Victoria and her Changing Moods

What occupies the mind of a nine-month old-baby?

While talking to a co-worker, he was kind enough to ask how she is doing and I mentioned that she spends her days finding ways to get in trouble. His response got me thinking, he said: “of course, she’s a baby, what else can possibly be on her mind?”

Much, I thought. The reason I say this is because even though she refuses to utter a single word, her facial expressions, weird noises and bodily contortions pretty much say it all. I’ve heard so many people say, “Oh, she’s just a baby” implying that babies don’t understand, don’t feel or don’t process information the same way an adult does. I cringe every time I hear this because it could not be farther from the truth. The problem is that as adults, we don’t listen carefully enough to details that can sometimes tell us much more than what we just hear. We are so used to being on the receiving end of words, just words, that we don’t pay enough attention the unspoken and powerful body language of other humans.

I like to think that I have mastered this since Elizabeth was born. I actually can’t remember a time when she and I could not communicate, when we were not in tune with each other. This is happening all over again with Victoria, and let me tell you, this is one moody child! I don’t mean this in a negative way, just in the you-drive-me-crazy-trying-to-figure-out-what-you-want kind of way. She’s feisty, she’s demanding but she can also be so sweet and so cheerful, that it is sometimes hard to keep up with her changing moods, but I try hard and I just might be succeeding.

As a result of this, I decided to put together a few photos that captured her mood and realized that I can tell exactly what she is thinking. You can see the pictures at the top of this blog (click on it for a larger view), and the voice behind it here:

1 – All that playing and eating sure got me tired...
2 – Oh, life is so much fun!
3 – Wow! That shiny thing you're holding is cool, can I have it?
4 – It's not that I'm thinking real hard, I'm just choosing to ignore you.
5 - Please get that camera out of my face, I'm not looking my best right now.
6 - Oh My God! How could you leave me in my crib all alone and walk away for a whole minute? What kind of a mother are you??
7 - I know I'm adorable, but if I put my finger here, they'll love it!
8 - Perfect! Cookie all over my face, hands and clothes. I hope my mom doesn't wipe it off again.
9 - So many cool buttons, so little time!
10 - Ok, I'll kiss you but only because you feed me.
11 - This is the coolest thing I've ever seen...how'd they do it?

And that is life for Victoria, her moods range from happy to cranky to silly to serious in a matter of minutes. But no matter what her mood is, no matter what the situation that surrounds her she knows we love her. I make sure that my own body language is reassuring and loving enough so that she's free explore the world and its many wonders knowing that I will always be there when she has the need to express one of her many newfound feelings. My ears always sharp enough to listen, my mind always open enough to understand and my heart always big enough embrace hers.