My first daughter, Annika, has absolutely amazed me. I worried some, before Isabella was born; not sure what to expect from Annika. Would she like being a big sister? How would she act? Would we have to coddle her in addition to caring for Isabella? Being an internal worrier, I fretted, showing little.
Annika has turned out to be absolutely the Big Sister I had hoped for. She is totally immersed in Isabella; defensive, in fact.
She helps diaper Isabella and offers to carry her. We do have to monitor her holding Isabella in her eager seven-year-old arms.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Goo
Today Isabella and I went for our usual walk after I got home from work. When I brought her in, she began crying. So out we went and she calmed down.
Isabella seems to love being outside. Whether it's our messy home, I do not know. She and I wandered onto our back deck and sat on a bench. Trees overhand our deck; their drooping leaves making a green canopy. As we sat, I told her what sounds where what; our little chimes twinkling nearby in the wind, a yip of a small sounding dog, the neighborhood children laughing several houses away.
She and I begin this game. I cradle her in front of me, in my hands, so she can look at me. Then I begin mimicking her sounds back at her. If I get it right, her eyes light up in recognition and away we go. A half smile will change to a "oh" sound while her eyes are locked on mine; trying to drink me in.
"ah,ah,ah...ah" I start.
She burbles a bit and I try again.
"ah...ah,ah,ah"
"...ah..." she'll reward me with a winning smile as she repeats me.
"...ah...goo.." she said. I never thought I'd actually hear a baby go "goo" at me. It was just too expected.
"Goo" I sounded back to her
And she rewarded me with a smile, knowing she had been heard.
Isabella seems to love being outside. Whether it's our messy home, I do not know. She and I wandered onto our back deck and sat on a bench. Trees overhand our deck; their drooping leaves making a green canopy. As we sat, I told her what sounds where what; our little chimes twinkling nearby in the wind, a yip of a small sounding dog, the neighborhood children laughing several houses away.
She and I begin this game. I cradle her in front of me, in my hands, so she can look at me. Then I begin mimicking her sounds back at her. If I get it right, her eyes light up in recognition and away we go. A half smile will change to a "oh" sound while her eyes are locked on mine; trying to drink me in.
"ah,ah,ah...ah" I start.
She burbles a bit and I try again.
"ah...ah,ah,ah"
"...ah..." she'll reward me with a winning smile as she repeats me.
"...ah...goo.." she said. I never thought I'd actually hear a baby go "goo" at me. It was just too expected.
"Goo" I sounded back to her
And she rewarded me with a smile, knowing she had been heard.
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