9 months
Giving birth reminded me of climbing Mount Fuji. I was 25 years old and willing to do pretty much anything for an adventure. The climb started at 11pm and the goal was to reach the summit by dawn to witness the rising sun. I was with a group of friends and we were fairly chipper and energetic at the outset, albeit a little tired. By about 3am, I begged my friends to leave me so I could sleep amid the hardened lava, but my buddy Greg grabbed my hand and dragged me along. After many games involving the alphabet and off-key songs, I was groggy, dirty, sore, exhausted -- and then suddenly we were at the top. And there was the glorious sun, peeking out of rosy clouds. Just like giving birth, I instantly forgot the pain and desperation I'd felt just seconds ago.
Spending my days with a 9-month-old is more like a marathon. I am constantly running. "No! Don't touch that cord!" "Oh no, oh no, when did you learn how to pull yourself up using the ottoman?? Don't lick that!" She crawls. She stands. She does what's called "cruising" and walks while holding onto various pieces of furniture. She eats dust bunnies. Licks the oven. Swoons over her own reflection in the mirror. Laughs hysterically when I say "uh-oh". She is so much fun, sometimes it hurts and makes me feel out of breath.
Still, she does not sleep. She's a champion napper and loves to sleep while I carry her around. Yet nighttime sleep is something she refuses to master.
This month, my mother came to visit and Kumi was very curious. Every morning, she carefully licked her grandma's face, paused and said "huh". As in, "Huh, you don't taste too bad." Kumi even gave some of her famous slobbery kisses. My mother was productive as always and was a clothes-making, sweater-knitting, barette-crafting, playhouse-constructing wizard. It was so lovely to have her here; I often wish we lived closer to our families.
So this last month has been rigorous and exciting. She's eating solids a little more now and she just looks so much more grown-up to me...anyway, I must go and work on child-proofing the place some more.
