Bit by Bit

Sofia

A long time ago, in the days when I could never imagine myself as a mother I used to meet up with friends and family members with children and comment about how much they'd grown and changed. Standard phrases but I was always genuinely surprised at the difference the weeks/months/years had made. Intellectually I recognised that babies and children were constantly developing but still it was often a surprise to meet the new current version of this little person.

Sometimes the parents didn't really seem to appreciate the changes, apart from the need to buy bigger shoes and clothes. Looking back at photos was the only way that some parents seemed able to grasp the dramatic differences between the 'then' and 'now' versions of their child. It's not just height and shoe size that change. Faces change shape, toddler curves melt away, eyes change colour, hair gets thicker, freckles start appearing on the bridge of noses, teeth fall out to be replaced by adult ones.

Once you get over the physical changes that have taken place you start to notice the language, attitude, manners, skills, interest and personality differences. These changes are even more fascinating.

Your daddy and I have taken a lot of photos of you over the last three years. Capturing you as you were born and then every step along the way. We look back at those photos and marvel at how different you are now.

More importantly though I try to catch and memorise the little changes that happen as our daily routine unfolds. This week I've noticed you are conjugating different verbs. You no longer need to be lifted up onto the 'big' toilet in our ensuite, instead backing yourself up and gently stretching up onto your tip toes you plonk your bottom down on the toilet seat unassisted. Last night you tried to explain to me that your throat was sore, pointing down inside your mouth, saying 'Sore inside mummy', not yet understanding the concept of your 'throat'.

You make more and more imaginary phone calls on the pink toy mobile that Nonna gave you on our last visit to Italy. You used to just push all the buttons, enjoying the noises. Now you pretend to call Nana, Grandad, Aunty Kim, Josh and Lachy. The conversations are getting more sophisticated as you ask how they are, and answer imaginary questions with 'yes, okay, yes, okay' before hanging up with a firm 'bye'.

You have been making us imaginary cups of tea with your tea set for some time but last weekend you were playing in the dirt, making muddy water and brought a 'cuppa coffee' to me, insisting that I take one out to daddy who was mowing the lawn. Before we know it you'll be making real cups of coffee for us just as I happily did for my parents.

We spent last weekend gardening, mowing and tidying up the yard following the heavy rainfall and growth from the recent flooding rains. For the first time I was confident that I could work out on the front garden while daddy tended the vegetable patch in the back as you moved between both spaces playing without the need for me to constantly remind you to stay away from the road.

It's all of these little changes that bit by bit add up to the big changes that other people now comment on when they see you again after a period of time as passed.

I never realised how fascinating it would be to watch a child grow up, thinking that it would be much more mundane. It's the subtle things that make it so interesting.

Every morning now you wake up and come looking for me with a 'good morning mummy, good sleep?. You weren't doing that this time last year. I wonder what will be different this time next year?

Regardless, bit by bit I'm trying to savour it all.

Love,
Mummy