It's Been Seven Months

Oh Ella girl,

Tomorrow, you will be seven months old.

That's a pretty big deal. I remember thinking, before I had you, that babies 6 months and younger were - you know - legitimate babies. Seven month olds and up? They were pretty much on their way to big-kid status.

And now, now I am sitting here staring at a baby who is growing right before my very eyes. You are such a big kid. Or at least you're getting there.
There is no way to calculate all you've gone through in the last month; every day - nay - every few hours, I feel like I turned around and saw you doing something new.
You started crawling. You scamper backwards quite fast, and in the last few days, you can inch yourself forward, too.
You can get yourself onto all fours from sitting, and you can almost sit up from all fours, as well. You rock back and forth and laugh and laugh and laugh while you do it. It's like you understand that you're on the precipice of supreme mobility; a new world is about to be yours.

With your Pop-Pop.

You cut your first tooth on Jan. 1. Here's hoping that the age-old saying, "What you're doing on New Years is what you'll be doing all year," isn't true for you. Because teething has also rendered you a horrific sleeper.

Nom-nom.

I'll be honest, baby girl. I am bone tired. I don't know how you do it. I've never felt worse than when you would awake suddenly, screaming, with flushed, teething cheeks. Luckily, our first wave of it seems to have passed, though we're gearing up for Rounds Two, Three, Four, and so on.

This past month, you got to go on your first vacation and experience your first Christmas, too. You rocked on your first flight; you even survived an eight-hour road-trip.
And the presents? Well, you were supremely spoiled.

Opening gifts with Mommy

You were thrilled with every gift, plus you loved all the attention you got from your uncles, aunt, grand-parents and all the friends you got to meet.

With her Uncle Duders

You even got to meet your first blogger while we were there.

It's Jess from All-American Jess!

You also learned to clap your hands and are now consistently saying "Mama!" though only when crying.

You reach for people or things you want, and you're getting quite the sassy attitude, for when we take things away from you, you clearly show your distress. Your screeches are getting familiar, as you have taken to eating leaves, jewelry, and dirty napkins at the dinner table. You think you have a right to everything. And when we tell you "No," or take it away, well, you definitely know how to protest.

It's like you already know the world is your oyster.

You with your aunties (some of my oldest and best friends) and all their little boys. You're the only girl for now!

You converse really well. I talk; you babble back. I laugh; you laugh back. Your social cues are pretty hysterical.

You take baths in the big tub, now. No baby bath for you. And, though you're still about 20 pounds - the same weight you've been for the last two months - you're longer. You're actually slimming down. My roly-poly girl isn't nearly so roly anymore.

You're still exclusively breast-fed. I feel like, after this month - what with the teething and the infamous 6-month growth spurt - that is a huge achievement for us. I pray every day that delaying solids and keeping you on breast-milk is doing what we want it to. I can't help that you inherited some wonky genes that make you prone to allergies, etc., (Mommy and Daddy are sorry about that, by the way) but I am so happy we were able to continue on with this breast-feeding journey in an effort to help you.

Though this month has been filled with bite marks and no sleep, I can't help but smile when I think about all we've done. You are such a joy. And every morning, when I lift my too-heavy eyelids and see your sweet face beaming back at me, I can't help but thank my lucky stars that you're mine.

Motherhood is tough, but you, my girl, make it worth it. You make it fun.

I love you forever and always,
Your mama