden:


There's the odd tantrum about of course (no videos as such). The shouting and screaming are disappearing, she's learning to soothe herself, properly. It's amazing to watch.

Even going to sleep is easier. What used to take an hour of rolling, getting up, walking about, rolling, crying has now dropped into about 15 minutes. I usually count to 10 minutes and she's sleepy and before I get to 15 minutes she's asleep. And she's decided that cow's milk is the one for her.

But the fun is really in the morning. She's still not quite sure where I go in the mornings, but knows I go to the bathroom, into the shower, brush my teeth and go downstairs. I get a commentary from her. "Jaana-shopp-ping" (Going shopping) "By! See! Aaa-wah! (several times, meaning bye-bye, see you, kiss goodbye - then bows head down so I can kiss her goodbye on her head from over the gates at the top of the stairs). That's the decipherable part. Naina's ability to think is vastly greater than her ability to vocalise. So there's something in there about Isabelle, slowly, sorry, mumma! mumma! and then running between the bedroom and the bathroom and returning with various souvenirs - pillows, elmo (poor elmo) and Deepti's dupatta's (scarves).

N's still unsure of my ability to lift her up and instead she grabs my hand and drags me where I should take her. Wednesday, she patiently waited for me to finish my dinner and wash my plate and then grabbed my hand. I didn't know where she was taking me (usually its to play ring ring roses - though N says, instead of a-tishoo a-tishoo, we all fall down, she sings asha asha awfa downe), but she led me instead to the stairs where she wanted me to open the gate, count the stairs as we walked up them (she knows the numbers 1 to 10, but doesn't quite have the order right in her head) and to talk to dada (my father).

All this change seems to have coincided with Deepti becoming busy with other stuff - baby #2 on the way, driving lessons, shopping sales and lunches with the Mother's group and attending Gymbaroo. Maybe I should have stopped being deadbeat dad a bit earlier!