A couple weeks ago, I gave Charlie a rattle and set her in the bouncer while I washed some dishes. A couple minutes went by and then she dropped the rattle. So I dried off my hands, picked up the rattle, and gave it back to her.
And in so doing, I signed my death sentence.
It took me twice as long as usual to wash dishes that evening. Every time I got started, I heard a small sound of discontent from the bouncer. And when I looked over, Charlie’s rattle was on the floor. So I dried off my hands, picked up the rattle, and gave it back to her.
One dish later, I heard the same small sound of discontent. And a dish after that, I heard it again. And a dish after that, it came again.
Now, I have a pretty strict rule about mothering my daughter, and that is this: she always comes first. The dishes can be done tomorrow, the laundry can run while she’s nursing, and I can read blogs when Donald comes home. So after she threw the rattle down a few times, I turned off the water and said OKAY, BABY, let’s play.
Only, she didn’t want to play. She wanted me to fetch her rattle. And then when I gave it to her, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS IN MY ARMS AND I WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AT HER, she threw it on the ground. Then she made the same small sound of discontent. So I leaned down and picked it up and handed it back to her.
AND SHE THREW IT DOWN AGAIN.
And again.
And again.
Ah, sweet motherhood =)
Over the past few weeks, Charlie has really honed this skill. And then, a couple days ago, the unthinkable happened. I gave her a toy and set her in her bouncer so that I could put on a carrier for our daily walk. And I kid you not, people, she dangled her toy over the edge of her bouncer, looked at me, and smiled. Then she dropped it.
And when I picked it up and handed it back, she dangled it over the edge, looked at me, and laughed. Then she dropped it. And laughed some more.
It’s a good thing she’s so cute.
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Jasper loves to do this at the grocery store. So he’ll drop it, and we’ll catch it, whatever it is, because we don’t want him to put something from the floor in his mouth, and then he drops it, and then we catch it, and inevitably he drops it while we’re not paying attention, it falls on the grocery store floor, and then? Insanity ensues.
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Maybe one of these times Hank will get it? :) Have her toss a ball and then BOTH are occupied! I know. This sounds good in theory, but add in dog slobber, inaccurate dog retrieval, the fact that Charlotte just wants you, etc etc, and it probably is not the best idea.
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Duh, because what she wanted to play was Mommy Go Fetch! :-)
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Mmmm…yes. Isn’t that fun? At least at this stage, you know the cause and effect principle she’s exploring is gravity and predictability. Later, when she does this in the toddler years, you’ll know she’s testing the “how many times can I do this before I make Mommy insane” principle.
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She’s in cahoots with Hank.
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So awesome. Soooo awesome.
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yeah, i think that a lot too. you’re lucky you’re cute, you’re lucky i can’t get mad at you, you’re lucky you’re my baby… wait, my husband says that to me…
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I’m totally for your strict rule! However - it’s because of that rule that makes me so confused on when it’s best to have a second baby!! Any opinions? And enjoy that you’re only picking up a rattle now - soon it will be food :).
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I am very familiar with the toy dangle. Good luck.
By kbreints on December 28, 2009
oh yes. She is a smart little thing—though in that last picture she does not look that small anymore! What a darling sneaky little thing!