Kayalá has now been living as long outside my body as she did in my womb. But comparing the two experiences is like comparing a book review to the actual book, or a movie trailer to the full-length feature. Of course pregnancy was exciting and emotional in its own way, but it came nowhere close to the magic and awe of the baby present in all her physical, touchable, kissable reality.
What is Kayalá up to these days?
When she's happy, she bounces! She does this when she sees someone she loves, when she's playing, when she is about to nurse.
She also makes a "bbbbb" sound (with lips vibrating) when she is happy. Chely does this, too, and I remember my youngest brother Will doing this as a child when happy!
She loves to dance to music, or anything with a rhythm really! When we sing or put on a CD -- or even when Chely starts reciting a nursery rhyme -- she starts to bob up and down or sway from side to side. My mother reminded me that Chely did this as well as a baby, "dancing" to the rhythm of the broom moving when Edwin would sweep!
She says strings of syllables such as"mamama," "dadada," "nanana," and "dehdehdeh."
She is beginning to understand simple terms that we use often with her.
She has two teeth - one on the bottom and one on the top! My parents asked for a picture. We haven't been able to get a photo that does them justice, but not for lack of trying:
She has an excellent appetite and has enjoyed every food she has tried so far!
She does not put many things in her mouth. I thought all babies did this, but she rarely does.
She has two different kinds of laughs. One sounds kind of like she's clearing her throat! I'll try to get some video up so you can see what I mean.
She loves to be tickled and kissed on her chin, cheeks, and ears.
She continues to take very few and very short naps. On rare occasions she sleeps for over an hour. Half-hour naps (1 or 2 a day) are more common. We think she takes after her grandfathers, both of whom get by on little sleep!
She has little to no interest in crawling. Instead, she likes to practice walking with an adult holding her up under her arms! Maybe she'll be like Chely, who did not crawl (but walked at 11 months).
She waves hello / good-bye (sometimes).
She often holds her arm up or out - not just to reach something
or to ask to be picked up
but also, it seems, to express excitement, as though she is saying, "¡Viva!" or "Hurray!"
- or maybe just to let the world know "here I am."
