Over the last two weeks, I have watched a truly amazing metamorphosis. I have watched my little baby very quickly transform into a little girl. It is truly remarkable how fast she's suddenly changing...almost as if one morning she woke up and decided it was time to really start growing up. In two weeks time, she has become a (somewhat) good eater, a walker, and her vocabulary has doubled! It's so cool!!!
It started when we went to California. The trip was good (post about that coming soon) but Natalie seemed... different... after we got back. She got sick again; she'd been sick the week leading up to the trip with a nasty cold that refused to go away. But when we got back from Cali, she developed a raging fever and was a miserable, clingy little blob. We determined that she likely had roseola; a childhood disease that is indicated by a very high fever followed by an all-over rash. Luckily, it's not dangerous at all and once the fever is controlled, you just have to sit back and wait for the virus to work it's way out of the baby's system
It was terrifying, to have your child wake up in the middle of the night screaming, her skin on fire... thank GOD for infant ibuprofen. We wouldn't have survived the ordeal without it. Luckily, the whole thing only lasted 3-4 days. But it still sucked, and I hated seeing my little girl suffer.
But when Natalie was finally symptom-free, that is when she really started to transform. It was like someone hit a switch. I was lucky enough to have caught her first official steps on video, which were taken while she was still sick I might add. She didn't even realize she'd done it, but when I tried to encourage her to do it again, she was too weak and miserable to give it another shot. But once she was better, she started walking with confidence and excitement. She can make it clear across the room now without wobbling or toppling over. She hasn't quite mastered it yet, and still drops to her knees when she wants to get somewhere quickly. But, she is getting more and more confident and I'm certain she'll be walking exclusively in no time!
The eating piece is honestly what I am the happiest about. While she was sick, we were lucky if we got her three 8 oz. bottles down... and that was it. She wouldn't eat her beloved yogurt, waffles, or any of our go-to foods. I was slightly worried, but know that illness affects anyone's ability to eat, so why would it be any different for her?
But, once she started feeling better, she started wolfing down everything we put in front of her! She'll still throw the occasional item on the floor, but whereas before she refused to even try something new. Now, as long as I don't make a huge deal about it, she'll pop just about anything in her mouth. Yesterday she ate a quarter cup of green beans! GREEN BEANS! This child doesn't eat veggies!!! The occasional floret of broccoli, yes, but I've had no luck with other veggies, despite MANY repeat attempts. The other day, she ate 2 brussell sprouts (ewwww!!!) and a handful of peas! Who is this hungry child that has replaced my non-eating Natalie? Because I LOVE HER! Haha.
The talking has also changed suddenly. She has become quite a parrot (ok Mommy, note to self - time to start watching what you say around her...) and will repeat just about anything you tell her to. "Natalie, say waffle. Natalie, say book." I'm beginning to appreciate the parental ability to interpret your child's language... and every day she surprises me with another word that she's picked up. My favorite is clock... Natalie will point to a clock, digital or analog, on the wall or on your wrist, and excitedly proclaim, "CLOCK!" Though, she hasn't quite gotten the "L" sound down, so she actually has another choice word for this item. Daddy is not at all pleased.
Also, her comprehension is out of this world. We can go through a book and I can ask her, "Natalie, where's Elmo? Where's Cookie Monster?" and she will accurately identify her beloved characters page by page. If I say, "Natalie, go give your dolly her milk!" she goes right to the correct toy and knows how to make it work. It's so awesome to watch that little brain at work... we've got a clever little lady on our hands, that's for sure!
But since getting over her illness, she has transformed into this delightful, happy, pleasant little girl, and it's been absolutely wonderful. I know it's only a taste of the amazingness that is to come as she continues to grow and develop. I'm just so happy she's really making strides (literally) and starting to "catch up" in all areas!
