Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Moppet @ 14 Months

Jeez, where has my baby gone?

And who is this little girl who rules my house and my life with complete and utter impunity?

She walks around patting herself on the chest with both hands and calling herself 'Mama'. I'm still Mama, but apparently, now she is too!

She runs up and gives me a light bite on any available part of my body, and when I remonstrate using my stern you-know-that's-not-on voice, she grins and wags HER finger in MY face.

She swings Tarzan-like, from all the top drawers in the house. Nothing can be safely put away any more. She climbs onto, over, and around all manner of obstacles. No corner of the house is unreachable, and therefore unexplored.

She asks to be tickled by lifting up her shirt, pointing at her belly button and saying 'gilli-gilli'. Sometimes, if I'm within reach, she pokes my belly button, saying 'gilli-gilli' and giggling like she's the one being tickled.

When her Papa comes home from work, she runs to put his socks in the laundry basket. When he gets ready for work in the morning, she steals his clean socks and puts them in the basket as well. When she gets the chance, if his cupboard is open, she steals his underwear and attempts to wear it like a hat.

She kisses her Papa on demand - and sometimes even unbidden - pressing her mouth against his cheek, and saying 'ummmaaa'. I, on the other hand, have to chase her, grab her, squeeze her, and generally wrestle an 'umma' out of her.

When I whisper nonsense in her ear, and then draw back and say, "it's a secret, ok?" she looks at me, eyes huge and round, and nods solemnly.

At night, after her bedtime story, I flick off the light and she lies down and goes to sleep by herself. But she has to hold on to some part of me - her hand on my arm, or her foot in my lap; as long as she knows Mama is near, she can drift off to sleep.

Don't grow up, my darling. Your poor Mama will not be able to bear it.

15 comments:

Collection Of Stars said...

So sweet :)
But same last thoughts here too. I don't want KT to grow up this fast - I get this thought at least once a day!

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

What a sweet sweet update ! She goes to sleep by herself. I am jealous !

Gauri said...

Awww .... That was one sweet post.

They grow up too fast - don't u think ..... much as we don't want it to happen .... happen it does (*sigh*)

Mala said...

I love the first photo :-)
BTW believe it or not I dreamt about you two last night..
Mala

Sunita said...

Sleeps on her own .. You are a champion. Yes, as you said, Joyce seems to be doing the same things.

sims said...

naughty lil Moppet.. :)

Daisy said...

too cute..a hugeeeeeeeeeeeeeee huggie to her and bigggggggggg ummmmmmmmmmmmma as well ..

Anusha said...

the secret thing - so very cute! I can almost see her do it :)

Unknown said...

I know, they grow up so fast, and leave us with only memories of how beautiful and cute they were. Photographs and videos dont do justice.

Just Like That said...

I know exactly what that last line feels like..love to little Moppet. Sonny boy is already past this phase... Sigh!

Maggie said...

CoS, Gauri, Kiran, JLT: I know - if I could stop time, I wouldn't think twice about it.

Poppins, Sunita: I fear Moppet and I are undeserving of such high praise. When I say she sleeps by herself I mean she doesn't need to be rocked or sung to or anything. But she still needs me to be there until she falls asleep, and she ensures that by holding on to some part of my body when she lies down. So sleep training is not quite complete yet...

Sims, Daisy, K's Mom: Yup, naughty, cute, and entirely Moppet :-)

Mala: Pure evil, isn't it?! I can imagine we'd figure in a nightmare or two :-))

By Deepa and Supriya said...

but she will and you will too (bear it, that is) because the next phase will be beautiful in its own way!

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

When I say she sleeps by herself I mean she doesn't need to be rocked or sung to or anything.
My poppin still has to be rocked most of the time *Sigh* Still, I don't like to compare, children are so different !

Collection Of Stars said...

Hey! I have tagged you :)

Aqua said...

"Jeez, where has my baby gone?"...i know the feeling SO well. and wait till yr lil one hits the terrible twos...then you will look back fondly at these toddler days.
yeah they say with kids the days are long but the years short. so true!