8 teeth in 8 months

Dear June,

Guess who just got her 8th tooth?

Seriously, are you trying to break records?

We just got back from a night over at Liz and Ryan's and Liz said, "This kid's going to be an early talker." Why? Because you were completely determined to either make yourself a part of the conversation or drown out everyone else's voices completely.

BAAA BAAAAABBBBAAABBAAAA BBBBAAAAAAABABABABAAAABBAABAAAAH!

It was awesome in every way. YOU are awesome in every way.

You are very into eating right now and there doesn't seem to be anything you won't eat. Paper, of course; the old standby. You eat oatmeal and all kinds of fruit, beans, crackers and tonight you had a sweet potato french fry. You approved.

You're kind of squirrelly, though, in that you pack stuff away in those giant cheeks (for later, I guess). This morning I gave you blueberries and an hour later you were leaving a trail of blueberry skins all over the house.

I am SO excited to celebrate your first Christmas with you. Sometimes if I think too hard about these kinds of things I just start crying. You'll only have ONE first Christmas, you know? This is IT. But then I try and make myself snap out of it. Life is for living and enjoying and too much ruminating can make things seem too heavy.

I love you, my sweetest little sweet pumpkin. I love you every second of every day. Even when you're scratching the hell out of my chest while you're nursing. Even when you scream bloody murder (especially then, in fact) in the car at night (you hate it - why?). You'll never have to wonder if you're loved, Juniper Bean. Isn't that a good feeling?



Smooches and smooches and more smooches until the end of time,

Mama

(Sometimes when I post pictures like that I try and think of you and Zoe all grown up looking at it and thinking, "SHE LOOKS SO YOUNG!" and that is such a weird thought.)

Dear June,

Well, hmmmm. Guess who is waaaay more of a rascal than I thought?

You learned to crawl a few weeks ago and then a few days later you started pulling up. Then a day or so after that you started making a beeline toward things you could pull over on yourself. Your face is covered with scrapes and you fall over all the time. BRUISER!

You're going to give me a run for my money, child. Your Grandpa David totally predicted it, too. Before you were into anything rascally he said, "That girl's gonna give you a run for your money, Chels." I thought, "no...she's mellow and sweet." Well, you are sweet and mellow and RASCALLY! I never would have guessed.

                                       

An update wouldn't be an update without the requisite "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE GROWING UP SO FAST" so here it is: I can't believe you're already 8 months! In 4 months you'll be 1 and that is NUTS. Even though you are rascally (hey, it runs in the family), you are still the sweetest, smiliest, snuggliest baby. I love sleeping with you - you're all snuggly and you coo and smell like sweet milky baby breath. I might die of little baby love. Seriously.

We are all having so much fun with you, love. Zoe likes to get right in your face and make these horrible, loud noises but you just laugh and laugh. When I ask Josie to keep an eye on you so I can do something, Jack is sad I didn't ask him. You're so lucky to have so many people who love you and we're so lucky that we get to have you in our family. It's win-win, I tell you. It's just all love, all the time.

Right now, as I write this, your Grandpa David is downstairs playing with you and you're trying to figure out how to climb up the stairs. Aye yay yay! Or however you spell that. Slow down!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you, bean. More than is expressible, for sure. One day you'll probably have your own babies and you'll understand. Maybe.

Love,
Mama