Curiosity killed the cat… or perhaps not

Jasmin’s curiosity is ever increasing and no door is safe from the inquisitive Jasmin. Little fingers find their way to every nuke and cranny. Electric sockets have been blocked with plastic plugs, toilet paper is removed to higher positioning and my clothes are never safe from a turning over. Still, it becomes clearer that Jasmin is learning about the way the world works, so it’s not sure that curiosity is bad. Curiosity does not seem to kill the cat but rather to make her more knowledgeable and independent.

It’s a lucky thing that Jasmin likes to put things into boxes. It’s always easy to get her to help tidy up. As long as I am there to partake in the fun, Jasmin is always willing to put toys back into boxes. She is of course just as happy to pull them all out again a few minutes later, not to mention my clothes or the plastic boxes in the kitchen.  We had been spending the recent spring holiday at my parent’s house and according to my mother Jasmin took over the kitchen. She first pulled out all the posts and pans from the lower drawers and then rearranged them. On the other hand, when she pulled out a container of cocoa power and my mother asked her to return it to its place, Jasmin did just that. It was also on this holiday that Jasmin has finally climbed and descended the stair case at my parents’ house, on all fours, alone and unnoticed. On an especially quiet afternoon we searched for her all over the house, only to find her in one of the toilets tearing at a roll of toilet paper and making quite a mess (not to mention the waste of paper), enjoying herself immensely in the process.

On another occasion during the holiday, she opened a cupboard door, which I desired her to close.  So a new game began; I ordered her in a stem voice to close the door whenever she opened it and smiled and cooed at her is she closed it, then again the stern voice because she opened it again, and the sweet tones when she closed the door. I clapped my hands and complimented her. The door opened again and a paid or mischievous eyes danced in her face, one again I turned stern, the door closed and I was all smiles once more – this time Jasmin did the hand clapping to congratulate herself. She has taken up the various tones of adult speech and can clearly communicate displeasure, truly scolding me or wailing, as well as gurgling her satisfaction, occasionally whooping a happy screech or breathing with excitement and wonderment when wanting to show me something. She gets more and more consonants into her vocabulary and recently has taken to saying “babababa” which as close to the Hebrew word for daddy (abba).

One morning when I was in the restroom and my mobile phone was ringing, serving as an alarm clock, Jasmin went to get it from the other side of the apartment, attracted by the noise. She brought it to me with an inquisitive look in her eye. She likes to bring me things and one day she brought my glasses from the counter near the bed to me in the bathroom. She also tries to pin my hair up with a plastic claps I use. Taking my glasses off my face and trying to put them back on for me is a national sport, as is pulling at the earrings have recently resumed in wearing.

She likes to press on buttons and no DVD or video or any other electronic devise, preferably one with lights is safe from her. She sat down holding my mobile phone and pressed the screen in an effort to light it up. The first trials were fruitless, but not such as Jasmin would give up (I call her my little fighter, because although her elder brother is 4 years her senior, she hold her own with him). She persists and presses and by now she gets all kinds of apps to work and websites to go online.

Understanding her world includes various attempts at drawing from a very early age. Taking a pen and putting it t paper first occurred around the age of 6 months. The attempt then was futile, but she has been improving since. In kindergarten I am told she likes to sit with the elder children and she can put together a scribble and decorate it is stickers rather nicely. I should probably frame her first attempts, as I did Jonathan’s (Jasmin’s elder brother) but I find that I am a lazier parent o my second child. Jasmin is however not lazy, and as always willing to take part in any activity. Yesterday, as I was hanging the washing, she joined me and started handing me the clothes to hand. She grabbed each piece with two hands and raised them in my direction, making one single vocal sound as she did so, to draw my attention. She was soon handing me the clothes much faster than I could hang them on the line…we completed the task rather quickly and poor jasmine was disappointed that there were no more textiles to grab (I do believe she has a soft spot especially for the kitchen towels).

Jasmin is a scientist at heart. At least I would like to think so. What other explanation can there be to her turning her bottle upside down while it is full of fluids and pressing the tip to her shirt to look at the expanding stain on the fabric? Or just shaking the bottle upside down and delighting in the drops on the floor? Or smearing food all over herself after taking the mash in her hands to get a better feel for it? Or throwing her bottle or any other toy into the toilet? I have often read about pranksters in books and wondered why parents would tolerate such childish tricks. it would seem, however, that I have a prankster on my hands, and I do assure you that while my husband was laughing affectionately at the bottle he found in the toilet basin, I scolded Jasmin and I hope the message with get though…but as I write these lines, I cannot help smiling as I think of it all.

Turning out the kitchen cupboards

Primitive Communication

As Jasmin comes into her second year upon this earth, she is showing an excellent, even feminine, instinct for communication. She used body languages and basic sounds to deliver clear messages. Its primitive communication at its best and most innocent, and yet, so sophisticated. Who said humans needed to speak to be understood…?

Jasmin is showing mature forms of communication, along with a stubbornness and strength of character I believe her elder brother will have trouble to match when she is older and being more articulate. Just the other day, when being asked by her grandmother to give her something, the child resisted with a simple twist of her body and a lifting of one shoulder – a clear and resounding “I do not want to do as I am told”. Such gestures are usually considered typical of toddlers who are much older than 1 year old Jasmin. By now she clearly shakes her head for “NO” or “I do not want” especially when being offered some food she is not interested in. she gestures with her finger in a certain direction, but if I hand her something wrong (and not the desired item) she pushes it away and nods her head in clear negative – mommy, once again, you got it all wrong… Only a few days ago, when she was insulted that I did not comply with a request to be picked up (hand up in the air and big cajoling eyes to boot) she sat with her head stooped, clearly offended by my lack of cooperation.

She is also getting much better at imitating adults. A certain way for babies and toddlers to learn about life. It is clear she likes to do as the grownup do. My mother has taken to calling Jasmin “the professor” because it becomes increasingly clear that she does understand the world around her. Jasmin likes to be in company of the adults and always asks to be seated in a high char to join the company if we group together.

Jasmin imitates us feeding her by force feeding us (mainly her mother and grandmother) back. Feeding time is mostly mutual, with two spoons. Jasmin cannot be feed if she does not have a spoon of her own, with which she occasionally tried to feed herself (at 1 year and almost two months she is becoming increasingly competent). At the beginning it was always quite a struggle to feed her, while she sent food flying with the spoon in her hand, but if the spoon was not given, she struggles for the spoon in my hand and the mess is even bigger. Quite the fighter for independence.

So we both hold spoons of food. I give her one spoon and then she tries to feed herself, and then I feed her another mouthful and then she feeds me back. Considering the fact that Jasmin has been feeding adults and cross feeding her mommy from day one in the feeding chair, it is amazing that there is not photograph demonstrating this special action. Feeding is accompanied by the syllable “Hum”. When calling to an adult, Jasmin says “amama”, clearly a try at the Hebrew word for Mother (Imma) or the German version perhaps (mama). It can get confusing with the request for food. Recently she has taken to trying a fork and attempting to pin her food with it. She is not quite successful, but as she grows more independent, it would seem that the times of cross feeding are at an end.

Other imitations include speaking on the mobile phone, just like mommy. Whenever Jasmin gets her hands on a mobile phone (or any other similar object with buttons, including a calculator or gameboy, she tries to speak in it. Recently even the sound of “Alllll” has accompanied the gesture, a clear try at "Hallo". Tearing toilet paper is a special treat, but Jasmin has shown that she clearly understands what it is used for. She regularly takes a piece to her nose and blows with her mouth, imitation sounds of adults blowing their noses. Then she crumples the paper and throws it to the trash.

Jasmin has recently given more vents to her stubborn nature by starting to throw tantrums. If she always used to lie down at my feet from day 1 in order to ask to be picked up, she has now refined and elaborated her signs of displeasure. The mode of request to be lifted in my arms has changed and she now sits with her arms up, or buried her head between my knees standing up t do so and to indicate that she wants an even higher view of her surroundings than the floor), but if the request is not complied with, its back to the basics with laying down on her tummy, only recently she adds kicking legs and waving hands and yells to the display. It’s just like a classic cartoon; I had no idea until now that the humorists have taken inspiration from the real gestures of children.

She cleverly gestures and makes request for whatever it is she desires. Only two days ago she invited my mother (her grandmother for a walk) by pulling her along. Jasmin is usually mobile on her knees (so much that the skin on the knee has become hard in both her legs), but she has recently taken to standing up and dragging chairs or finding a willing adult to take her for a walk. Usually it is the adult who initiates the walk, but in the above mentioned instance it was Jasmin.  When Jasmin is exited she expresses her wonder with large heaves of air. Recently she started saying “wow” when she wishes to express wonderment. The gesture is repeated almost whenever she is looking at a book or gets her hands on some towel or other piece of fabric. She loves books, but has not yet patience to be read too, grabbing the book and turning the pages herself.

She is also showing a knack fro humor, she likes to put things on her head. Smiling at the observer to make sure the joke is understood. Then she is pleased with herself and claps her hands. She also plays with people the game of give and take – or rather take a ways fast and not give. She can hand you a toy, and just as you come to take it and thank her, she will whisk it away and laugh. The gesture is quickly repeated to her delight. For some wild reason it is my father, who enjoyed that particular trick. My parents, I am glad to see are developing a special understanding for Jasmin, then get along with her swimmingly and I do believe the joy of keeping company with Jasmin is mutual. May she always continue to be so cheeky, clever, and absolutely adorable!

Jasmin the carnivore! Eating like an adult!