A Letter: Nine Months

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

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

A Letter: Seven Months

Dear Bug,

Wow. Just, wow. You have been so busy this month! I know I say that every month, but it has become more and more apparent to me and your Daddy how much trouble we're in with you - now that you can GO, you never stop moving. 

Ever. 

No, really. I mean it. Ever. If you're awake and not strapped down, you're rolling and crawling and scooting and squealing and talking and singing and GOING. Actually, I take that back - even in your sleep, you're still rolling and crawling and talking. Constantly. You are definitely a busy bee.

Obviously the velcro stage is officially over. I can no longer plop you down and trust you'll stay in a five-foot radius, and serves me right. I told everyone you would crawl at seven months and wouldn't you know it, you did! On your seven-month birthday, you did your first combination of a few "steps." I should have known it would come sooner rather than later - it only took you two weeks to go from barrel-rolling to planking, from hands and knees to rocking back and forth, from a belly scoot to full-on crawling. Thankfully, even though you can crawl, you haven't quite figured out that it's faster than rolling so you do a combination of the two to get around the living room. But believe me, it is definitely efficient - you get from Point A to Point B in no time flat! The dogs never saw it coming.

This month, we traveled to Kauai, Hawaii with both sets of your grandparents. You were such a trooper! For the flight over, we had to leave Kalispell at 6am, which meant a 4:15am wake-up call for a two-hour flight followed by a very, very long day. We met everyone at SeaTac and were able to fly as a group for the five-hour leg of our trip. You did amazing on the first flight, and then equally as great on our second takeoff, but by the time we were landing in Hawaii, you had only napped one hour since 4am. One hour! You graced everyone with an overtired meltdown, and passed out as the wheels hit the ground. Despite the screaming, we had a number of people approach us and commend you on how well you did on the flight. But guess what? That night, for the first time in two months, you slept for eight straight hours! Thankfully on the trip home, you were back to your napping, happy self. We landed back in Montana near midnight, and had even more people approach us about how well you had done. Good job, Bug!

The week in Hawaii was a blast. You got to spend a lot of quality time with your grandparents, and you were able to go swimming for the first time in a pool and the ocean. You are still such a water baby! I cannot wait to start swim lessons with you! You love to splash, blow bubbles, and squeal. When you accidentally got water on your face, you weren't phased one bit. You blinked a few times and then went right back to kicking!


Right after we returned from Hawaii, we finally closed on our new house and were able to settle into Kalispell as a family - dogs included. I am loving having our own space, and you are loving having your toys back. We've been trying to get back on a schedule, and you've settled into a 7pm bedtime and a 7am wake-up, with two naps during the day. You almost always go down for your morning nap quite easily between 10 and 11, but your afternoon nap is usually an argument. Soon, little Bug, I'm hoping I figure you out! It seems like as soon as I think I know what works for you, you switch it up on me! C'est la vie, I suppose.

The final and second most important milestone of your seventh month is that you got TWO TEETH! Your Daddy has been calling them "phantom teeth" for months, and telling me I couldn't blame everything on teething. Well this time I was right! On the 18th, you were a little fussier than normal and not nursing well, then had a rough night. The next day, I was holding you and thought "Hmmm, I wonder..." and decided to check. Guess what had popped through? That little stinker, your bottom right tooth. Three days later, the other front bottom tooth followed. Now you have an adorable little "Teefer" smile and love showing them off.

This was quite the month, Bug. I wasn't exaggerating last month when I said I knew our snuggles would become fewer and farther apart - now that you're on the move, you don't let me hold you unless you're super tired or sleeping. Even when you're nursing, you're climbing all over me, holding my nose, or slapping my arm. You're not content to be held without twisting and turning and looking and lunging, and even at bedtime when you're sleepy, you won't settle down to let us rock you; it's a fight until the bitter end.

Once you're asleep, little one, I always allow myself a few more extra snuggles to make up for your busy day. Some days I miss when you were content to spend hours upon hours in my arms, when being close to me was the only thing that made you happy. Now, being close to me is the only thing that calms you down, but otherwise you're much more interested in the world around you. I would never trade the newborn you were for the little person you're becoming; you are curious, intelligent, and amazing in every single way.

But tonight, when you fall asleep and I'm sneaking in those last-minute cuddles, I'll think of my Momma's favorite book and sing it quietly while we rock: 

I'll love you forever.
I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living,
my Baby you'll be.

Until next month - 
All my love,
Momma

Seven Month stats... (no appointment this month)
Weight: approximately 18 pounds
Diaper Size: Size 2
Clothing Size: Six months
New Nicknames: Goober, said with a French accent "Goo-Bear"

Seven Month Milestones...
8/26 and 9/2: First long flights to and from Hawaii
9/1: Swam in the ocean!
9/5: Started planking
9/6: Balanced on knees
9/7: Started rocking on hands and knees
9/8: Crawled two steps forward, then face plant!
9/19: First tooth (bottom right) and started crawling forward
9/22: Second tooth (bottom left) and pushed to a sit
9/23: Crawled!

A Letter: Six Months

Dear Bug,

Six months old. One half of your first year, over. Downhill slide to toddlerhood. Wowza.

I don't even know where to begin, little Bug. I guess we can start with your two biggest accomplishments:

1. We started you on solid foods and you LOVE them. Cucumbers are your favorite!
2. You are completely caught up to your full-term peers and are no longer on a preemie adjusted schedule!

You have become very interested in what we are drinking and eating. At first, it was just drinks. There were a few dicey moments of spilled water at restaurants because your Momma was not paying attention - you lunged forward and grabbed the glass, sending it flying! Now we know better, and it's a good thing because you go for EVERYTHING. You want our drinks, our forks, our napkins, and especially our food. Just for kicks, I sliced an English cucumber into spears and gave you a piece - you absolutely loved it! In fact, when it was gone (or more accurately, when you dropped it and Izzy gobbled it up), you threw your very first tantrum. Ha! You love sitting at the table with the family, so we plop you in your high chair and you eat while eat. We have continued with the cucumbers and added in sweet potatoes, yellow squash, asparagus, roasted apples, and oatmeal. Oh my, baby, do you despise oatmeal. If I had any doubt about you letting us know your opinion, it's gone now. You literally shove the spoon away, turn beet red, kick your legs, and snarl! Point taken, little one, point taken.

Shortly after your five-month birthday, your Daddy and I spent some time house hunting in Kalispell. Momma's college roommate Ashley lives in Kalispell and was nice enough to take us to her parents' cabin and boating on Ashley Lake. You were our little boating baby! We slathered you up in some sunscreen, threw on your polka dot hat, strapped you into a baby lifejacket, and off we went. You loved the boat so much, you slept the whole time! I guess there is some truth to the white noise effect - every time we turned off the boat so we could swim, you were not happy. Turn it back on, and you passed right out!

The other new experience you had at Ashley's cabin was swimming. You absolutely love bath time, so I had a feeling swimming would be up your alley. Boy, was it! Once you got over the shock of the water temperature, you had a blast kicking and splashing and "swimming" in the lake. I think I had just as much fun floating around with you as you did splashing. Such a water baby. Watching you has by far become my favorite pastime - it never gets old and you're always doing new things that amaze me.

Speaking of new things, this month wasn't all sunshine and rainbows in Lily-land. You, my feisty baby, developed something of a witching hour. For about two weeks, my wonderful, happy, sunshiney baby became a hellion every night around 7. I did not know what to do with you! It didn't seem to matter what I tried, you would just scream and scream and scream and scream. I could not, for the life of me, figure out what was wrong. After some trial and error, I started putting you to bed earlier (you've been an eight to nine o'clock gal from day one). Wouldn't you know it? That was the solution! So now, instead of 8 or 9, you're in bed by 7-7:30. As a result, you're now up by 7am as well, but that gives you some time with your Daddy in the morning before he goes to work; he loves his morning "Goob" time.

Because we traveled to Hawaii and were closing on our new house, we had your six-month appointment a couple of weeks late, but your new doctor was very impressed with you! He said you are completely caught up developmentally and don't have to be adjusted to a preemie schedule anymore. You were a whopping 17 pounds, 4 ounces at your appointment - in the 75th percentile! You didn't grow much taller, but the doctor said you'll probably have a little growth spurt to stretch yourself out. Until then, I'll enjoy my little chunk. Short and stout like your Mom, you are all rolls and squishy chins and I just love them.

I just love you so much, little Bug. Every time I smooch your cheeks, you giggle and squeal. You think peek-a-boo is hilarious, and Reef is your best buddy. I love it that I'm your happy place. I love that every thing you see is so exciting and new. Even though I'm exhausted, I love snuggling you in the middle of the night. I love that you love when I snuggle you, because I know it won't be long before you won't want those snuggles. I know that some day you will sleep through the night again, you will take longer naps, and you won't be happy just sitting with me during the day. I can already see it happening as you become more mobile and explore your surroundings every day. I just hope I can continue to be that anchor you can come back to always.

All my love,
Momma

Six month stats (as of September 4th, at six and a half months)...
Weight: 17 pounds, 4 ounces
Height: 25.5 inches
Head Circumference: 17.75 inches
Diaper Size: Size 2
Clothing Size: Some 3-6 months, mostly six months
New Nicknames: The Goob

Six Month Milestones...
July 29th: First boating/swimming experience
August 6th: Rolled back to tummy
August 11th: Had your first cucumber
August 16th: Full barrel roll
August 17th: Started the "V" scoot (tush in the air, push forward on your face with your toes!)

A Letter: Five Months

Johnny Jump-Up

Miss Bug,

Two weeks late but better late than never, right?

Tummy time with my puppies.

Reading books already.

We have been so busy this month! The week after you turned four months old, we packed up our little life in Tucson and boarded a jet plane headed North. It was your very first plane ride and you couldn't have done any better - my seatmate even said so. I was a little nervous about your precious little ears, and planned on nursing you during takeoff, but you fell asleep and didn't wake up until we were at cruising altitude. You spent the majority of the two-hour flight chatting with me and checking out the other passengers, then fell asleep right before landing and didn't wake up until Uncle Scott met us at baggage claim. What luck! I guess I shouldn't have worried about you one bit; you have already proven to be quite the traveler.

Five month pictures screenshot. Raspberries!

How do I list all the things we have done in your fifth month?! You and I, my little Bug, have hardly stood still for more than a few days at a time. We started in Missoula and then spent the fourth of July in Butte. We visited your Aunt Dede and Uncle Terry at Georgetown Lake and a few short days later, you, your Daddy, and I headed to Kalispell to start house shopping. We thought we had found our future home, but as luck would have it, it was not meant to be, so you and I headed back to Missoula for a jam-packed week. Aunt Lacee was visiting from Tucson, you met a few of Mommy's friends, and your Aunt Tammy babysat you for the very first time! That is definitely something we have to work on - you have become so spoiled by being with your Mom all the time, you are developing a little bit of separation anxiety. You're okay with Daddy but don't particularly tolerate spending time with anyone else unless you can see me. Deep down, I know you have to get used to being watched by others, but part of me glows a little bit knowing you want me over anyone else. But one of the reasons we decided to move back to Montana is to be near family - we need babysitters!

Georgetown Lake

Folk Festival

The most exciting thing you have started doing this month is LAUGHING! On July 2nd, Mommy and Daddy were sitting outside at your Uncle JC's house, and as we were talking, all of a sudden a little chuckle slipped out of your adorable mouth! Daddy and I stared at you and asked what was so funny, and you giggled again! What an amazing sound. Now every day I try all sorts of silly things to get you to laugh. You love when I pretend to eat your belly or your nose, and I have a song I sing to you that always gets big smiles and a chuckle or two. Your other huge milestone this month is that you are sitting all by yourself! The first time you did it without falling over, you weren't sure of the whole balancing thing, but then you figured out I wasn't holding you and you looked like you had hit the jackpot! What a huge, beautiful smile. You then proceeded to learn how to blow raspberries on the very same day. Now we can't stop you from spitting all over us. Gross but adorable all the same.

I laughed today!

Burrito Bug loves Bathtime

I'm sitting by myself! Oh my goodness!

You have become so aware of everything around you. If you see it, you want to eat it; you are grabbing and chewing on anything in sight. You lean forward out of our laps to reach toys, rags, mustard bottles - anything really! We have to be constantly on guard as to what you can reach. At dinner at Famous Dave's, the waitress was clearing our table and all of sudden we look over and you're holding a rib bone high in the air with a huge smile on your face! You were oh-so-proud of yourself.

Teething is no fun.

Everyone you meet comments on two things: your dark, expressive eyebrows and how bright-eyed you are. You bring so much joy to everyone with your loud personality - and what a personality! I know I've said it before, but you, my little dragon baby, have opinions and aren't afraid to show them! You have definitely figured out how to let us know if you like or dislike something and you have also figured out how to get Mommy to come running. You'll start fussing and it escalates, so I come to check on you and guess what? Huge smile, you little stinkpot! You have also decided that bottles are for chumps and have become quite the boob snob. I suppose we might be going straight from nursing to a sippy cup, but thus far you aren't impressed by that idea either. As with anything, we shall try and try again until you are ready. Although you do like holding your cup, you just aren't a huge fan of drinking out of it yet. You'll get there in your own time.

Some days I miss my small, tiny, little preemie but I am so proud of how far you have come! Not only do people comment on your gorgeous eyebrows and bright-eyes, but no one can believe you are a preemie. I guess you knew better than we did that 34 weeks was just enough cooking time, didn't you? You are on track development-wise and gaining weight like a champ. I'm trying so hard to hold out until six months to introduce solid foods, but you might have different ideas. We shall see what the next few weeks hold.

You'll hate me for this someday. But it's cute! You love your giraffe - and being naked.

Bug, my heart hurts just thinking of how much we love you. I love watching you, I love watching your Daddy with you, and I just love you. I revel in every new thing you discover. I glow when people compliment you. I am so proud and can't imagine my heart getting any bigger for you, but I know it will make room. Even when I'm tired, even when you've woken up in the middle of the night, even when you have an overtired meltdown, I still can't believe how much I love you. It's amazing how naturally all of this has come. I can't wait to meet more of you and continue our Momma-Lily adventures.

All my love,
Momma

Five month stats (no appointment this month)...
Diaper Size: Size 2
Clothing Size: 0-3 months, true 3 months, 3-6 are baggy
New Nicknames: Goober, Pukey Pants, Fusspot, Miss Fuss

Five month milestones...
Belly laugh: July 2nd
Sat by yourself: July 23rd

A Letter: Four Months (17 weeks actual, 11 adjusted)

Dear Bug,
And so we enter the age of everything-must-go-in-my-mouth-RIGHT NOW. Guess what? It's adorable. Slimy, yet adorable.

Om nom nom.

As predicted, your growth this past month has taken off. Not only have you put on over two pounds, but your melon has grown over an inch! You've had a few growth spurts that have been visible overnight, and every time you wake up from a nap, it seems like you spent that snooze gearing up different ways to try something new.

Must. Grab. Giraffe.

Oh little one, you are so curious. I love watching the neurons fire as you put two and two together; it seems like it only takes minutes for you to discover your ability to do new things. Last Thursday morning, you were completely anti-tummy time. That evening, I set you down to try again and you popped your head right up and looked around, happy as can be. Ten minutes later, you rolled over. I was so surprised! And thrilled I got to witness it. Now that you've learned that you can lift your head to watch the dogs, or look at your owl, you've decided tummy time is a-okay. Not to mention that when you're done being on your belly, you know how to flip yourself back over. You're trying so hard to go from your back to your tummy! You lead with your tush and it's the cutest thing ever! Once you get it, I can't wait to watch you roll and roll and roll.

Lily + Gramps

Ooh! Tummy time!

The month of June has definitely been the calm before the storm, as we're moving June 30th. Thankfully your Lolla and Gramps were able to visit at the beginning of the month - they haven't seen you since you came home from the hospital and your head was smaller than Gramps' hand! They were so excited to be able to interact with you more this time! You immediately took to Lolla, and she has a knack for putting you to sleep. You also had a ton of fun with Gramps and gave him lots of smiles. While they were here, you finally decided it was time to start sleeping through the night. I don't know if it was because your days were full, or all the new stuff you're learning, but Mommy and Daddy sure are glad to have you sleeping past 3am. Most nights you make it to at least 4, but sometimes it's even 5 or 6. Then you eat and go right back to sleep until 9! The hand-off for that wonderful 8-10 hours of sleep is that you hardly nap at all, but that's okay. Ample Mommy-Bug time!

Mommy's new supervisor.

Happy Bug in Mommy's dress

Now that you're awake most of the day, we do so much together. We read, play, and talk. You supervise me while I work. You have just recently become interested in toys, so now we play on your playmat a lot and you like to kick and grab your giraffe and go-go bugs. We've also been cleaning out the pantry in preparation for our move to Montana, so in the afternoons, you and I have been baking. I play some country music, put you in your Bumbo and then describe what I'm doing. I sing to you, name different cooking accouterments, and explain the ingredients. You love it - your attention span is just long enough that we can bake, dance, sing, and talk all in the time it takes for something to get done. Then we follow our baking extravaganza with a good snuggle.


You also have a new trick - squealing! It almost sounds like you're trying to laugh, but a short giggle followed by high-pitched squeal comes out instead. I can't wait to hear your first big belly laugh but the squealing is pretty darn cute too. And you, my little one, just love your Daddy; you save the best squeals for him when he comes home from work. I keep telling him he'll get the first good laugh out of you, just because you love him so much.

Daddy squeals

Bug, you are such an easy, happy little baby. I keep saying that but it's because it's true! We are so spoiled by your wonderful demeanor. This weekend will mark the end of our time in Arizona - we are moving you, the dogs, and all of our stuff back to Montana so that you can grow up near your family and friends. You and I will be taking your very first plane ride to Missoula this Saturday then spending the weekend with your Uncle JC. Here's to hoping that wonderful demeanor treats us as well in the air as it does on the ground.


Love always,
Momma

Snuggles

Four month stats (as of June 25th)...
Weight: 13 pounds, 12 ounces
Height: 24 inches
Head Circumference: 16.25 inches
Diaper Size: Size 1
Clothing Size: 0-3 months
New Nicknames: Goo, A-Goo, Spit Monster, Drool Monster, Baby, Smiling Fool

Four month milestones...
Rolled over (tummy to back): June 21st
Started grabbing toys: Week of June 11th
Started giggling while awake: Week of June 18th 

Months One through Three

What a difference three months makes! Such a big girl.