Copy Cat

Avery is now 10 months old and she is definitely interacting more with people!  I love it.  This last week I had a bit of a cough and one day I noticed Avery coughing as well.  At first I thought that maybe she was catching a cold, but then I noticed that she would cough after I coughed, looking up at me with her big eyes and sometimes covering her mouth like I do.  This went on for a few days.  She would cough almost every time I did.  It was so funny and luckily I caught it on video (see below).  Then she started "fake laughing" when I was talking and laughing on the phone and she just learned how to put a phone by her ear and jabber into it.  Cutest thing ever.  She also waves when I wave (sometimes), claps when others clap, and sometimes tries to copy sounds or silly faces I make. 

I started thinking about how Avery learns everything from copying me and others around her, and I thought about how each of us learn about life, by copying others and learning from other people around us.  I thought about how blessed I am to have such amazing parents to "copy" and learn from, and all the wonderful things they taught me and are teaching me about life.  I thought about my amazing friends who have been the best examples to me and all the wonderful things I have learned from them.  I thought about how scary it is to be a parent and how much everything I say and do will influence Avery's life.  I thought about how the Savior is our ultimate example and we should always try to "copy" Him.  All of these thoughts led to writing this poem, "Copy Cat:"

Copy Cat

I smile, you smile; I laugh, you laugh
My joy reflected in your eyes
I wave, you wave; I clap, you clap
You copy-cat me by surprise

You watch my every move; my every emotion and my mood
Trying to learn about life
 I watch you too, as you grow, as you bloom
My sweet baby, you are my lullaby

I cry, you cry; I yell, you yell
You watch for my reaction when you fall
I stare, you stare; I pout, you pout
Happy, sad-you reflect it all

This pattern will continue
As you grow older and you'll see
There are others you can copy-cat
Who are much different than me

So I hope that I can be
A good example in ever way
So you will learn the importance to copy-cat
Those who uplift and not degrade.

Soon you'll come to see
You're standing on your own
Others will copy-cat you
They'll look to you to learn and grow

I hope I can lead you there
Where you're happy with who you are
So you can help others who need a guiding hand
And be a light in this world of dark

But for now I'll take your tiny hands
As I help you learn to walk
I'll guide you through dark hallways
Helping you laugh, teaching you to talk.

I'll pray, you'll pray.
Learning of a loving God
We'll both make mistakes
But I'll teach you honesty and admitting wrongs

I'll try to be strong, happy and real
So I can teach you all I know
I know you'll help me see, help me feel
True love you'll help me grow

Little copy-cat when you copy-cat
Things that make you sad or hold you back
Please know the One you should always copy-cat
Will forever help you get back on track

So on your journey throughout life
As you feel love, hope, sadness, fear
Let's both try to copy-cat Christ always
Know that His love and mine are forever near.