A Bug's World

Working It Already

Sometime our child will be a skilled negotiator, just like her father. But for now, she simply relies on cuteness, manipulation and parental non- attention. We were all headed to the gym saturday morning. she was sitting in the back seat, nominally paying atention and just off in her own baby world. David and I were talking and we too were only sort of paying attention to what she was saying unless she directed a comment to us. When the following conversation ooccured:

Bug: Daddy?
David: Yes, baby?
Bug: When I say okay, you say okay..okay?
David: Okay.
Bug: Garbled garbly gar blue car, okay?
David: Okay. ( distractedly)
Bug: Mommy, Daddy arble warble gart, okay?
David: Okay ( just playing along)
Bug: Daddy take Jessica to see the fishies, okay?
David: Okay,,,hey.

Yep..she just tried to sneak it on by.

And so, Saturday, we went to the gym, strolled thru the "Art in the Park", ate lunch with a cranky 2 year old and then, finally went to the Aquarium and saw all the fish.

But no...the fun does not stop there. For you see, Saturday seemd to be field trip day so there were lots of buses and kids. Which meant that the Aquarium's mascot was out as well. Now, Jessica loves to act scared when we go through the shark tunnel, or when it's dark outside. But you can tell she is playing it up more often than not. Well, apparently a six foot plush shark in a hawiian shirt really does scare the crap out of her. All he did was turn in her direction and she took off screaming and pulling us away. she didn't stop to look at the "Nemo" fish or the "Jello Fish" and barely even paused to look at the manta rays. she went running up the ramp and turned the corner quickly. Apparently too quickly. She came face to face with the Iguana tank. Usually not a problem and ot big deal. But on this day, one of the lizadrs was right up against the front window with one scaly claw pressed against the glass. She screamed and ran over against another view of the manta ray tank. She wasn't even looking in the tank and David pointed out to her that there was one sliding down the glass right behind her. More shrieking. She was crying and carrying on now. David picked her up to carry her out and said her little heart was just thumping away and her eyes were so big.

At least this time there was no struggle about leaving or getting in the car. She couldn't find or get in the car fast enough.

"I GOTTA BOOK!"

Can there possibly even be a more fortuitous first sentence for a child to utter?

As we quickly approach birthday number two, I find myself amazed by how much she has grown and learned in these last few months. I don't have a "baby" any more.  She is most definitely officially a toddler and very quickly becoming a little girl.  Any further than that I refuse to recognize at this point.

This little bundle that once laid so peacefully in my arms is no more.  Now she wiggles and squirms and wants to do everything herself.  I am already sorry for every time I ever thought she was too much work, or didn't want to hold her, or  wished she would just leave me alone for a few minutes peace. I'm not saying I won't have those feelings again..probably even this afternoon.  It's just now a little tempered with the realization that she really won't be this age forever and that there aspects that should be appreciated and cherished.

Oh, and she got books for her birthday already and she was very excited. And she now runs around the house, carrying various books and makes this pronouncement loud and clear.

"I GOTTA BOOK!"