do you want to ‘mell me?

You smell downright delicious when you get out of the bath. I guess I’ve said it enough that you realize it as a game or a compliment and run to me—still dripping with your yellow ducky towel and ask me if I want to ‘mell you. It is a very sweet moment on bath nights.

The “s” and following consonant words are the last lingerers of baby talk left. Sometimes Daddy and I will stop you, emphasize the “s” for you to hear and ask you to repeat it. Not this time though. I was spending time reflecting on how sweet you were being. You were at the island in the kitchen practicing—unprompted—on your own:

“Sssss…mell. Sssss…mell.”

So sweet. So smart. So big.

in again, out again

It was as if a light switch flipped and suddenly, you could climb in and out of your crib with ease. Daddy and I had anticipated this, but I imagined it’d be more like you’d ruminate and wonder, calculate and scheme, try and not-quite-make-it for days, maybe even weeks, before you’d mount a full-scale escape. This activity has quickly moved to the top of your most-favorite-thing-to-do list.

You really love playing in your bed; it’s your new favorite hide-out. You get so excited to climb in and pretend to go to sleep–complete with lights out, Sleepy-Sheepy and two blankets. You really get crazy-excited when Daddy or I join you or when I cover the crib with a blanket and transform it into a tent. Rather than discourage you, we’ve tried to instill safe climbing practices:
1. Focus.
2. Take your time.
3. Use a known and trusted route.
4. Limit the number of times you climb in and out with your sleepsack on.

I’m bracing myself for an inevitable sprain or simple fracture.