With all that’s been going on with the COVID-19 and being quarantined at home (although Novalee’s daycare is still open THANK GOODNESS), it’s been very hard to find the silver lining in anything. Alex and I are both working from home, and while he seems to enjoy the extra company since he’s been working from home an extra week prior, I’m not too fond of my new co-worker. I enjoy the large space of my cubicle, and mostly silence or at least seems like so with my headphones (which I’ve left at the office), and responsive internet connection. At home, everything lags and I’m often kicked out of my work server, my coworker talks loudly and sighs constantly, and we’re both crammed with our multiple monitors on this very tiny dining table now. Combine that with me being extremely pregnant, and we just have a recipe for disaster.
HOWEVER, a silver lining was found when Novalee said her first sentence this past weekend!! We’ve been trying to work on 2-word sentences that involve two different ideas (like daddy’s home, mama’s hungry, etc… what’s that, all done, and the like do not count as they are the same aren’t separate ideas). All the while, she would just repeat the last word we’d say to her, or just say “yeah” in concurrence.
For the past week, Novalee has been very attached to a babydoll at her daycare, and has been carrying one she also found at home everywhere the last 3 days. I’m not sure if it’s because she understands that we’re about to have a baby or if she’s just at the age where girls show interest in dolls, but it’s absolutely darling watching her carry her babydoll everywhere, giving it hugs, and bottle feeding it. On Sunday, she gave me the baby to hold so she could do something else. I absentmindedly tucked it under my bum and watched her grab other toys. Moments later, she charged over at me, finger pointed, yelling “NO NO BUTT!” I had no idea what she was talking about until she was right next to me and yanked the baby out from under, then shot me the dirtiest look right before hugging the doll. OH MAN it was hilarious, I’m so glad that Alex and I were able to witness that moment, where it showed so much character and advancement in just a short amount of time. Later that day, she also said “Bye bye, Baby” when she accidently dropped it from her bike, so casually as if she’s been saying sentences this entire time. It’s so interesting how the quick a child learns, almost like each time she sleeps, she’s updating her systemware and is improved the moment she wakes up.
I’m looking forward (and partially dreading) for when Oliver arrives. Novalee is going to be such a wonderful big sister, and I’m amazed at how I can literally see her growing up each day right before my eyes.