Baby Girl,
I love you so very very much. You are still progressing and maturing at such a rapid pace that it blows me away. Now you no longer need furniture to stand up – you just let go and balance. At first it was only for a few seconds and then you’d desperately windmill and grab for whatever piece of furniture you’d just abandoned. Now, however, you can stand indefinitely. As long as nobody bumps you. It’s just a matter of time before you’re walking.
You still love to blow raspberries and will just truck it around the apartment making farting noises all the while. It cracks your father and I up. We love to watch you. You like to watch us, too. Especially when we put away your toys and books. Then you promptly get up and go empty the toy box because really, the toys don’t belong in the toy box in your version of a perfect world.
This month you and I got to spend a week with Grandma & Grandpa (Mama’s parents) to celebrate Grandma’s 50th birthday. You crawled up a step. A huge milestone and Grandma & Grandpa were so happy to be there for it. You love those grandparents of yours. You love both sets equally and boy do they love you. Your Great-Aunt Shel also loves you. She came home from work one day that week (we were staying at her house) and unloaded a bunch of toys and clothes that had “jumped” into her cart.
You’re such a well-behaved baby. I’m truly blessed to have such a dream for a kid. You can sit in restaurants for HOURS and you just hang out. Sometimes you nap. You don’t ever – or at least haven’t yet – started howling in a restaurant and you really make my life easy. I can only imagine how hard it would be to have a normal baby who can only handle short stints outside of the home.
One of my favorite things to do with you is dance. We turn up our music during the day and I set you on my lap and bounce you around and chant, “Boogie boogie baby. Boogie boogie baby.” Now you bop all on your own and I love to watch it. You make me smile. Always, you make me smile. Even as you’re learning to say no by shaking your head. You don’t always do it when it makes sense, but you have definitely learned the motion and you enjoy doing it. Now if only I could get you to nod your head yes!
I so love watching you grow and I can’t believe you’ve been here for eight months already. Eight! Insane! It’s just flying by. Before I know it you’ll be walking and then you’ll be a year old and a toddler and oh my… I plan to cherish every moment of your baby-ness because you are just a fantastic baby. I know that you’ll be an even more amazing kid and let’s just hope for some decent teenage years. I jest, I jest. I know that you’ll be brilliant throughout all of your years. Just, ya know, take your time getting there.
I love you with all my heart,
Mama
