All Things Indy

Indy is always on the move these days. It’s pretty challenging to get a picture of her that you couldn’t compare to a snapshot of Big Foot; grainy, blurry and far off in the distance.

Before I forget these things, I wanted to type them down. Her first words were Hi, Bye and Kitty at about 8 months. Around 9 months she had mastered Daddy and assigned it to the right person. At 8 months she started to really sign with purpose and they were all rushing forward in the same week. Bath time, food/hungry, more, all done, milk, diaper change, sleepy time, hi, bye, gentle, thank you, hurt – these were the ones I had chosen and signed diligently with every verbal occurrence, and suddenly she could manipulate her hands to do each one.

I remember the day it dawned on me she had been signing “bath time” for the previous two months. At 6 months she’d developed this funny ape-like beating of the chest whenever we’d change her clothes. We just assumed she liked being naked. One day we were getting the bath started and I saw her beating her chest when I said it was time to get into the bath. A light went off in my head that she had been doing the sign for “bath time” to the best of her ability, and I had missed it. I started to look for other signs, and they were all there, she just had handicapped them. They get better each week, although some stay the same way she initially learned to say it back, but maybe that will evolve over time.

It was at 10 months she mastered “more” and has the baby belly to prove it. Around this time I also started allowing her to drink water from a “big girl cup”. I’d drink first to demonstrate with my own cup, exaggerating the movements and ending it with a satisfied Ahhhh after each drink. This was quickly repeated and now water is known as “ahhhh”. She drinks a ton of water. We presume she just enjoys saying ahhhh!

This last weekend she cut two more teeth, the top canine points are peeking through. Again, we are so lucky she isn’t a terrible teether. I only saw them in an open-mouthed laugh in the middle a tickle contest. I usually win, but she occasionally blows a raspberry on my belly or does something so remarkably adorable, I have no choice but to concede.

When the molars came in a few weeks ago she was really upset one morning. She had some bad allergies and a leaky eye as a result. The two together just made her uncomfortable. She was screaming in her bed curled up in a corner, which I had never seen before, and I picked her up and asked in sign-language if her mouth hurt. She stopped crying immediately and signed it back to me, and hugged me. After a few minutes of cuddling I looked at her and I whispered “hi” to her, she looked up at me, smiled and whispered “hi” back. My heart cracked open, sunshine poured out and melted into a lake of happiness. How do you explain to anyone how much love you feel in just a moment? Related side note; I have to imagine that a lot of crying is just out of frustration to communicate, not just hurt, and Indy rarely cries. I’m so thankful she’s able to communicate with us to some small degree.

She can pet the kitty pretty well now, with minimal hair pulling. She loves stuffed animals and always has one cuddled in her clutches. Indy eats well, and often, her only dislikes are potatoes, chicken and plain oatmeal – frankly anything that isn’t spiced. Zucchini, hummus, lentils and beans remain her favorites. She much prefers to feed herself. The spoon remains tricky, and she’s better at it with her left hand than her right. I don’t think that’s an indication of anything, but it is interesting.

I went back to work, this is my third week at a full time gig. I am so lucky to have had this last year with Indiana. Today I stayed home and I got to see her hop. Her first attempt at her feet leaving the floor intentionally and it was successful! Yay!

I’m still waiting on “Mommy”, but her reaction to me coming home for lunch or after work is so rewarding, I’ll keep waiting, I know she loves me with her tight hugs and dozens of open-mouthed kisses.