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My very first post was something about Molly getting to know our names. She had learned that certain sounds stand for certain things. But now, now she has learned something even more interesting - that she can ask for and get things if she knows the right words and gestures. Now this is power.
It all started with pointing, although we don't always know what she's pointing at. These days there is much frantic pointing on her part, and much guessing on ours.
Today she mastered the word for bubble and the sign for more. Clever girl, she spointed at the bubbles, said "bubble" and signed "more". And like the putty in her hands that we are, we blew more bubbles.
This photo was taken at Molly's birthday party - I plopped her down on the grass and she stayed in this exact position for about 5 minutes until she took off exploring. I'm pretty sure she liked it.
Molly doesn't want me leaving her these days (I'm talking a trip to the bathroom here, not too much to ask right?), and around our house there is much grabbing of my legs. This is what it looks like. It's sad of course, to see your baby so upset - but just a little cute too, don't you think? Of course, I would never tell her that.
Molly is one! I'm struggling with the right words to mark the occasion so for now, let's just take a look at where we were a year ago.....
and where we are today....
wow.
Last Saturday we were going to a party. We were excited and rushing around the house getting all cute and ready to go. Molly and I were upstairs; I was changing outfits deciding what to wear, while she explored the fascinating contents of my closet. Later, I couldn't help but wonder - If only I had decided not to take my boots off so I wasn't in my sock feet. If only George would have carried her downstairs instead of me. If only I had walked a little bit more slowly.
If only I wouldn't have slipped and fallen down the stairs with Molly.
Yikes. My foot shot out from under me, and down we went. I immediately wrapped my body around Molly to shield her from the impact, but wasn't sure whether she hit her head when we fell. As soon as we got to the bottom (13 stairs later), George was there, frantically examining us. We checked her head, again and again. We put frozen corn on there, just in case. I nursed her, we sang, we cuddled, we inspected. After 10 or 15 minutes, she had calmed down, but she was still crying. If she were just frightened, by then she would be playing happily. But we couldn't find any lumps on her head at all.
And then it occured to us. She has a whole body below her head. Perhaps her pain is coming from somewhere else. We stripped her down, did a full body check but everything looked ok. Then I stood her up to see if she could maintain her balance, and she wouldn't bear weight on her left leg. Eureka.
We consulted the nurse, and were told that a visit to the ER was definitely in order. So, off to Children's Hospital we went. 2 hours and much bravery and trooperhood later, Molly was diagnosed with a buckle fracture on her lower tibia and fibula. They fitted her in a splint and sent us on our way.
Molly's doing great. She can't stand or cruise, but, adaptable as always, she's crawling all around and is in great spirits. She's waking alot at night, presumably due to pain that she is too busy to notice during the day. Her cast should be off within 2-3 weeks.
It goes without saying that I feel awful about the whole thing. Of course it was an accident, but still. if you fell down the stairs with your baby and she broke her leg you'd feel bad too.
On the bright side (if there is a bright side to a tumble down the stairs) there is something to be said for facing your worst fear and living to tell. As any parent in a home with stairs your darker side envisions the fall. In your imaginings there is blood, major trauma, the works. But, then it happens and you survive. A few hours later you're sitting on the couch with a bowl of comfort ice cream trying to make sense of it all, while your sweet baby sleeps upstairs.
Molly has a baby! Doll that is. She is crazy for this doll. I handed it to her to keep her entertained while I looked around at the Goodwill for "just another minute, sweetie". Little did I know it would elicit such a strong reaction. Complete strangers were commenting on how much she liked her doll.
So, doll (no name yet) came home with us. Molly will hold her and hug her and then scream and piledrive her into the ground (affectionately of course).
Let me just say, if I had known that Molly would respond to a baby doll in this way I would have given a little more thought to it, rather than absentmindedly handing her the first naked and bald one I came upon. But I'm sure a cute outfit will do wonders.
Molly loves walking with her radio flyer wagon, stopping frequently to investigate and taste the flower petals and leaves on the ground. She can walk a few short blocks now with no problem. Some days Molly and I will walk down the block to meet Daddy as he gets off the bus from work. Here they are rounding the bend on our way back home from just such an outing.
