How is it February already?

It's been several weeks now since "it was the Christmas season" ceased to be a plausible excuse for my failure to post an update, so it seems my only option, at this point, is really just to post an update.

It is 5pm; it has just got dark; it is -2 degrees outside and the garden is still covered with the remnants of this past month's snow, melting bit by bit during the day and replenishing itself at night, but with the majority of the molehills now exposed. Munchkin is slowly working her way bottom-first off the head of the bed while practicing her gurgling and simultaneously trying to fit the bedside table into her mouth. In fact perhaps I should go rescue her before she gets wedged between the bars of the headboard...

Often to be found in this position

...all better. She is safely placed on a blanket on the floor, with a careful trail of toys extending backwards toward her feet. This is because, at the moment, she is only able to crawl backwards, and whatever toys she is playing with now will soon be just out of her reach.

While the days of the past two months have all run into each other with their general sameness, they are all characterized by an ever larger repertoire of actions of which Munchkin is becoming master. These include:

Backing into furniture is sport of the month

Crawling backwards

This started sometime near the beginning of January, when she suddenly started to push herself backward across the kitchen floor.

It has developed into a sequence which can roughly be described as: Sphinx Pose > Child's Pose > attempt at either squat or leap frog > modified Downward Dog > sudden, unexpected propulsion backward onto tummy. 

Since she is completely incapable of moving even a millimeter forward, if she wants to reach a toy in front of her she will push herself backward in a full circle until she comes level with it.

A variation on kneeling side angle pose

Kneeling Side Angle Pose 

A frequent modification to the above backwards-crawling sequence 

(she bends one knee and extends the other leg, pushing herself up almost onto her bottom)

Removing my glasses

She seems to be fascinated by the fact that you can see through them, sometimes running her hand behind he lens while I'm wearing them, and giggling. 

She now is very adept - and fast - at whisking them off my nose (and trying to cram them into her mouth). She giggles a lot when I take them off myself and she can see my eyes.

These two cups need to be banged together, and someone's got to do it

Holding a toy in each hand and banging them together

Sticking one finger up each of my nostrils, as high as she can reach. 

Grabbing the hairs at the nape of my neck and tugging my head in different directions. 

Rearranging the little hairs round my forehead, then giggling profusely.

This is what happens if I dare tidy up

Saying long strings of sounds like "Neh-ba-wa-wa" and "Da-ta-da-da-ta-ta-da-ta". ("Ma-ma" has gone in and out of favor for several months.) 

Looking at things with her head tilted to one side, then upright, then tilted. 

Pulling her toys out of their basket, or tipping the basket over to reach them better.

This is a place for playing, not eating

Licking and chewing on furniture

In particular chair backs, bed posts, table legs. She has also recently become fond of chewing on my exercise mat.

Removing my slippers from my foot and chewing them, in the mistaken belief that she is a dog.


Sitting in a high chair (though not quite yet sitting by herself). 

We do not like food

Signalling extreme disapproval at the taste of solid food. 

While Munchkin is busy turning herself round in circles, banging toys together and perambulating backwards into table legs, I spend much of my time very busy trying to decide whether it's worth trying to take a nap (Munchkin often only sleeps for half an hour at a time), or whether I should sit down and read a book, or whether I really do feel like cleaning after all. 

I spend so much time trying to decide, I usually don't get to any of these things. I go and cuddle Munchkin instead.