It’s been a while since I’ve pulled out my big girl camera for anything other than the slew of birthdays we celebrate over the summer.
But this is a special occasion. I wanted to capture our girl, where she is right here and right now, before heading into this great unknown. Also known as the tracheal slide surgery, but the great unknown sounds better.
She’s walking now. Like, no more scooting or bear walking or crumbling like she used to do. Girl is officially a toddler.
Sometimes, instead of wanting me to pick her up, she’d rather me just hold her hand.
*gulp*
She’s climbing, too. She conquered the furniture about a month ago… first the couch, then the kitchen chairs and then the kitchen table. I have no idea what’s after that and honestly I’d rather not think about it.
She’s also showing great interest in the stairs, but mama don’t play when it comes to the stairs. Until she’s fully recovered from this surgery, stairs are a no-no for our fragile-but-doesn’t-know-it girl.
She’s really into giving kisses and sits with her smooching face on until her kiss is received. She is very discerning in who will receive her kisses – her current favorite recipients are her biggest brothers, possibly because they are two of her most ardent admirers.
Goodness, how a little girl can melt the hearts of a couple goofy teenaged boys… one of the countless gifts we have been given in making this little love our daughter.
She talks constantly. What she’s saying we’re not exactly sure, but thankfully that doesn’t seem to stop her. There is always someone close by who is happy to join in her conversation.
She loves signs and her very favorite show is Signing Time. (That song, y’all.) She is quick to pick up a new sign and is learning to use quite a few to let us know exactly what she wants – down, dog, eat, all done, outside, ponies, mama, please, swing, book, music and drink are the most frequently seen. She is also nodding yes and no, not always correctly, but it’s fun trying to figure out which she’s trying to convey.
Her imagination is growing, too. She imitates wiping down the counter, sweeping and folding clothes.
She loves to find objects that (to her) resemble a phone, and then carry on looong, animated conversations with the *person* at the other end. A stray Mio container, a block, or her hand will do, but her favorite is an actual phones. Duh.
If you haven’t seen the video of Clementine being interrupted on a *phone call* by her very own foot, you really must.
She also imitates feeding herself, complete with loud and boisterous smacking. And she’s generous too – almost always willing to share her pretend unidentified-but-clearly-yummy treat.
Her newest Mt. Everest (other than wanting to climb the stairs) is learning to pedal a bike. She loves riding around the house on the back of the trike, pedaled by any number of willing big siblings. But lately she’s wanted to be in the driver’s seat.
This girl is pretty amazing.
Despite her crazy tiny trachea and her painfully long bouts with illness over the winter and spring, Clementine has gone from being completely non-mobile in December to walking, climbing and pedaling.
I have no idea what the next few weeks hold for our girl – how she will tolerate the surgery, how she will react to being in pain, how her trachea will heal or how her little body will recover.
But based on how she’s handled every other challenge placed in her path, I have a hunch she just might amaze me.