Memere and her Bean

My littlest granddaughter is becoming quite vocal. She has been babbling for some time, saying da-da-da and buh-buh-buh but this weekend I was introduced to a new sound - the Mighty Squeal. It came suddenly while she was lying on her back on the changing table. Never fond of the immobility required while being changed or dressed, she has added back arching, leg kicking and a loud voice to her repertoire of avoidance tactics. I was so startled by the Squeal that I picked her up diaper-less, the unbuttoned ends of her onesie flapping about her bare legs. The noise stopped as quickly as it started and the little Bean grinned widely.

Not ten minutes later she was seated in her highchair with a few itty bitty pancake pieces scattered over the tray. She likes to chase little bits of food around before pinching them tightly between her tiny thumb and forefinger and eating them. Between bites her Mama spoons mushy food into her little mouth. Bean's two bottom teeth are visible but her uppers are still making their way through the gums. She clamps onto the spoon and bites hard before letting it go for the next mouthful. When her belly is full, she arches her back, puffs out her cheeks and emits a deafening eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee until someone jumps up and unbuckles her. Despite some quiet admonishment from Mama and Papa, she grins her satisfied grin.

Her second mastery is the wave. Held securely in her Mama's arms, her cheeks still feeling my exuberant goodbye kisses, the Bean lifts her small arm and waves it in my direction. "Bye-bye Memere," my daughter says. The little arm waves, the serious little face watches me as I get in the car and roll down the window. "Bye-bye." My last glimpse is of the little hand raised in farewell. "She'll come back," I hear my daughter promise.

Yes, I will!