Month Nine

Dear Henry,

It's been almost two weeks since you turned 9 months old.  We had your doctor's appointment last week and you now weigh a whopping 16 pounds 8.5 ounces and stand 27.25 inches tall.  You're not the biggest kid on the block, but they haven't found a way to measure awesome yet, and I know you'd tip the scales in that category.

This last month has been HUGE!  There is so much to cover!  Let's start with this:

YOU ARE BEGINNING TO WAVE HELLO AND GOODBYE!  It's not consistent, but it is consistently adorable when you do it!

You are now able to get yourself to a sitting position from laying down, which means you are now able to PULL UP TO STAND AT ANY TIME.  Not only are you pulling up, but you are starting to climb on things.  You have decided that your walker is more interesting from the outside.  This is both amazing and terrifying!  Because of this new-found skill, we have had to lower your crib so that we don't awaken with a KERTHUNK to find you sitting on the floor of your bedroom.  I know that day is coming, but I'd like to delay it as long as possible.

This was supposed to be a nap.

You are completely able to get up on your hands and knees and have become quite the crawler.  To keep you contained, we have erected a wall between the living room and the entryway.  Depending on what the future holds, this wall may be expanded.  We have also discovered that you are a little bit afraid of a small red stuffed puppy that plays music.  At the moment, he may be sitting guard at the doorway between the living room and dining room.  It is not our most shining parenting moment, but it is working as a virtual gate.

You are beginning to LOVE Thomas the Tank Engine.  When you hear the steam whistle at the beginning of an episode, you stop what you are doing and turn to listen to the theme song.  You don't care much about the episode itself, but when the theme song plays again at the end, you stop and pay attention like it's your job.

You are also developing a love of books!  Your favorites are "Five Little Monkeys" and "Peek-A-Boo Forest."  You will lift flaps and turn pages while we read to you.  And when we're done, we start all over again.

You are starting to eat cereal puffs and small chunks of soft food.  I'll occasionally let you gnaw on a banana, too.  Your hands are not the most cooperative, but you are getting better about getting the pieces into your mouth on your own.  You are not too proud to let someone else feed you chunks, and you open your mouth like a little baby bird.  I have to admit that I never thought I'd be as proud of a developing rotary chewing pattern as I am of yours.

Speaking of your mouth, the copious amounts of drool and telltale little white dots on either side of your bottom front teeth are giving away the fact that you are getting teeth number seven and eight.

On a holiday note, this past month saw your FIRST HALLOWEEN!  You dressed up as Batman - or rather, we dressed you up as Batman.  We carved pumpkins a couple days beforehand.  I was going to let you play in the pumpkin guts while we took care of the sharp knifey parts, but then I realized that pumpkin guts have pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin seeds are...well, they are one of nature's finest choking hazards.  So instead, we mashed up a banana and let you play with that.  I don't think the substitution bothered you, but I was picking mashed banana off of your high chair straps for a couple of weeks.

 Dad wanted me to tell you that he always look forward to Saturday mornings with you.  After getting up together, you two go down to the living room and play.  After an hour or so, you're usually ready for your first nap of the day, so Dad will begin the endless trek of walking laps around the house while he sings hits from the Stephan Jenkins songbook, until you finally pass out.  And then you nap on his chest while he watches some TV.  It's all terribly adorable.

Doodles, over these last few months, there have been moments when we are hanging out or driving in the car, and you will be jabbering away or studying something very intently, and I will think to myself, "MAN, I can't WAIT to meet you!"  Which might seem like a funny thing to think, because I'm your Mama.  Of course I already know you.  But I can't wait for you to tell me stories about your day.  Or jokes you learned at school.  I can't wait to know what goes on in your head when you flip something back and forth.  And back and forth.  And back and forth.

But for now, I will relish every last snuggle and delight in every last baby giggle.  Because I know that soon enough, my little squishy Doodles will grow up and I will meet the little boy you will become.  And he will be awesome.  And I can't WAIT to meet him.

Love,
Mama

Month Eight

Dear Henry,

Almost two weeks ago, you turned 8 months old.  Your mama's a bit late with this letter, because...well, life sometimes gets busy and things slide a little.  Your dad is even helping me co-write this month's letter.

The last month and a half have been pretty eventful and you continue to take this whole "mobility" thing very seriously.  You like to use the people around you as jungle gyms and can pull yourself to standing on just about anything that is stationary.  You are even starting to take steps with support.  You are working very hard on getting up on your hands and knees, but for the time being, you're pretty quick with the army crawl.  Taco, who barely acknowledges your existence at this point in your life, is dreading this new development.

You're becoming much more verbal and are combining a lot more sounds, but you really seem to prefer the back sounds.  It's hard not to interpret your "ah-gah"s as "Oh god! Oh god!" especially when you are riding alone in the backseat of a car.

It's been a while since peeing your pants was the end of  the world.  In the past 6 weeks, four new teeth have made an appearance, and your dad hypothesizes that the pain of teething has made you realize that wet drawers aren't all that bad.

You are now able to entertain yourself for short periods of time.  You still love to put everything in your mouth, but you also love to bang toys on things and on each other.  You enjoy studying the way wheels and turny bits spin, but find it absolutely offensive if someone has the audacity to stack anything or put anything inside of anything else.  Lord help a person who wants to build a tower, because you will knock it over faster than you can say, "OH GOD!"  Bath times are now less business-focused and more play-oriented.

I'll admit it's not all sunshine and roses all day, every day.  You have developed a need to pinch.  My chest and dad's arms are covered in bruises that tell the tale of the destruction that your tiny fingers are capable of.  We sometimes find ourselves held hostage by a cranky monster that has achieved champion-level nap fighting status.  We walk laps with you in the ring sling - living room, entry way, kitchen, dining room, living room, entry way, kitchen, dining room - for what feels like hours until you eventually give in and pass out.  Dad has taken to singing to you during meal times (at least when we are at home), because it usually delays the inevitable fit of "OH MY GOD WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME EAT THIS?!"  You have perfected this pterodactyl screech, which, when combined with your wailing screams, is capable of short-circuiting my brain in a way that no other sound ever has.  Even given all of that, Doodles, we consider ourselves very lucky that you tend to be a pretty laid back little dude.

The rest of the year holds so many exciting things: your first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The next few months will fly by, and before we know it, you will be a walking, talking toddler.  But until then, we'll soak up all the snuggles we can.

Love,
Mama (and Dad)

Month Seven

Dear Henry,

On Saturday, you turned seven months old. We are slowly making our way to your first fall and the sticky, humid summer (that admittedly only lasted a few weeks this year), is giving way to weather that will lend itself perfectly to your first apple orchard and pumpkin patch visit.

At your last well baby check a few days after your six monthiversary, you weighed 15 pounds 1 ounce and measured 26.5 inches.  Your big ol' head is still above average at 17.5 inches.  So my previous declaration that you are "SO BIG" stands true.

We continue to discover the things that make you laugh.  Mom's puny gun noises (pew, pew, pew!) and farts have been favorites for a while now.  But recently we found out that you think it's hilarious when Dad walks up the stairs behind us.  Who would've guessed?

To date, you have tried bananas, apples, pears, prunes, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, and oatmeal, and it appears that maybe you just like food in general.  I went a little crazy at the beginning, and actually thought I would make your food from scratch. The bananas were awesome - you loved them. Then we tried carrots, and you...well, you tolerated them. Then came apples. Do you know how hard it is to get homemade applesauce nice and smooth like jarred baby food? It's nearly impossible. And oh man, that texture made you gag on just about every spoonful. I thought for sure I had ruined you on apples, but you were good with the jarred apples, so my short stint as a baby chef ended faster than it began.

You are sitting up like a champion with very few topples these days.  You refuse to be contained by baby receptacles and try to escape when laid down in one.  You will pull yourself up to standing when holding someone's hands and try to take a few steps.  On a couple of occasions, you've gotten yourself on all fours, but still can't quite coordinate a crawl.  As far as teeth go, you still just have the two, but you are drooling enough to make me think that one of these mornings, you will wake up with a full set.

You are my getting ready buddy in the morning.  You sit on our bed in, what I call, your Fortress of Pillowtude and play with a few toys as I get dressed and try to make you laugh.  And then UP in the ring sling you go to finish all the other boring morning tasks.

Wearing you has become a daily occurrence around here.  It's easier to keep you content and engaged when you are literally attached to me.  Whether we're brushing my teeth or doing laundry, I get to do all the boring grown-up things that need to get done, while I get extra snuggles.  And, let's face it kid, sometimes you are a nap fighter.  But even the most well-trained nap fighter is no match for our mei tai.

Your dad recently joked that you are my favorite fashion accessory.  And there might be a hint of truth in there, Doodles.  Nothing else that I wear makes me prouder than when I carry you.

Love,

Mama

Month Six

Dear Henry,

Today, you turned six months old.  It is a fitting time for us to reach this momentous milestone, as it coincides with World Breastfeeding Week.  Someday, this will probably be embarrassing for you - I can already hear the refrain of "Moooooooom!!!  Gah!"  But right now, while you are still so small in many ways, I will take pride in the fact that I have been able to provide nourishment for you for the first half of your first year and feel immense appreciation for the support that I have received along the way to make that happen.  All the struggle at the beginning was worth it for the millions of cuddles we've gotten to share as a result.

But enough about me.  YOU ARE SIX MONTHS OLD!  I can barely handle it, little guy.

You are growing so quickly, Doodles.  We haven't had your six month check-up, so I don't have the data to back up these claims, but you are "SO BIG!"  Just in this last week, you are starting to sit unassisted for a short period of time.  Your gigantic head still often thwarts your best efforts and most attempts end with a backwards or to-the-side topple.  You still love to be in a standing position, but aren't able to do it alone yet, so the adults around you often have very. Tired. Arms.  You are starting to push up more with your arms when you are on your tummy, and it's only a matter of time before your four limbs rise up to overthrow the tyranny of immobility.  And then we are all in trouble.

We took our first trip to Grandma & Grandpa Hayworth's this month.  Even though you got a little cranky at the beginning of the two hour car drive, Dad was able to lull you to sleep with his ever powerful combination of old spirituals and all the alternative hits of the 90s.  It was a fun weekend filled with lots of action and you got to meet your Great Aunts Jo Ann & Karen, and Great Uncles Jeff & Marty.  Rest assured, though, there are many more great aunts and uncles to meet, buddy.

Over the last six months, you have had a lot of firsts.

First Snuggle with Mama

First Meal

First Nap with Dad

First Bath

First smile, first giggle, first roll, first teeth.  Today, you had "real food" for the first time.  Pureed bananas thinned with a little milk.  At first you weren't quite sure what to make of the spoon in your mouth, the new texture.  But in the end, you LOVED them.

The first half of your first year is over and has delivered so many small but amazing events.  Though I would never wish away time with you, I can't wait for all of the firsts the next six months will bring!

Love,
Mama

Month Five

Dear Henry,

Today you are five months old.  At your four month check-up on June 11, you were 25" long and weighed 13 pounds 5.5 ounces.  There are days when I look at you and can't believe how big you've gotten - can't fathom that I carried you in my tummy for almost nine months.

You continue to amaze us.  You have been rolling over now for a few weeks, although we only witnessed the actual roll-over a few days ago.  When I saw it for the first time, I cheered so loudly that it frightened you.  Sorry about that.

Before, we had only seen the aftermath.  The first day your father caught you on your tummy, he debated whether or not he would actually tell me, but then decided that for safety's sake, it would probably be better to let me know.  And, oh, my doodlebug.  I was so incredibly proud, and so incredibly heartbroken at the same time.

Up until now, your milestones have been gradual.  Visually tracking objects, grabbing toys more accurately, holding your head steady, vocalizing.  Up until now, I have been able to witness the gradual progression from emergence to mastery.  Rolling over is different though.  Rolling over is a discrete action.  Before, you hadn't rolled over.  And then, all of a sudden, you had.  And this is the first milestone I missed.

You are also getting your first teeth. Tucked just behind your lower lip, two small white lines breaking through your gums. Easy to miss if you're not looking for them, but unmistakable if your finger happens to be in their way.

You are getting so strong, and love to be held up like you're standing.  You have found your feet and like them almost as much as your hands.  You've developed a taste for finger plays and Little Bunny Foo-Foo is a mainstay.  Your favorite part is the twinkle fingers that accompany the good fairy.

This month also saw your first 4th of July.  I was a little worried how you would react to all the loud sounds - you tend to startle easily.  You took a little time to adjust at the parade and a few of the sirens almost made you cry, but then you nuzzled down and fell asleep in the carrier on my chest.  At the fireworks, you watched for about the first ten minutes, then decided you were hungry, then passed out cold.  Overall, I'd say it was a pretty great day.

Big things are in store for you, buddy.  Each month has brought with it new and exciting developments, but this past month was a real doozy.  You're almost on the move, and I know that once you are, there will be no stopping you.  Now and forever, I will repeat a simple, silent mantra, over and over.  "Slow down, slow down, slow down..."

Love,
Mama