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Welcome to double digits! In months that is. You'll be here until you're roughly eight years old, which seems like forever from now, but I know that all of the sudden I'll blink my eyes and you'll be in the third grade. Just please don't be in college by then if you decide to be a child prodigy, I don't think I can handle you being smarter than me before the age of ten.
So much has happened this past month it almost seems like you've grown into a completely different baby than the one I was typing about just 30 days ago. First and foremost, you've started crawling, a developmental milestone we've been anticipating for months now. Notice I didn't say that we've been preparing for this milestone. You'd think your father and I would have used this time wisely, but we didn't, and we're lucky that you prefer to stay close to us during this early stage. You are simply adorable when you get going and your enthusiasm is contagious. You're still thrilled when you realize you can get from point A to point B and let out a little squeal before those hands and feet start moving. You're not completely in sync yet and if often times looks like our hopping or that your legs are just along for the ride. And I love how your little butt wiggles.
You've also taken to rolling over in your crib, which prompted us to lower your mattress and also drop the sleep sacks you've used since your newborn days. You've continued to take hit-or-miss naps at school due to your energetic nature and were cited for pulling yourself up to your hands and knees and rocking back and forth so hard that your crib was moving across the room this month. It was a first for your teachers and I love that you're setting a precedent. Even with "that" type of behaviour, your teachers still adore you and have informed us that you're not going to be allowed to move to the next class; rather they'd like to keep you as a "baby trainer" for their future charges. With your disposition and smile, I can hardly blame them.
Your personality is shining through more and more each day and we can't get enough. You love listening to music and will now "dance" with your hands in the air and are working hard on clapping. Although I was hoping you'd get rhythm from somewhere in the gene pool, I'm thinking you'll be blessed with the same "white girl" dance moves as your Mom. You also love to give kisses now and will do so somewhat on demand. We're working on being discriminate as you're a lover of all things human, animal and inanimate, especially your purple bear. You've also starting to wave goodbye and it's simply adorable.
Along with that little personality come preferences as to where you go and what you interact with; you're no longer simply along for the ride. You have a series of grunts, hollers and whines that we've started to decipher along with your giggles and smiles. You love shoes almost as much as the cats and those are your #1 crawling destinations, even when surrounded by 1,000 toy options. And, just as quickly as you started crawling, you've also started to "perch" on your knees to get a better view at the world around you; I can tell that you're just itchin' to stand up to see what we may be hiding on tables and in bookcases.
We've had an unseasonably warm winter and have been spending as much time outside in the evenings as possible. I'm trying to gently wean you of the 5pm "nurse and nap" session such that we can play together for a little longer each day. Our cul-de-sac is full of kids, literally, and it's so much fun to walk over to a neighbors' driveway or wave one over to ours after we're home and changed. You love crawling around in the grass and are in awe of the bigger kids. And Mom and Dad have gotten several great ideas for outdoor toys, you're most keen on something to use as a cruiser as you inch toward walking.
When your Dad and I look at you these days, it's very common that we'll then look at each other and say "she's gotten sooooo big, when did that happen?" You're long and lean and I'm having trouble finding pants that will fit your legs and your waist at the same time. I've had to buy mostly 12-18 month pants for you, but they're gaping at the waist and I'm working my best to fatten you up. On the flip side, I totally wish I had this problem, but I guess the fact that I don't pee my pants multiple times a day is an OK trade off. You also have long feet and barely fit your 6-12 month socks at this point, but the next stage up may as well be leg warmers on you; I guess it'll be sandal season soon enough. It's so much fun to watch you literally grow and I love the barrage of new outfits we get to experiment with each month.
As I look back at all I tried to squeeze into this letter, I simply can't believe that you're going to be a year old in two months. The changes I see in you each day are nothing short of amazing. Being your Mom has been the greatest gift and has brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined. I'm so honored and blessed that that God picked me to play such an important role in your life. I hardly remember what life was like before you came along and I can't imagine a future without you.
Love,
Mom
2 comments:
I love the picture where she is showing off her acrobatic skills by doing the splits! Her little face is just so precious and I can just tell how sweet she must be.
An idea for the pants, as we have had the same problem, buy the ones with adjustable waists. Sometimes when I put Sawyer's pants on him I wonder what child could actually wear them. They are huge around the waist but fit him in the length. It makes me want to become a kids clothing designer! And I agree on the socks too. I thought that was just my big-footed kids!
I've got to show Mack the picture of the splits! That's been his new year's resolution for two years now and Anna has already mastered it. He's going to be so jealous... Congrats on double digits, sweet Anna. So glad to have you in my collection.
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