Adelle 8 & 9 Months

My Cheeky Monkey,

Mama is sorry. I haven't felt like picture taking or blog writing much these past few months. Not that you aren't picture worthy, and you certainly give me plenty of material to write about, but I simply haven't had any creative juices running through me. Not to mention that I have to keep an even closer eye on you now that you are mobile!

Yes, that's right, shortly after my last writing you began to crawl. Dad and I were standing in the livingroom talking about putting you to bed when all of a sudden....you just did it! And, in your usual form, you acted as if it was no biggie with a look on your face like 'whatever' as if you'd been crawling all along. When we made a big fuss, as we often do, you just looked at us as if to say 'What? Haven't you ever seen a baby crawl before?  Whadda coupla dorks."

In that same week you began pulling up on anything that was stationary and climbing on stairs. Oh what a thrill to watch you go! It was also so fun watching you at play time. For a long time now you've been tasting things and turning them this way and that to get a look from all sides, but then you began shaking things about. Dad and I took to singing an oldies song to you "You gotta shake, rattle, and roll" each time you did that. You'd smile a big goofy smile and keep on shaking. More recently you've begun banging things together. You just never stop exploring. You love going to new places so that you have new things to look at.

You began waving before we left and it was just so darn cute to see your little hand opening and closing. You also started signing 'milk' while you drank your mama's milk. I'm trying to teach you a few more signs now, like 'all done', but you land up turning them all into 'YAY' in which you hold both hands up over your head and smile. That is just about THE cutest thing you've ever done.

A big hooray with Dad's credit card in your hand. 

Even though you don't know a whole lot of sign language yet, you sure are communicating. Pushing our hands away if we try to give you something you don't want. Grunting excitedly for food. Pumping your legs when you are happy to see someone. The other week your dad tried to steal a kiss after you pushed his face away (I don't blame him-you are pretty hard not to kiss) and Nana and I heard the LOUDEST most angry scream ever come out of your little mouth. You sure told him. We all had a big laugh. Even though you like to sign milk while you are eating, you don't ask me for milk that way. You come over, sit on my lap, and slide into position. Then when you are done with one side you get up and slide into position on the other side. Your main communication though is through smiles and giggles. Everyone says you are the happiest baby they've ever seen, and I have to tell you it's true. You smile all the time.

Your personality is really starting to shine through. Like I said, you love going to new places to explore, but you also like meeting new people. When we're out and about you stare at people and when you've assessed that they're okay, then proceed to give them an ear to ear grin. Oh, and you've started wrinkling up your nose when you smile. That literally turns my heart into a puddle of goo.

You decided that getting your clothes changed was totally uncool and too babyish for you. As soon as we tried to remove or put on a piece of clothing you commenced with the most amazing acrobatic flips, rolls, and squiggles I've ever seen all while throwing the most theatrical hissy fits I've witnessed thus far. It was like trying to dress an angry fish. I think you just truly hated being taken away from whatever you were doing.

Just after you turned 8 months old we had a big trip to America planned, but right before we left I began to see teeth through your bottom gums. I was so excited! I had no idea how excruciatingly long it takes for teeth to come up. Over a month later and those teeth would still only be half way up. Still, you look absolutely adorable with your little nubby teeth. We catch glimpses of them when you are smiling or eating and you've begun to rip at your food with them. It's almost a little sad for me though, because your face is changed forever. No more gummy grin. It's just one more little thing that signifies that you are on your way to being an Independent Woman.

So we took the big trip back to America to introduce you to all my people. Thirty hours door to door--I was a bit nervous how it would go. I thought you'd hate sitting around on a dumb old plane for so long and getting dragged through airports. Silly me, I worried for nothing! You traveled like a champ! It must run in your genes. You were making friends all over the place. This little old Honduran lady sitting across from us kept calling you Muchachita (little lady) and speaking Spanish to you. She was your bestest friend. Even at the end of the trip on the shuttle bus from JFK to Grand Central you were flirting and waving to some random dude behind us.

We took the train from NYC to Bridgeport and when we got there your Grandmama scooped you up and gave you hugs. We stopped to see my Gram, Aunt Diane, and cousin Shari straight away. It felt good to me that my family finally got to meet you. Finally you got to meet your Nany Ilse, who you are named for. I know she was very glad to see you. Don't tell her I told you, but she might have had a tear in her eye.

You and Nany Ilse (you weren't loving picture taking this day!)

The rest of the trip was spent visiting, visiting, visiting. We saw both sides of my family and bunches of friends like Genessa, Melissa, (a different) Melisa, Laura, Katrina and Damon, Madelyn, Maureen and Liz, and Jaimee. Since we were there a month we got to see some people more than once, which was wonderful! Grandmama had a party for us so that people could come meet you. You met your other Great Grandma then. We did lots of driving around. You were a star the whole time. You took naps in the car, or wherever we could put you down, and you were almost never cranky. You loved when we visited my friends with kids because you looooove playing with other kids--especially the older ones because you like to watch what they are doing. You practiced more crawling and standing while holding onto things. You've become much more nimble and adept in your body.

Me, Grandma Mic, Grandmama, and you at 8 months

You and your Grandmama

While we were there I got to look at old photos of me as a baby and little girl. That was really special for me. There's no denying you have Daddy's beautiful eyes (that is the first thing everyone says when they see you, "Look at those beautiful big blue eyes"). In the pictures I got to see how much you look like me too. There was one photo of me at your age smiling and we look like twins! Your Daddy's eyes and my smile. I like that very much. You've also got my nose and lips.

One of few pics we have of the three of us as I'm almost always behind the camera! Shortly after this we ha a camera malfunction which is a total bummer.

We ended the trip in NYC. We stayed in a hotel and got to see a bit of Manhattan before we took the big trip home. I think because we started traveling in the evening and you were already tired, the trip home was a little tougher for you than on the way there, but overall you were still super.

At the end of these few months I can say that your sleeping habits are....still pretty unpredictable. You teased us with a few seven hour stretches while we were in Connecticut, but promptly went back to sleeping in 2-4 hour stints. Sigh. Ah well. I just keep telling myself it won't be like this forever. Luckily your Dad has become the baby whisperer and has honed his technique for getting you down for naps. That has been a huge help because for some reason with me you just think it's play time.

I think that about covers it, babe. Actually, it doesn't begin to cover it at all. Every single day you bring Dad and I laughter and joy that can't be captured in writing. As you show us bits of your personality and as you grow into this little person we fall in love with you a little more each day. I don't believe when a baby is born it's parents feel the full extent of love right away. The love is there, no doubt. But each day a new seed is planted and over time the love blooms into a lush garden. Pretty soon that garden has taken over everything and there you are as a parent, sitting in the middle of it, in wonderment of what has been created.

You in your cheeky monkey hat from Grandmama

I think each day we are planting seeds in your heart, too. When you grow big I hope that you'll be able to close your eyes and feel all our love for you no matter where you are or what you are going through. There will be so many things that happen in your life that we won't be able to change, but we can at least arm you with the knowing that you are loved, adored, and cared for.

Namaste my sweet. Love always, Mama