Adelle 7 Months

Dear Chubba Wubba,

Lord have mercy, where did this month go? I blinked and all of a sudden you had grown into a mini-toddler.It’s shocking! You are no longer a baby-baby. You’re in the second half of your first year. You are seven months big.

You are not crawling as of yet, but the acrobatics you do are amazing. You are so close to crawling I keep thinking it'll be any day now. I also keep thinking any day you'll be getting teeth (as you've been a bit more grumpy than usual), but that hasn't happened either!

You've figured out there's more going on around you than you can see in your direct line of vision (clever girl), so you've begun peering over, around, and behind things. The look on your face is too precious.

What's that over there??

You were just starting to be more aware of the cats when Merlin died a few weeks ago (more on that in another post). Since then you've grown to LOVE Gabby and you are generally pretty gentle with her. She's unbelievably patient with you. She just lays back and lets you have a go until she's had enough. Never once a hiss or a swat.

You've also made some little baby friends. You did the sweetest thing and gave your friend a hug and a kiss....then other times you're super curious about what an eye must feel like and want to have a little grab of someone's face, so I have to be real close to make sure you don't accidentally blind someone.

Your studious face.

You and Daddy have started swimming lessons. Overall you are pretty unconcerned. You did crack a few smiles, but for the most part you just hung out. You even went underwater and when you came up had this look on your face like "whatever."

You love your Daddy. You finally sat through a whole book the other night as he read to you.

You are moved to laugh every single day. Sometimes I try to make you laugh and you look at me like I’m straight out of the asylum. Then other times I just give you a certain look and you giggle. Once in a while when breastfeeding you if I'm preoccupied with something else I feel your eyes boring a hole into my head. I look down and you burst into laughter. Um. Uh. What did I do that was funny? Nothing at all. You are a child and you must laugh. So, no matter where we are or who we’re with in those moments I engage you and we laugh together. It must be done. Your happiness is contagious and must be watered.

Whattaya doin Mama?

On that note, you are teaching me a whole new side of Love. Of course, I have never loved someone quite the way I’ve loved you, but I’ve also never experienced someone  loving me quite the way you do. I still get a ‘what, who me??’ kind of feeling when you fuss specifically for me. I thought I had gotten away without you going through the ‘clingy’ phase, but you seem to just be growing into it now. I try to put you down, but you just go into hysterics until I pick you up again. It isn’t an ego based feeling I get, but rather a deeper understanding of Motherhood (and maybe it's a bit frustrating at times!!). It helps me to see that no matter how I ‘show up’ you will love me As Is. You will want my approval. You will want me to love you and hold you. You will want me to just be there without saying a word just to feel the comfort of my presence.

That makes me feel even more responsible to be my best Self for you....and I do try.

When I come toward you and you hold your arms out for me, when you grab me and give me kisses out of nowhere, when you laugh at me for no reason, or when you just want me to stop and play with you for two minutes to reconnect I remember all that I am in your Life and I think ‘Holy shit. God give me all the tools I need.’ I also feel our love wholly in those moments. There's this little spark--a connection--that is special only to us and it just makes me so darn happy. YOU make me so darn happy!

You with the bear Grandmama sent you from America.

As another month comes to an end, yet another lay before us. This month you'll crawl. I'm sure of it. Teeth? Yeah, probably. What else? Who knows! No matter what, you'll delight me every single day. You are Mama's little treasure. 

I love you with all my Being, Mama

P.S. You've been having more and more good night's sleep....can you possibly keep that up? Thanks, Dad and I appreciate it!