This morning I got up early to shovel snow so the high school kids would have a safe walk to classes, and we’d be able to get out of our driveway. Our shoveling tradition includes intermittent knocks on our bedroom window while I’m in the driveway; I then stop for a minute to look up and see Ava and Leah waving at me. I return the wave and then get back to work.
Ava was in bed with us early. One of our neighbors across the street was up before 6 running his snowblower (to move less than an inch of snow…why bother?). It was a reminder of how acute Ava’s sense of hearing is. She became very agitated as she wriggled around in bed with us, and it was clear she was a little scared by the odd rumbling noise outside.
She and I will often be sitting together working on something when she’ll suddenly stop and point upwards with an expectant look on her face. Sure enough, there’s always a plane or helicopter flying over the house. Ava’s become aware of it long before I noticed anything. All these noises area still so new to her, and now they’re even more exciting as we try to get her to associate words with them. She’s a smart little girl, that’s for sure.
When I finished shoveling this morning and came inside to get ready for work, Ava waddled into the bedroom where I was getting dressed. Leah was there too. Ava was babbling away about something or other, and at one point she turned toward the door as if making to leave. I said, “Bye bye, baby. Write if you get work.” Then, clear as day, Ava replied, “Bye.” Leah and I just burst out laughing.