Scrutiny

Babies start out their lives scrutinizing the world around them. What starts as a blurry mass of soft blankets, warm caresses and pastel colors, sharpens by eight months, to the equivalent vision of an adult. My latest discovery with my daughter is in how much she has learned during this quiet time of scrutiny.

She is just now starting to show us all she knows. It started with following simple commands. "Can you bring Mommy that bottle of water?" "Can you go into the other room and get your blankey?" "Come upstairs." Today, she started singing, speaking in two-word strings and reciting certain words from her favorite book. Conveniently, tomorrow is her 15-month pediatrician visit. Now we will have something to talk about. And so will Elena.