Amalia's Little Things We'll Miss

Sometimes you get so caught up in the daily grind that you miss the small little incremental changes that happen as little beings grow up. But sometimes it hits you, perhaps a bit late but not late enough to forget for good. 

Amalia has, for a long long time, insistend that she is allergic to tickles. She doesn't mind ticking others, of course, but she has insisted over the years, as mommy or daddy have leaned over to give her a tickle on the neck, or on her sides, that this was not good for her. The normal routine would go something like this. Playing one thing or another turns to laughter and then ticking. Daddy picks her up and pulls her tight, hands around her waste. His tickles come naturally enough and Amalia bursts into a thrust of laughter before, almost pleading, she says "daaaaaaady". Daddy turns to look at her while stopping the action. She looks him in the eye and, with that beautiful sheepish smile of hers, says (sometimes in a whisper) "I'm allergic, remember?". 

Over the summer that particular little ritual reached its end. Amalia, on a warm and beautiful day, announced that she was no longer ticklish and so, just like that and in a blink of an eye, maturity shown and childish playfulness moved onto another form. 

At night, as babies often do, Amalia talks to herself. She is squirmish sometimes and playful, asking many, many questions. Irini has sinced passed this phase and, while Amalia did it regularly, it made little impression. But not going to sleep is different. Self-talk is rare (though still happening) and the tossing and turning that characterised her early days has been replaced with a somewhat rythmic back-and-forthing of her feet on the bed and across her other foot. Her daddy used to do it at that age too. Now the sleep is more direct, the talking rare and the singing, questioning and general energy is not quite the same. 

There are things that you look forward to sometimes, but there are also things you know you'll miss. In this case it's the allergic reactions to tickling and the self talk in bed. She is still as adorable as ever, and conversations are much more delightful and sophisticated, though, so onward to growing up. Laughter, thankfully, is ever present and she continues to have an awesome sense of adventure and a sense of humor that is infectious. Amalia, we love you so, so much!