I’ve been spending a lot of up close and personal time with Amelia these past few days. Of course, I already spend every day with her, but these past few days she’s been sick. Clingy, pukey, raspy, feverishly sick. There is something about tending an illness that brings you even closer.
Luckily, it hasn’t really been scary. Amelia never once got lethargic or even lost her sense of humor. Farts were still hilarious, and clothing changes were still giggling struggles. Those eyes never lost their sparkle, and her smile still made its regular appearance, if not more.
One thing that fascinates me about fevers is whatever they do to the brain to make it work double time once the fever passes. Amelia’s been more communicative than ever. She now asks for a bath even if she doesn’t see or hear it, by rubbing her chest and saying “bat!”. She points at things she wants to look at and says “that.” And this morning after I washed my face she gently patted it and smiled as if to say, “looking good, Mommy!” She says “bye bye!” when Cliff leaves for work, and “Daddy!” when he comes home, or if she sees a man who remotely resembles him. Today she insisted on wearing her tights and raincoat, and that’s it.
Her sweet nature is punctuated by her determination to stick to her own agenda. When she gets a hold of something we don’t want her to have, like a remote or scissors, just a month ago we were able to hold a hand out and say “may I have that?” and she would hand it over. Now she takes a moment to think about it… eying the object in her hand, looking back at me, making the decision over whether she will give it to me or not. I can switch tactics… “can you give that to Maddy?” “Can you give that to Daddy?” And usually she’ll be willing to give it to someone. Either that, or she’ll run and shriek and make a game of it!
She a sensitive little girl, too. Just the words “no” “don’t” or “stop” make her little face twist up in a sob. Even, as Cliff discovered, if they aren’t connected to anything that is actually happening. I think she’s starting to catch on to that joke, though.
She knows that “sister” is synonymous with “Maddy.” She adores animals. She points out the eyes on every animal and person in our books, saying “eyes!” In fact, pointing out facial features and body parts is one of her favorite things to do, second to reading books and investigating the bathroom sink.
Amelia is 16 months old, as of Monday, and she amazes me every day!