Daughter fast becoming a toddler
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 24, 2002
It's about to happen.
Yes, eight months of newborn bliss is about to be replaced with the ruckus of a toddler. The serene days, of daughter Rachel sitting quietly on the floor, content with whatever toy is placed in front of her, are quickly becoming memories.
The mark of the new era began Monday when the little one broke "containment" and scurried off on her own.
Scurrying is probably a stretch, since it's more like a sit up, lay down, roll over, sit up routine that gets Rachel from point a to point b. She's just not into crawling and appears content with just skipping that step and going right to walking. The walking part is probably months away, but Thursday she took her first couple of steps with a little help from dad.
I was just getting use to sleeping through the night again when this new movement stage began. So, sleepless nights are now being replaced with frantic days.
There's the endless pile of toys we go through each night, and the countless times we must walk around the house -- apparently to make sure everything is where it was last time we checked. Then it's outside to giggle at the dogs and receive a welcomed face wash.
Back on the floor, Rachel moves from one point to the other in the living room, never quite content with one spot for more than a few seconds. Done with the toys we move onto Tupperware, magazines, spoons, pots, photographs, etc.
All the movement occasionally comes to a halt if Sesame Street is on, or the Vikings. She's a big fan of the Vikings, having showed her true colors on recent occasion when Michael Bennett scampered in for a touchdown and she threw her arms up in a glorious touchdown signal.
When what's on TV becomes old -- usually not more than a couple of minutes -- we're back on the move -- sit up, roll over, sit up, find a new toy, sit up, roll over, stretch out for dad to pick up.
By the time 8 p.m. and bath time rolls around Rachel, mom and dad are exhausted. And to think in just 10 hours, we'll be doing it all again. Not to mention we've just started the movement stage and really don't even need to move fast to track the daughter down. Boy, the days of 2 a.m. feedings suddenly don't seem that bad.
Meanwhile the "containment" issues need resolving, meaning in the upcoming weeks the house will begin to look more like a prison and less like a home. Gates in front of the stairs, safety plugs in the outlets, electrical wires tied and breakables placed out of reach are just a few of the many "containment" procedures certain to take place.
I'm certain Rachel will greet the changes with a smile, a laugh and that "Oh shucks, for me dad…" look she already has perfected. I'm sure too this next stage will be as enjoyable as the first eight months and challenging in its own right.
Now if I can just avoid tripping over the gates and get the theme song from "Tiny Planets" out of my head, the toddler years may go just fine.