Six months!

Dear Sweet S,
You've been with us for six months today and more and more I am seeing how you're no longer a baby! A couple of days ago you turned 13 months old. You'll learn soon that eventually people stop counting your age in months and that's when you REALLY aren't a baby anymore. (Plus people would just look at me like I was crazy if I started telling them I was 369 months old!)

You're changing so much! You're not walking yet by yourself yet but you'll take lots of steps holding on to our fingers or furniture or toys.

You will however stand up by yourself for a few seconds. You especially like to do this if you can see yourself in the mirror.

You seem to have no fear...of water, falling, people, dogs, anything. I hope you'll always be brave. (I also hope you don't bust your head open doing things like this...)

You also love to dance or move to music. Sometimes in your car seat you move your arms like you're conducting an orchestra or choir. You also like to sway or bob up and down in your exersaucer or when you're just playing. Auntie Diana gave you a stuffed bunny that sings "Jesus Loves Me" and you love to make it sing and then sway along. She gave it to you so even if one day we're not around to tell you, you'll have something that reminds you Jesus Loves you. He does kiddo. He really does.

Everything was perfect at your one year check-up. Its really amazing how fast you've caught up with milestones and are exactly where you're supposed to be on all the fancy doctor charts.

Your favorite foods right now are sweet peas and dried fruit. You're a really great eater (something people also stop saying when you get my age) and eat almost everything. The only things you consistently don't like are green beans and beans like lima beans and blackeyed peas. We keep trying them though because one day you might discover they really do taste good. We did have a couple of weeks this month when you threw lots of food on the floor every time we ate. Ms. Shannon at daycare definitely doesn't put up with this so that's getting better. We were about to start carrying a dustbuster or broom and dustpan set to restaurants when we ate out - but you have gotten better.

Bubbie has a friend from her working at Sam's days who is an ice cream man. We stopped one Sunday at the park and visited him. You had your first (probably) treat from the ice cream truck! You ate just enough to make a mess on your face and shirt and then decided you wanted to do it yourself without Bubbie's help and it fell on the ground. We were all ok with that...well Bubbie and I were at least.

We had no trouble at all getting you to stop taking a bottle. We had a one day relapse when you had another set of ear infections a couple of weeks ago but since then you've not seemed interested in one at all. You're a champion of sippy cups with straws. You do call any cup a "dull" (like the end of the word "bottle). Its one of the things we can understand most clearly when you say.

The most clear thing that you say is "HEY." And you probably literally say it 100 times a day. You say it and wave when you see anyone! You also say it if you think you're about to get in trouble to distract us. You say it to the dog, mirrors, strangers, your stuffed animals you call "baby," and sometimes to nothing or no one at all. Its your signature thing at the moment.

You are also saying the word "thanks" when we hand you something. Its adorable. You can also say "more" with your mouth or in sign language. When you see something you want you say "OOOOOOO" and make a perfect "O" with your tiny lips. Also adorable. You're still saying "dog" when you see our dog or my parents and I think you're learning that bigger dogs are dogs too!

Sometimes we think you're saying our names and then sometimes we think you will never say them. You definitely call out for us when you want something but usually it comes out as "deet deet!" You do however say "STEVE" or "EEEVVVEEE" pretty clearly when we are with my parents. They have a swing hung in their carport just for you. It was my swing when I was little so we all like that you're getting to use it. You love going to swing with "EEEVVVEEE" as often as we can. He likes to throw his head back and laugh out loud. One of the funniest things you do is mimic him! You open your mouth as wide as he does and fake laugh. Its so funny to all of us!

This isn't the swing at "EEEVVVEEE's" house but one you like at church.

You did have another set of ear infections that started while we were at Bubbie's parent's house. You didn't feel very good while you were there but you still had a good time seeing people and hanging out with Bubbie's family. Here you are enjoying dinner Bubbie's mom prepared for us and you're sitting in Bubbie's old high chair:)

The weather has been wonderful this month. We've really been enjoying more time outside. We've taken lots of walks and have eaten many dinners outside.

We've seen your mom twice this month. She has a lot going on but is excited when we see her. She thinks you're funny, beautiful, smart, and a good dancer.

You have pooped twice in the bathtub this month. Let's agree to not to that again, okay? One day we can talk about all the reasons why.

You HATE shoes right now. When we try to put any kind of shoes on you you curl your toes up so tightly it nearly makes it impossible.

We've been going to church on Wednesday nights. You really like to be the greeter and tell everyone "hey" as they come in and you also like to help Mr. Scott talk while he's doing the devotional. Last night you seemed to really like the discussion on the difference in the "J" and "P" bible source for the story of Noah. Maybe you'll be a bible scholar one day. Or at least be able to heckle bible scholars as they talk. I just like being in a church where that is the Wednesday night "lesson." Maybe one day we'll talk about those reasons too. (You also seem to like their baked tater tots...4 at a time!)

We have loved this month with you just as we have loved the ones that have come before. We love watching you learn and grow and explore the world. We also love sharing you with the people in our world. You are a gift to me and Bubbie and to so many others who get to enjoy you right now. 

Love you Sweet S,

Meggie