I’m pretty sure if I look up strong-willed in the dictionary,
I’d find Emma’s sweet little face staring up at me.
I’m pretty sure if I look up strong-willed in the dictionary, I’d find Emma’s sweet little face staring up at me.
I don’t know what happened to our helpless, shapeless, cooing bundle of baby.
She has morphed into a pre-toddler, cruising around the house, popping doggy food and looking for trouble.
Our pint-sized 9-month-old cherub has developed a giant-sized personality.
She has definite preferences for how long she wants to sleep (20-minute catnaps, thank-you), where she wants to play (outside is tops) and what she wants to eat (sweet potatoes, please).
And has she got a thing for music! As soon as any tune starts playing, she kneels and bobs up and down to the beat, waving one open hand in the air.
She also knows exactly what toys she wants to play with and if that particular one is taken away from her or if playtime ends abruptly, she expresses her displeasure. That’s a mild way of saying she throws a baby fit, flailing her tiny fists and kicking her stocking feet in the air.
But that is nothing compared to her reaction when I try to strap her in her car seat. She arches her back until her upper body is upside down, then she proceeds to bellow until the car gets rolling.
I know I’m cramping her style. She doesn’t want to be tied down for too long. I can’t even pick up the little darling any more without her yelling in protest and trying to wriggle out of my arms.
And at her tender age, Emma is already very familiar with the word “no.” Of course, I use it sparingly, like when she has our dog Lucy’s ear in a vice grip or when she pulls herself up to standing in the grocery store shopping cart. When she hears it, she often sits back down or gives our pooch Lucy back her ear. But other times, she smiles a mischievous grin and continues on with the offense.
But as much as she tries to escape us, Emma also wants to be like us.
She mimics our motions, speech and laughs.
Last week, she munched on Cheerios while my husband, Chris and I ate dinner, Chris said over and over again, “Mmmm, good.”
After the third time that he said it, Emma replied, “Mmmm, oooh.”
“Did you hear that?” Chris asked excitedly.
“Our baby just said, ‘Mmmm,'” I said, leaping up to record the momentous milestone in her baby book.
Then earlier this week Emma began to learn the art of grooming. After I finished brushing her hair, I handed her the comb. She took it and swiped it across her head, flicking it through a few fine strands before placing it in her mouth.
“Oh my gosh!” I screamed to my Emma’s Auntie Katie. “You have to see this!”
Of course, Emma is amazed at her progress as well. At home, I find her standing before our glass sliding door, staring at her reflection. Then she leans in and gives her mirrored self a smooch.
A moment later she scampers across the floor, pushing toys out of her way, looking for one worthy enough to play with. She finally settles on our vertical blinds, giving one a great tug.
“No, no,” I echo again, pulling our munchkin away from the tangle of blinds.
She looks at me her eyes twinkling, grinning from ear to ear.
“What am I going to do with you?” I say, giving my strong-willed Emma a huge hug.
Kelly Barbazette lives in Gilroy with her husband, Chris, daughter, Emma, and miniature dachshund. She is the owner of Write Now, a copywriting and public relations company in Gilroy. She can be reached at kb*********@***oo.com.
