Love the baby (finally!)

More feeding of the baby
Originally uploaded by kristn1284

So one of the many things I have learned as a new parent is you cannot present something to Annabelle and say “Look here it is, do you like it?” I do not know if all children are like this but my little Pinkle has a whole 12 step program of her own.

Annabelle needs to process things. She observes, thinks about it, talks about it, and then makes a decision. Case in point, babies.

I have friends with little girls similar in age that all tell me how much their daughters love their baby dolls and real babies even more. Truthfully Annabelle does not pay attention to babies out in public or baby dolls that are present at playgroup. When our cousin Baby Jason was born last month I found this to be the perfect opportunity to see what Annabelle thought about babies.

When Jason was about a week old we went for a visit. Annabelle appeared not to be paying any attention to him. The first time I held him and tried to show her she wouldn’t even look at him, the second time was similar but with apparent distaste when he cried. I left there feeling defeated. My daughter does not like babies and here we are having one in a few short months. What was I in for?

A few days later she crawled up on my lap and said “Hug like baby Jason”, she wanted held like I held the baby up on my shoulder. Then for the next few days she would say “Nana hugs Jason” or “Mum Mum hug Jason”. Then the next week she woke up one morning babbling in her crib saying “Jason drinks milk” “Jason needs a pants change”. A few days after that while shopping she saw a baby drinking a bottle and talked about it the rest of the day. “Baby likes milk”

I purchased a baby doll with bottle, dinner serving set, diaper bag & its own seat. Sunday after her nap I asked if she wanted a new toy to play with. “OK” replied Annabelle. As soon as she saw it she was trying to rip open the packaging (and who came up with the idea to hermetically seal all children’s toys in the package complete with twist ties, plastic tethers and shrink wrap?) Once we freed baby from her cardboard encasement Annabelle took right to her. She feeds her bottle constantly, hugs her but then hands her off to me “baby needs a pants change”. It is not a Betsy Wetsey doll so I just put her up on the changing table and pretend. Annabelle is very pleased with herself and takes her right back to feed her again.

So there we go. After only a 3 week pondering period Annabelle has decided she loves babies.

I just hope this all goes well when Brother arrives; at least I am feeling more confident.