Today was a special day for me. Every 6 weeks or so, I’m asked to work a Saturday rotation at the university, and when that happens, my Wednesday schedule is cut by 4 hours. So not having to go into work until the late afternoon, I got to go out shopping with my mom and Cordy.

We had lunch at Ruby Tuesdays (mmmmm….Bison cheeseburgers), and Aaron met up with us for lunch. Cordelia has made a complete recovery from her roseola, and had napped that morning, so she was doing her best to be the center of attention and bat her long eyelashes at anyone who would look at her.

I never realized it until I became a parent, but children have such a way of making complete strangers amazingly happy. It started with her normal game of “Let’s Test Gravity” by throwing her crayons off the table, just as another group were being led to their table behind us. A nice, 50-ish woman stops and picks them up, taking time to chat and coo at her. Cordy promptly takes them and tosses them to the ground again, where an older lady (the other woman’s mom perhaps?) stops to pick them up and remark on my child’s spirit. Yep, she’s got spirit all right – you should see that spirit when giving her a bath.

Later, after devouring a grilled cheese sandwich, some fruit, a pile of fries, and a gallon of milk, she entertained herself by testing out all of the sounds she can make, at different volumes (EEE! ooh. BaBaBa! Sa-k, SaH-keH. KEEE!) Moms at other tables smiled at us and told us how cute she was. Wait staff stopped to comment on her pretty eyes. Even a slightly demented old lady got out of her booth and came to our table to chat with our little prima donna, singing Cordy a song before going back to her smashed cauliflower and broccoli. At that point, we were creeped out, so we quickly asked for the check.

In the elevator in the mall, she charmed another couple with her bright smile, and in JC Penny she had everyone smiling and waving at her in line for the register as she chirped “Hi!…Hi!… Hi!” to them and did her famous wave (waving to herself – she hasn’t figured out that she needs to turn her hand around).

So, in the process of getting lunch and doing a little shopping, this 14 month old little girl managed to brighten the day of so many people. People she’ll probably never see again. I love that children seen to have this ability to seek out and destroy blah feelings. She’s building up her karma in bushels at this point, I think. I could only wish to make such a difference to that many people in a single day, much less an hour and a half.

At my job, I have a few pictures of my daughter on my desk. When I meet with students, I often get so many comments on Cordelia’s pictures. Many of these students are non-traditional, older students with children or grandchildren of their own. Which means I often go through the following conversation at least twice a day:

Student: Oh, your daughter is so cute! How old is she?
Me: She’s currently 14 months old.
Student: Awww! Is she walking yet?
Me: Well, she can take a few steps at a time, but hasn’t mastered it yet. We can’t wait to see her walk.
Student: (with big grin) Oh, you’ll soon be wishing that she was just
crawling! Once she starts walking everywhere, it’s gonna be soooooo much harder
on you! Then you’ll regret it!
Me: (mumbling) Shut the hell up.

This exchange also happens often with our extended family, friends, and even strangers on the street. And. I. HATE. It.

We had to endure two months of a similar conversation just before Cordy started crawling. But you know what? I didn’t wish that she would go back to not crawling – I never wished that! Why? Because she was not a happy stationary baby. Oh no, she could sit up, but she really wanted to move. If I walked more than two steps away from her, she would wail because she realized she couldn’t follow me. If she saw something interesting just out of reach, she’d scream because she couldn’t get to it.

So I thanked every deity I could the day she crawled for the first time (July 2 – it was such a happy day I have it burned into my memory). And I fully expect to do the same when she starts choosing to walk more than crawl.

Once she starts walking, she will be able to do so much more. Yes, she’ll be able to get into more trouble, sure, but at least I won’t be dealing with wails of protest when I won’t put her down because I don’t want her crawling in dirty areas. If she can walk, I can let her roam around wearing shoes, not as concerned with stained pant knees or hands crawling through who-knows-what-ick. She will be able to move while holding things in her hands, which I know will be one of the more happier moments in her short life thus far.

So please don’t tell me I’m going to regret it when my daughter starts walking. On that day I plan to celebrate her accomplishment with her, as we explore our world from a whole new vantage point.

Cordelia didn’t go to the pediatrician today. She seemed to be feeling better this morning, and the rash was already starting to diminish. After cross-referencing with other Web sites, books, and more experienced parents, we’re fairly sure she has roseola. Luckily, it’s a minor illness and the worst is over. I didn’t want to drag her out early in the morning, pay a $20 co-pay to take a walk-in spot at the doctor’s office just for them to confirm what we thought and tell us she’s nearly better. I’m sure after the long holiday weekend there were kids more sick than her who needed to be seen.

One clue that she’s feeling better is that she can protest louder once again. The kid has a knack for the dramatic (thanks to her actor daddy’s genes), and she can do the best banshee wail when needed. Last night we gave her a bath, and her performance was probably her best yet. Surely Oscar quality. She hates her bath, and it takes two people wrestling her to keep her 25 pound body in the bathtub and to clean her. Washing her hair is the worst – when you pour the rinse water on, she gets that wide-eyed Carrie look to her, like we just dumped blood on her pretty prom dress. Last night’s scream fest was particularly painful on the ears, complete with thrashing, throwing her head back, and locking her knees to prevent sitting down. I think I’d rather bathe all three of our cats, at the same time, than Cordy.

Looks like we’re planning a trip to the pediatrician early morning walk-in hours tomorrow. Cordy’s not-so-well feeling has now turned into a nearly full-body rash. Thank goodness I’m not the panicky mommy who would think she was suffering some incurable disease and take her to Children’s Hospital right away. My mom works in the medical field, so I have a bit of knowledge of things medical. And although I’m not a doctor, I do find my way to WebMD more often than most. I entered her symptoms, and I’m pretty sure it’s roseola.

According to the various sources out there, roseola starts out with a fever and a general out-of-sorts feeling for a few days. Then the fever breaks and the rash begins, on the torso mainly but sometimes spreading to the extremities. The rash can’t be treated, but luckily isn’t itchy. Apparently nearly all kids get this at some point before 4 years old.

Cordy’s friend Ben had roseola at the beginning of September, and we worried she would get it then. I have no idea how this particular bug snuck past our Purell defenses. At least if it is roseola, it will clear up soon and she’ll never get it again. I’ll update after tomorrow’s doctor’s visit.