Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Moppet @ 16 Months

Hear that buzzing sound? That was another milestone whizzing past.

I'm getting too old for this. Really. In the time I took (the merest blink of an eye, I swear!) to come to terms with the fact that I am in possession of this drop of human life, the said drop turned into a full-fledged toddler at a pace that no parent is designed to handle.

She is now an easier-to-understand little person who asks for 'Duddu', 'Joos', or 'Chiz', depending on what she wants to drink or eat. But also a harder-to-understand little person who suddenly breaks into howls of frustration for no discernable reason.

Already a champion climber, she is now trying her hand at acrobatics, experimenting with standing on her head, turning somersaults, and throwing herself off the bed at varying angles.

As artist and builder, her attention span has risen significantly and she can spend upto 20 minutes at a time playing by herself. The shape sorter, inset board, and doodle board are her current favourites. It's ironic - as she becomes more fun to play with, she doesn't need me to play with her all that much. I suspect this is going to be a recurring theme as she grows. She becomes cooler, and more fun, and I become, well, more mom.

A water sprite who would live in the pool if I'd let her. Her swimming is coming along nicely and I try and take her down to the pool at least twice a week. On days when we can't, she spends an hour in her paddle pool on the balcony. And after her bath, she always likes to soak for a little while in her red bucket.

A tiny tyrant who has made it quite clear that she doesn't belong to me. Oh no. I belong to her. Woe betide anyone - even her Papa - who dares to sit close to me or worse, put an arm around me. At the sight of such atrocities, the happily playing toddler turns into a raging, screaming, hair-pulling monster who will not rest until the offender retreats to an acceptable distance.

And although this means that I am severely deprived of husbandly hugs at the moment, I am not worried. Because I know that in the next blink of an eye, my possessive little water sprite tyrant will have transformed herself into someone new. For me to learn about and fall in love with all over again.

18 comments:

Smitha said...

aww..Moppet is sooo cute....loved the innocent pic of hers with her teddy bears...

Anusha said...

I belong to her. somehow this goes well with the huggably cute teddy bear picture! enjoy Moppet - she's total fun!

Rohini said...

Wow! It's amazing how fast they grow. Ayaan is about 10 months older and already the stuff you speak about seems like it happened ages ago. More trouble around the corner, but also more fun, I assure you

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

Nice update, very sentimental though, you got me a little teary. Please go back to doing funny ones - I can't take it *Sob Sniff* blowing nose.

Ah feeling better now.

Question: When you say swimming, you mean honest-to-goodness swimming? or just the splash-dunk head in water-consume water-choke-repeat routine? Do tell.

Anonymous said...

how fast they grow!

the pic in the red bucket is utterly cute!

Maggie said...

Smitha, K's Mom: Actually, that picture was intended to show her jealous, 'all-mine' attitude, which isn't all that cute, especially when I'm the possession :-)

Rohini: I know, I'm looking forward to it, but I don't feel quite ready for it - if that makes any sense?

Poppins: Oh no, she can't swim by herself because she hasn't figured out the breathing yet. I don't think she will be able to do that anytime soon. But she jumps into the water, assumes a horizontal position and kicks with her legs to move herself along.

Navmor: Yes, bucket pic is one of my favourites. She's at her happiest around water.

Mystic Margarita said...

Moppet is absolutely adorable - I can almost visualize her enraged face as she storms in to rescue you from your husband! Lol! She is a total cutie and I love the pics accompaning the lovely update.

SUR NOTES said...

the milestone posts- keeps me hooked to all the mommy blogs. its as if one is peeping into the growing up of all these babies. the sameness and difference of each of our experiences is magical.

and yes, the milestones do whizz past ... at a pace no parent is designed to handle. lovely.

Fuzzylogic said...

The little mermaid enjoying her bath!:)She is so adorable!!They really grow up so fast. I totally understand when you say you do look forward to the next steps but not quiet ready for it. I feel just the same way:)What's with the hugging thing between parents that drives them all up?one touch and they come running to separate you:)Possessive little bundles aren't they?:)
I'm planning to take Ina for swimming classes for toddlers too.Hope she enjoys them as much as moppet does.

Just Like That said...

this post of yours made me miss Sonny boy's growing up years so much... I do do do wish they wouldn't grow up so fast...

LOL at possessive Moppet! Sonny boy's the same, still! Tho, by now he's learnt wiles.
Instead of throwing his Acha's hand away from me, he now says, Acha, you hug ME, not Amma..!

timepass said...

Cute pics...you must next post pics of moppet doing acrobatics..

Something to Say said...

what is with kids and wanting to 'own' moms.... sonny wedges right between hubby and me..... romance killer...

Gauri said...

She's such an adorable little imp. Enjoy her - Moppet sure is fun.

Loved all the pics - especially the one where she's all happy and content sitting inside a bucket of water.

Give her a hug from me, will ya ?

Savani said...

I belong to her :) how true, how true.

Maggie said...

Mystic: Oh yes, she's quite the knight in shining armour!

Surabhi: That's so true - each baby is unique, and yet you feel the sameness...

Fuzzy: I'm sure Ina will enjoy the swim classes - and you will too!

JLT: LOL! That's a smart tactic.

Timepass: Usually, when she's doing her acrobatics, I'm busy trying to keep her from breaking her neck! So no pics just yet :-)

STS: Really, I get little enough romance as it is without Moppet getting involved! :-)

Gauri: Hug duly delivered as requested :-)

Dotmom: :-)

noon said...

Can relate to this - until offender retreats to an acceptable distance - very nicely written!
She looks so cute with the Teddy Bears.

anja said...

what a lovely post as usual..moppet look sso cut ein her lal balti..thumki does the same thing i swear she would liv ein water if we let her, she loves it in every form ,little water babies...=) She looks so adorable with her neatly combed hair..

Squiggles Mom said...

Besides writing do you know what you're good at.. taking pics. Love Moppet's photos. My niece did the same. When my bro's family were visiting she would take offence at DD hugging her mom and would point me out and tell him to hug me instead and not her mom. Kids!