My little bug boy:
You are growing up so fast that I am more than a week late in writing this! Gone are the days when I could take my eyes off of you for a few moments. You are mobile — not quite crawling yet, but worming and wriggling yourself around and not far away from figuring out how to get up on those hands and knees. We've been working toward this for so long that I can't even tell you how happy and proud it makes me. Whereas once you were far too cautious and stubborn to even spend a minute or two on your tummy, now you are confidently navigating the world that way for much of your wakeful time, and even sleeping on your belly, too. We have turned a corner, and mommy and daddy have some child-proofing to do.
Your personality is blossoming as quickly as your gross motor skills. You have a few signature moves, including:
- rotating your hands and wrists with your arms out (or "casting spells" as daddy calls it)
- bouncing up and down with a big smile on your face, accompanied by an ear-piercing shriek
- scrunching up your shoulders while you flash someone a smile, kind of like an "aw shucks"
When it comes to fine motor skills, you are as advanced as ever. You love to play with zippers, buttons, and necklaces when people are holding you. You pick up and eat all kinds of finger foods with ease. And you love to play with the little tags and details on all of your toys. I often imagine you putting this attention to detail to good use someday, maybe as a surgeon, or one of those artists that paints the alphabet on a grain of rice. ;)
Buddy, you are my cuddlebug. You love when people sing to you, it is usually the surest way to calm you down if you're crying. You are a bit empathic, reading and taking on the feelings of those around you. I love how you love the world. And the love and joy I feel from you makes my heart swell bigger than I ever thought it could. We are like a reciprocating love machine around here.
Dada is still your favorite thing to say. I'm still waiting to hear you say "mama" for the first time. I may explode. You also say lots of vowel sounds and the "Ga" sound. Usually you are either quietly taking in the world around you or chatting up a storm and shrieking. I wonder if you will be a chatterbox like me, or more quiet like your daddy.
A couple of weeks ago, I weaned you from breastfeeding and we switched to bottles and formula. After about a month of me dealing with you biting — and trying everything to get you to stop — I finally waved the white flag. I miss our quiet nursing sessions more than you do, I think. But I don't have any regrets. I loved every moment of breastfeeding (well, after the first 6 weeks). But I love bottle-feeding you, too. Now you are close enough that I can kiss your head, which I admittedly do throughout your feedings.
You are eating Gerber Good Start Gentle formula with Dr. Brown's bottles. You eat three meals of solids a day, both purees and finger foods, though most of your purees have some texture to them now. Some of your new favorites are zucchini muffins, ground meats with veggies or sweet potatoes, and lemons and dill pickles. You have quite the adventurous palate.
Life is changing fast for us as we approach your first birthday. While I sometimes wish I could keep you little forever, those moments are quickly followed by an overwhelming sense of excitement and gratitude for the little boy you're becoming. I often think every age and stage you go through is my favorite, but I think that's just an indication of how in love with you I am.
Squeezy hugs,
Mama