Dear Bug,
You are three-quarters of the way toward turning one. That makes you nine months old. Nine! When did that happen? I have a newfound understanding and appreciation of "Blink and you'll miss it," that's for sure.
As always, you are in quite the hurry to grow up. (FYI, if you'd like to slow down any day now, I would be okay with that decision.) As of your nine month birthday, you have five teeth and can cruise the furniture one-handed with ease. You do the sit, squat, stand combination without a second thought. You pull up on anything you can get a hand on - especially Mommy and Daddy's legs when we're in the kitchen. You are obsessed with taking toys with you, not just playing with them on the floor. You bend down, pick one up, and then stand or cruise with it, showing it to me with a huge smile on your face. You've also started "sharing" - you like to hand things to us and then take them back.
You also can walk a few steps by yourself. I'm not sure if it counts as walking because it's more like stepping - you mostly go from item to item with a step or two. But sometimes you let go and step toward me! Then you get really excited "OMYGOSH I'M WALKING!," take a few twinkle-toe steps, and then either sit down or lunge forward into my awaiting arms. We both squeal with glee and pride and celebrate with a big bear hug. It's amazingly adorable.
Speaking of adorable, little Bug, you just love to dance. Music or no, you bounce up and down to your own little Goobie-drum. If we say "Dance! Dance!" you grin and bop, cooing away. You also love to dance with Mommy. We swing and spin and bounce around the living room, and the ensuing squeals, smiles and singing melt my heart. Pure joy exudes from your tiny body when you hear music. You sing along when you like what you hear, it calms you when you're fussy, and makes you smile when you're bored. You snuggle when I sing to you, and clap along to your song. I hope this young love of music sticks with you forever.
Every new thing you do astounds me, but this month your ability to communicate with us has grown leaps and bounds. For the past few months, your Daddy and I have been signing basic things to you (please, thank you, drink, milk, etc.) in addition to using a smattering of Spanglish. Basically, if we know the word, we use the English and Spanish versions when speaking to you. Your ability to understand and comprehend all three languages has become obvious. If we ask for "besos (kisses)", you lean in and lay on a big smacker. If we sign "drink" or "water", you look and grab for your cup. You also seem to understand other people's emotions as well - if we laugh, you laugh and if you hear yelling (such as when your Daddy yells at the TV during sports), you are not a fan. You definitely prefer having happy people surround you!
Not only do you react to emotions and questions and respond in kind with body language, you have also begun to sign back. Your favorite is your version of "Come here!" You like to crawl away, turn around and tell us to come here (it's a cross of "Come" and "Want" with one hand instead of two.) We sneak over and give you a big kiss so you squeal with glee, then you crawl away to do the same thing again and again. It's a fabulous game.
The signing is beneficial for you to express your distaste for something as well; while your Lolla was watching you at the beginning of this month, you became quite annoyed (i.e. angry as a hellcat) that she was trying to give you milk in a cup. How dare she! Apparently you screamed your little head off, cried big old crocodile tears, signed milk, pinched the nipple and FLICKED the bottle. You stinker! Were you a bit offended, Bug? Thankfully, Lolla was prepared with some water and little bites of sausage to hold you over until I got home.
Separation anxiety has arrived in full force this month as well. You aren't too bad in the morning but toward the late afternoon, you don't want to have anything to do with anyone but Mom and Dad. If you're really tired, it's Mom or nobody. Sometimes at bedtime, Daddy even has to follow me around while I get ready because you scream when I leave your sight. The only benefit to separation anxiety is that, despite your ability to get somewhere quite quickly, you are generally thrilled to stay nearby. We obviously still have to keep an eye on you (dog food and bowls are huge temptations), but even when you bear-crawl-sprint across the dining room, you only go about ten yards before checking in.
Buggie, you are such a joy. I've said time and time again that I love watching you meet each of your milestones, but it's the little things that really make me glow. The constant babble in the background, the slap-slap as I hear you "sprint" across the room, feeling you come up behind me and hold my legs while I cook - it's all more than my heart can handle. I never thought these would be the times I cherish as a parent, but they are. Each time you bury your face in my shirt when someone leans in to give you a kiss, I swell. Each time you pants me in the kitchen, I giggle a little harder. Every time you grin and say "Bop-bop-bop-bop!", I say it right back because it never gets old.
You are my sunshine, little Bug, my only sunshine.
Until next month,
Momma
Nine month stats...
Weight: Approximately 20 pounds
Clothing Size: Mostly 9 months
New Nicknames: Twinkle toes, sweetness, little dancer, dancing Goob. Goob and Bug have stuck like glue, thus lots of variations on both.
Favorites: "Bop-bop-bop-bop", singing, dancing
Nine Month Milestones...
10/24: Stood up from a sit, not holding on to anything
11/3: Signed milk
11/7: Third tooth, upper left front
11/8: "Dada"
11/13: Can walk holding onto one finger
11/20: Walks item to item, two steps by yourself!
11/20 (guess): Fourth tooth. upper left lateral incisor
11/23: Fifth tooth, upper right front
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
A Letter: Eight Months
Dear Bug,
Baby girl, you are eight months old. Eight months!
This month we finally moved you into your own room. I know some may look down upon the fact that we had you with us for so long, but the timing finally felt right. We are getting settled into our new home and the first room we finished was yours. It has a big, beautiful purple wall and all of the things your Lolla has made just for you. And you just love your room! We spend a fair amount of time in there, and you love to cruise around, checking out all of your stuff. Your favorite part? Your books. You love to read, be read to, and chew on all of your wonderful books. Once I set you down, you crawl straight for your bookshelf and start pulling them all off! You are your mother's daughter, that's for sure.
Before people think we moved you into your room and everything was hunky dory, I should add that we are still fighting nighttime. You nap like a champ (either one big morning nap and a second, hour-long nap in the afternoon or three, 45-minute to one-hour naps throughout the day), and you go down for bed like a champ, but you do not stay asleep. It shouldn't surprise me because neither your Daddy or I are good sleepers, but I keep waiting for the night you decide to sleep just a little bit longer. As of right now, you usually go to bed between seven and eight but are up to eat by midnight, sometimes later, sometimes earlier. You're up again between three and four, and at that wake-up, I bring you into bed with us. I love our snuggles for those couple of hours, and you wake up at 7 like clockwork. You are always so happy to see both of us. Minus our nighttime struggles, you are one happy little girl!
You are such a little person these days; your fiery personality is shining right through your baby-ness and giving us daily flashes of toddlerhood. I'm not going to lie, some days it scares me a little bit - like the first time you had watermelon and threw a legitimate tantrum when it was gone. A tantrum, little Bug! You were so mad and wanted MORE and had no other way of communicating that frustration than to turn red and scream. Needless to say, we haven't given you watermelon a second time. There are plenty of other foods that don't illicit screaming, so I think we'll stick to those for now.
You are a mercurial little person, little Miss. You can go from happy to mad for no apparent reason at all, and then back to happy two seconds later. You have definite likes and only a few dislikes, and it is wonderful being able to read you so easily. One thing you are insistent upon is feeding yourself. You will not let us spoon feed you whatsoever! Our approach has become to include a Lily-friendly item at each meal, set it on your tray, and let you go at it. You have a blast making a mess and eating with the family, and we don't spend hours trying to airplane food into your mouth. It's a win-win, really. Speaking of family, your puppies are your favorite thing (second maybe to Mom and Dad), and you love taking them on their walk, riding along in your stroller and enjoying the outdoors.
Oh! Speaking of walking - one of your biggest milestones this month is that you are standing and cruising! You actually did them both on the same day, you little overachiever. Now we can't keep you off of anything. You are our little spiderwoman; so focused on standing, you pull yourself up with your crib rails, with Mom and Dad's legs, the dog dish, the wall... anything, really! Your favorite item in the house is the laundry basket. Forget the toys, the laundry basket is where it's at! When it's flipped over, you can use it like a walker and push it around the house like the big girl you are, smiling the whole time. When you crash into a wall, you just cruise around to the other side and start in a new direction. Such a smart cookie!
Every day you do something new, but clapping is definitely your favorite new skill. We sing songs and you clap along. If we say "Yay!", you clap and squeal because you know you did something good. And then sometimes you just clap to clap. Why not? You play peek-a-boo with anything you can get your hands on, and if you can't find something, you play with your arms or our hands. You also wave, give hugs and kisses (love those slimy kisses!), and are very intrigued by other children. Whenever there is someone around relatively your size, you stare at them for a while and then crawl right over and pinch them, you little stinker! We'll have to work on that.
Out of all of those wonderful, adorable new things you do, little Bug, guess what my favorite new skill is of yours?
You said Momma.
With meaning.
And reached for me.
Queue: heart melting.
We are also pretty sure you say "Hi" and "Hello," but of course the Momma just melts me. It also makes it worse at night when you want me. You start to fuss and end up standing in your crib, sticking your face down the hallway and yelling "Mamamamamamama." Needless to say, you get me. Every single time.
Oh my, little Bug, I have become a softie. I tear up thinking about how far you've come since February. Every time someone comments on how big you are, or asks a second or third time "She's HOW old?!", I grin proudly and my heart just melts over and over again. Right before your eight month birthday, you stood by yourself. By yourself! You were more shocked than I was when you realized what you were doing, so you sat down. Hah! I have a feeling that walking is just around the corner and my life will never be the same.
Who am I kidding? It already won't be, now that you're in it.
All my love,
Momma
Eight month stats...
Weight: Approximately 19-20 pounds (18lbs, 11oz on October 12th)
Clothing Size: 6 months
New Nicknames: Goobie, Buggie
Eight Month Milestones...
9/29: Clapping, slept in your own room
10/2: Pulled to semi-standing on low items
10/4: Pulled to full stand in crib, started cruising
10/12: First sickness (croup)
10/18: Said Momma!
10/22: Stood by herself
Baby girl, you are eight months old. Eight months!
This month we finally moved you into your own room. I know some may look down upon the fact that we had you with us for so long, but the timing finally felt right. We are getting settled into our new home and the first room we finished was yours. It has a big, beautiful purple wall and all of the things your Lolla has made just for you. And you just love your room! We spend a fair amount of time in there, and you love to cruise around, checking out all of your stuff. Your favorite part? Your books. You love to read, be read to, and chew on all of your wonderful books. Once I set you down, you crawl straight for your bookshelf and start pulling them all off! You are your mother's daughter, that's for sure.
Before people think we moved you into your room and everything was hunky dory, I should add that we are still fighting nighttime. You nap like a champ (either one big morning nap and a second, hour-long nap in the afternoon or three, 45-minute to one-hour naps throughout the day), and you go down for bed like a champ, but you do not stay asleep. It shouldn't surprise me because neither your Daddy or I are good sleepers, but I keep waiting for the night you decide to sleep just a little bit longer. As of right now, you usually go to bed between seven and eight but are up to eat by midnight, sometimes later, sometimes earlier. You're up again between three and four, and at that wake-up, I bring you into bed with us. I love our snuggles for those couple of hours, and you wake up at 7 like clockwork. You are always so happy to see both of us. Minus our nighttime struggles, you are one happy little girl!
You are such a little person these days; your fiery personality is shining right through your baby-ness and giving us daily flashes of toddlerhood. I'm not going to lie, some days it scares me a little bit - like the first time you had watermelon and threw a legitimate tantrum when it was gone. A tantrum, little Bug! You were so mad and wanted MORE and had no other way of communicating that frustration than to turn red and scream. Needless to say, we haven't given you watermelon a second time. There are plenty of other foods that don't illicit screaming, so I think we'll stick to those for now.
You are a mercurial little person, little Miss. You can go from happy to mad for no apparent reason at all, and then back to happy two seconds later. You have definite likes and only a few dislikes, and it is wonderful being able to read you so easily. One thing you are insistent upon is feeding yourself. You will not let us spoon feed you whatsoever! Our approach has become to include a Lily-friendly item at each meal, set it on your tray, and let you go at it. You have a blast making a mess and eating with the family, and we don't spend hours trying to airplane food into your mouth. It's a win-win, really. Speaking of family, your puppies are your favorite thing (second maybe to Mom and Dad), and you love taking them on their walk, riding along in your stroller and enjoying the outdoors.
Oh! Speaking of walking - one of your biggest milestones this month is that you are standing and cruising! You actually did them both on the same day, you little overachiever. Now we can't keep you off of anything. You are our little spiderwoman; so focused on standing, you pull yourself up with your crib rails, with Mom and Dad's legs, the dog dish, the wall... anything, really! Your favorite item in the house is the laundry basket. Forget the toys, the laundry basket is where it's at! When it's flipped over, you can use it like a walker and push it around the house like the big girl you are, smiling the whole time. When you crash into a wall, you just cruise around to the other side and start in a new direction. Such a smart cookie!
Every day you do something new, but clapping is definitely your favorite new skill. We sing songs and you clap along. If we say "Yay!", you clap and squeal because you know you did something good. And then sometimes you just clap to clap. Why not? You play peek-a-boo with anything you can get your hands on, and if you can't find something, you play with your arms or our hands. You also wave, give hugs and kisses (love those slimy kisses!), and are very intrigued by other children. Whenever there is someone around relatively your size, you stare at them for a while and then crawl right over and pinch them, you little stinker! We'll have to work on that.
Out of all of those wonderful, adorable new things you do, little Bug, guess what my favorite new skill is of yours?
You said Momma.
With meaning.
And reached for me.
Queue: heart melting.
We are also pretty sure you say "Hi" and "Hello," but of course the Momma just melts me. It also makes it worse at night when you want me. You start to fuss and end up standing in your crib, sticking your face down the hallway and yelling "Mamamamamamama." Needless to say, you get me. Every single time.
Oh my, little Bug, I have become a softie. I tear up thinking about how far you've come since February. Every time someone comments on how big you are, or asks a second or third time "She's HOW old?!", I grin proudly and my heart just melts over and over again. Right before your eight month birthday, you stood by yourself. By yourself! You were more shocked than I was when you realized what you were doing, so you sat down. Hah! I have a feeling that walking is just around the corner and my life will never be the same.
Who am I kidding? It already won't be, now that you're in it.
All my love,
Momma
Eight month stats...
Weight: Approximately 19-20 pounds (18lbs, 11oz on October 12th)
Clothing Size: 6 months
New Nicknames: Goobie, Buggie
Eight Month Milestones...
9/29: Clapping, slept in your own room
10/2: Pulled to semi-standing on low items
10/4: Pulled to full stand in crib, started cruising
10/12: First sickness (croup)
10/18: Said Momma!
10/22: Stood by herself
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