Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Innocence

Sophie has been sick the last few days. While I hate to see her so miserable, I have taken no small amount of joy from all of the extra hugs and cuddles. Having my baby fall asleep in my arms, on my chest, is a familiar and missed sensation.

She hasn't eaten much since she's been sick, and that worries me more than I want to talk about. We've never had any serious illnesses here. We've been very lucky. Of course, there have been colds and ear infections, but if I'm being honest, even the worst of those wasn't all that bad. I have a healthy child. I mostly attribute her strong immune system to the large quantity of unidentified foodlike items she eats off of the ground.

At the dinner table, after little more than a few nibbles, she laid her head down on her arms and closed her eyes. Alarm bells go off. While she could hardly be called a good eater, she generally at least eats some of whats on her plate. It is a rare day that she sits still for more than a few minutes and rarer still are the days when she is falling asleep before her head hits the pillow. Just one more reminder that not all is right here.

We carry her, half asleep, up to her room, and after a halfhearted attempt at brushing her teeth and a quick change into her new Dora sleepers, we put her to bed. With a kiss on her forehead, we leave her curled up in her bed asleep.

Twenty minutes later, Neil and I are down in the basement TV room when we hear a thumping noise. We look at each other but dismiss it as one of the cats or a noise from outside. After a few minutes, we hear the noise again. This time, it is definitely from inside and both of the cats are with us. My mind immediately goes to intruders, but Neil, the more rational of us, says that Sophie must be on a walkabout. A peek at the video monitor reveals an empty bed.

I lose at rock/paper/scissors and I set out for upstairs. As I hit the first floor, I call out to Sophie and I hear rapid footsteps on the second floor, a door closing and a couple more footsteps before it goes quiet. I look up the stairs and see her door is closed. When I open it, I find her curled up as though asleep. I say, chuckling, "you little faker." And she raises her head with a smile.

On the surface, this is a nothing experience. Except that it isn't. This is the first time she has shown a capacity for deception. Everything has changed.

A slice of innocence gone. My baby is growing up.

16 comments:

  1. Awww...this is cute! My kids never eat when they're sick...freaks me out every time! I love the fact that she tried to fake you out. Guess she's feeling better!

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  2. Aw, I loved this post. Really, truly loved it.

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  3. Did she giggle? When you called her a faker?
    yeah, the not eating thing worries me too.

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  4. That sounds familiar. Hilarious. Emily told me yesterday that she thinks spankings are fun....

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  5. G isn't feeling great either and I sent him to daycare and my mommy guilt is eating me alive. Hope yours feels better soon.

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  6. Oh, yes... how well I remember. Wonderful post. What a marvelous storyteller you've become!

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  7. These little moments are happening here too. Sweet and sad at the same time. Good job capturing it into words.

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  8. Your little faker will feel better and eat better soon. Parenting is such a wild ride, just when you have one stage figured out, something new comes along.

    Enjoy the extra cuddles while they're on offer!

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  9. So funny!

    Does this mean she is feeling better?

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  10. Sneaky, aren't they? It's cute now, but just you wait...

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  11. Isn't it awesome how this is something that makes a parent smile? I mean, it's funny how they develop even when it is something like deception. I dunno, I always found it hard to NOT laugh at these little milestones.

    In a weird way it's a gauge of normalcy. I liked this post. Very good post.

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  12. Cracks me up that you and your husband do rock, paper, scissors to figure out who should walk upstairs to your daughter. I just give my husband "the look." Or I'm asleep.

    Either one works.

    xo

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  13. Oh, three is a trip! Batten down the hatches dear friend!! It's gonna be a fun ride!

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  14. Just taught O. how to play rock paper scissors. He cheats, of course, but pretends he isn't. And he doesn't really get how paper beats rock, and I can't say I blame him.

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  15. I always lose at rock/paper/scissors. Always. That's why I've banned my husband from suggesting we play it!

    Also, hope the little Bean is feeling better soon, though I bet the deceptiveness will not go away when the germs do. =>

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  16. Love it! My boys are such matzoballs(at least when they are babies) that if they miss a meal when they are sick it's ok. I know how that concern for their well-being is all consuming. You're a great mom!

    I can't get over her "fake" sleeping. What a lil actress.
    Ahh, I have a little 4-yr-old actor to introduce her to. And the Academy Award goes to...... For best "fake sleeping"!

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Give me some sugar, baby!