Another letter to Abrielle

Bumblebee,

8 months has come upon us so quickly: wasn't I just writing you a 7 month letter?  You have changed so much in the last month, and once again I am floored by how much fun you have become. I thought you were a blast before!

Yesterday at lunch you were sitting in your high chair, and I was reading while you fed yourself (because heaven forbid I try to help you!), and suddenly I looked up to see you just staring at me, with a half smile on your face.  I sat there and dissolved into tears and just kept saying "you're mine".  I can't get over it, and I hope I never do. 

You are getting mischievous as you get older.  For example, this morning you are sneakily letting Bo lick your messy fingers, and not so sneakily dropping him food from your breakfast tray.  You have taken a real interest in your puppies lately, and they have indulge all of your pets, pulls, shrieks in their faces and eye gouges.  You talk to Chevy often as he sits there and looks bored, and it is really cool to see how you are learning to interact with your environment.

Along the lines of mischievous, you also are becoming a little bit of an "only child".  We went for a walk with your little friend Aaron and before I knew it you had his soother in your mouth (as your own dangled from your shirt) and his special toy.  You are generally good to share your own toys though, and don't get mad if they get taken from you.

You are also starting to get into things.  Gone are the days where I could put you on your play mat and go do my hair or something else out of sight.  You are trying to play with the electronics on the TV stand, pulling picture frames off of the wall unit, and flinging yourself at anything in your reach.  You are so close to crawling, and can get yourself in position, rock back and forth, and occasionally take one or two "crawls" before freezing or changing to slide yourself around on your belly.  You also love holding on to things and walking around, but get a little too brave at times and try to conquer gravity.  Somehow you have escaped any bumps or bruises to date.  I'm confident that will change soon!

Your new favourite activity is destroying your crib.  I don't even hear you do it most times now, but I'll go in after your naps and I can tell that you have tried to pull your bumper pads off and have kicked the heck out of your mobile.  You are generally wedged in some corner when I go in to get you, and you just look at me with that cheesy smile.

Oh hi Mama!  Nothing to see here!

You are a still an amazingly good and easy baby.  You give us no complaints at bedtime and sleep for about 12 hours every night.  You are a great napper and will go down for sometimes 2 hours several times a day.  You don't like getting dressed, but we have found a way to distract you with hairbrushes and saline bottle so that it is now a smooth process.  The only times we really see a temper from you is when you are hungry, or when we are putting you in your car seat (not your favourite activity).  Although you were only 15.5 lbs at the beginning of May, we are switching you to the permanent car seats soon because you are getting too long for your baby carrier, and you little toes hang out over the edge.  Speaking of which, remind me to thank you when you are older about how easy you are to travel with so far.  I'm hoping your good nature continues at the end of the month when we drive 8 hours to Pratt Lake!

One of the few candid moments I could get on film. I love watching your sweet face as you sleep.

You are impossible to hold most of the time because you are so curious.  The nickname "Nosy Parker" has stuck, and you live up to it by wrenching your body in the direction of a new person or sound.  It is REALLY hard to change your diaper when your dad is in the kitchen talking.  There have been several occasions where I have told him to either stop talking or to come into your nursery so that you would stop contorting your body long enough to get a new diaper on.

Speaking of your father, you still adore him beyond words.  You even have a special, flirty smile that is just for him.  You get really excited when you hear the front door open anticipating his return for the day. You two are bonded in a way that I didn't know was possible, and I doubt very much that this is going to change anytime soon.   Your dad will often claim you are awake in the morning (even though I know you are just stirring and will go back to sleep) and go and get you from your crib so that he can have a cuddle before he goes to work.  He misses you when you two are apart and you are spoiled by hugs, cuddles, songs and dances when he gets home.  He knows you so well, and I hope you always know how lucky you are to have a father like him. 

You are a happy, happy girl and treat us to those sunshiny, gummy, megawatt smiles throughout the entire day.  You laugh a lot, and make happy noises that bring other people to laughter all of the time.  You seem to genuinely just be full of joy and love your life, and that makes me feel successful as a mother.  I think a lot of it has to do with your innate personality, but still it is a great feeling knowing that you are content. 

Abby, I still count my blessings every day and can't believe my good fortune to have you in my life. You are my whole world, and I love you more than I will ever be able to say.  I'm so happy to be your Mama.