For a few days, Maia stopped talking.
Oh sure, she’d smile at us when we talked to her, kicking her little arms and legs around wildly as if it was just the most delightful thing in the world to hear our voices, and she’d cry when angry, but she had nothing to say. Day one, I thought maybe she was just being quiet. Day two, I thought maybe I had talked over her and missed it that way. Day three, I finally said something to Chris (“Am I crazy or has she not been talking lately?”) and he confirmed her being quiet. Day four, I convinced myself that she had lost her voice forever and I was a horrible mother who was somehow to blame for it.
Day five — or hell, let’s be real, EXCESSIVELY EARLY MORNING of day five — she wakes up and decides she would like to stay awake after feeding. So I change her diaper and I figure that she’s probably getting ready to poo, which is usually the only reason she’ll refuse to go to bed in the middle of the night, but she didn’t want to snuggle up against my shoulder and just be carried. That’d be too easy, of course.
And you know what she decided to do?
Talk to me.
Also apparently make me add an extra ‘t’ to ‘dudette’. But no, she talked to me. For an hour.
Ah well. At least she’s talking again!
(This time next year, look for a post called “Maia won’t shut up oh god what do I do?!”)
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh yes, the time will come when all she will do is talk and you’ll wonder if she’ll ever stop. But honestly most of the time that’s pretty cool, and it’s WAY better than crying.
Until she’s old enough to ask “why” about every possible thing you ever say or do. Then, total mental meltdown. Why? Because it just gets really frustrating having to explain the reason for everything that ever happens. Why? Because sometimes things just are the way they are and there really is no clear reason for it. Why? Because … ACK!
Wow, she really likes the taste of that fist! Is it usually the right one? So cute when they talk!
It could be a constant stream of “No! No, no, no, noooo, nnnooo – no”. But, not for any particular reason, just because they like the feel of the word and they must roll it around in their mouths to get full enjoyment out of it.
yeah, it’s gonna get worse. enjoy the quiet while you can because my kids, ages 5-13…never shut up. never. not. ever. and i have a headache from them. and from yelling at them to give me five minutes to think. they even talk to me when i’ve locked myself away in the bathroom. i can’t get away from the voices. tell them to stop! tell. them. to. stop!
Lily loves to eat her hands too. It amazes me how much hand she can get in her mouth.
I think the talking some days and none other must be normal right now. Lil does the same thing.
I look forward to next years post.
@badassdad – Why did you have to come here and remind me of the “why” phase?!
@Gala – She doesn’t really seem to prefer either fist, actually.
@Michele – True… once she learns to talk back, we’re so screwed.
@Melissa – You know, I read comments like yours and then I think back on my mom having three of us and I think “She probably felt the same way!” Sigh!
@Jinxy – Maia had her fist in her mouth the other day and then opened her hand… stuck her fingers down her throat and gagged herself. I have to admit, I laughed. She was SO SURPRISED!
Just when you think you’ve got them figured out, they go and CHANGE on you. My daughters, now 13 & 16 are still at that shiz. But savor every moment… they were among the happiest days of my life, those early months. (now mine don’t just talk a a lot – we have fabulous conversations and they’re smarter than me
I enjoyed your post!