Bleary eyes peered through my peep holes this morning after another night with little sleep, only today is so special that I quickly rub away the sleep and before me sits a big toy.
Isn’t in incredible how a toy can represent such a milestone. Only months ago the size of the toys on my carpet were much smaller and seemed to have more buttons and make more noises than the Enterprise. (yes i used to be a sci-fi nerd).
Staring at the shiny purple metal, white wheels protruding from front and back, a purple seat and tray (or boot as pickles calls it) I know just by its size I am entering a whole new realm of my life.
Pickles is two today. Two! I say to myself, two, it seems like yesterday she started crawling, just yesterday she started babbling but nooooo I tell myself, already here we are right here standing on the bridge of the Enterprise wondering where the hell Captain Kirk has gone? Surely I don’t have to fly this myself?
Hmmmm, I ponder. What does toddlerdom have in store for us? Probably less time for myself, more running around after her, and a time when I will have to get much more patience from the Buddha of Patience (please buddha give me loooads!) to ensure I don’t become a ‘no’ mumy. It will also, hopefully, fingers crossed, I’ll do anything god, (I get down on one knee) be a time when my wine nights without pint size people become more frequent now that she is older.
Pickles is already asserting herself more. She is so much easier to understand and incredibly articulates what it is she wants with this ‘oh its OK mummy, i know your a little daft some days so let me explain it’ look on her face. She points, and now increases her phrases to ensure I get what it is she wants. I am so amazed at how much she understands and like many parents now and all through the history of time (not in a history channel kind of way) learnt the hard way that NOW, yes RIGHT NOW MUMMY, is the time I need to watch my language.
Picture this: Mummies telling daddy about silly Mr X who today at the supermarket did something down right rude and obviously ignorant. Mummy calls him a rude word and guess what. I hear a pint size echo of just that word. How is it that she managed to pick out the rude word amongst all the rest. There was no ‘man’ or ‘supermarket’ OK a bit too big a word for now, no no no, she picked just the right rude word. But its not just words she imitates.
Last night while putting her to bed, unsettled, Pickles cried so hard that I stayed upstairs. Much to the upset of my grumbling tummy, it had to enjoy the peace and quiet of an empty stomach for 30 minutes longer, anyway, Pickles is huddled in the corner of her cot and when without me even realising it, she is imitating me sniffing. But not just once, every time I sniffed, and I have to embarrassingly admit, I was doing it every 30 secs. Little did I know my sinuses were playing up but Pickles let me know and within seconds we were in fits of histerics playing the ‘copy mummies horrible snuffly noise’ game. For 5 glorious minutes Pickles and I shared a wonderful bonding moment over an olfactory game.
Moments after I black out into my toddlerdom wonderment, I am rushed back to reality with a tiny voice yelling “byeek”, “Mummy Byeek”. “Yes” I said, the grin widening past my ears. Your first bike. It is a trike of beauty and even now at 7.50pm she is sitting in it.
How a simple toy can mark history. The first bike or trike as it is, has stirred feelings in me that I never expected. Where has my baby gone? Here now, standing at my feet is an excited, grown up little girl. I have a little girl ready to explore more of her world and start the path to her grown up future.
Here’s to you Pickles. Happy Birthday!
