The next 9 months

After nine months of being in my heart, Amalia has now also been in my arms for a full nine months.

Dear Amalia,

Happy 9 months, sweetie pea!  

You got two teeth this month, the most recent one only poked its tiny little top through a few days ago.  Your very first chompers.  Not that you really needed them for much, as you can chew through anything and refuse any food that isn't exactly what we are eating.  I swear, you can tell when we have something on the table that isn't also on your tray and let us know you notice its absence.

You are so close to crawling, baby.  You can get wherever you want to by flopping yourself around, and just need to figure out how to move the knees as well as the hands.  You started to pull yourself up on furniture, but can only get as far as your knees by yourself.  You love it when somebody helps you to stand up, and will hold on and play for as long as your legs will hold you.

*update* as of yesterday (three days past nine months), you are officially crawling!  Not fast, yet, and I'm not sure you realize how beneficial the new move will be to you, allowing you access to all the non-baby-safe areas of the house, but that day is coming.  Soon.  

For some unknown reason, you love to hold your foot.  When we are nursing, even at night, you grab that little foot and bring it up to your face.  You are quite limber.

You adore your sister, and as it turns out, little kids in general.  Whenever Sofia comes home from school, or even if you just see her again after she's been playing somewhere else, you get the biggest grin and shriek-y laugh.  She adores you right back.  You love to play together, and you are so tolerant, as Sofia's favorite toy always happens to be the one you are playing with.  Though, to be fair, your favorite toy is either what she is playing with or her hair, which you love to grab.   And pull.  Pigtails, ponytails, braids, or just left down, you pull it all.  Perhaps it is hair envy.  Don't worry, girl.  Yours is growing in.

You bring so much joy to our lives.  You are so good-natured and silly and fun to be around.  You like to sing, and say 'ba ba ba' to get us all busting out "Barbara Ann."  Then, you giggle and try to keep the rhythm with your own words.  Sofia and you performed quite the loud rendition during a family outing for Friday Night Fish Fry.  Every time we get to the "please hold my hand" part, you throw your hands in the air.  

You are also quite dramatic.  You have an idea about how things should go, and get quite upset when things don't go how you have them in your head.  Then, you throw fits.  I'm already nervous for your teenage years.  

You can say Mama and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa (though the last three sound suspiciously similar).  You love to imitate and be imitated, peek-a-boo and any book that includes flaps, and playing with toys that look like they might be dangerous.  Cords and beer bottles are your personal favorites.

You are squishy and soft and sweet and wonderful and funny and beautiful and loving and a million other adjectives.  I love you, little monkey.

Loveforeverandalways,
Mama

8 Months

Amalia,
Welcome to being eight months old!  So far, you are digging it.

You've always had quite the personality, but lately, it has really been shining.  Most of the time you are the easiest-going baby around, happily playing wherever you are with whatever person is closest to you, but there are times (and those times are increasing) that what I want you to do and what you want to do are two completely different things.  At these times, you complain, loudly.  Not cry.  Not fuss.  You yell.  Screech.  Usually, if we copy your screech or yell, we can illicit a smile and a screech conversation.  You aren't necessarily patient, though, and if there is something you want, you won't be distracted.

You started to wave this month, and even say "Hiiiii..." while waving at us.  Melt my little heart right there.  It is precious.  You also say Mama and Papa.  You give kisses.  You clap.  You are working so hard at crawling, but haven't quite figured it out yet.   You can scoot around, though, and even if it takes you some time, you can get to whatever dangerous object Mommy has tried to move out of reach.

You don't have any teeth yet, but I swear, they are coming.  I've been expecting teeth any minute now since Christmas, though, so I really don't know.  They seem to be bothering you, though, and you often have your tongue rubbing on your bottom front gums.

You are a snuggler.  While we kicked your sister out of our bed at 5 months old because she was just so kicky that nobody got any sleep, you, on the other hand, are the opposite.  You snuggle.  You like to fall asleep and keep asleep with someone's face or hand or body right next to your face, and you snuggle in and hug back.  It is impossible to not give in and enjoy the snuggles.  You still wake up a lot at night to nurse, but since we are so close, I normally don't even wake up.  Sometimes, I'll have you in your crib next to our bed, and wake up with you next to me with no memory of moving you there.  I try to encourage you to fall asleep on your own a bit and learn to soothe yourself, but I'm not trying too hard.

You love to laugh and play and make silly faces and be entertained.  You are loved so much, and love so much in return.  Happy eight months, precious.  Sleep well tonight, okay?

Loveyoualwaysandforever,
Mama

Version: 7 months

My dearest Amalia, you are seven months old (this week.  ish.  okay, five whole days ago.  bah.) and Baby, you are on the move!  You rolled over belly to back for the first time on March 12, like you'd been doing it for years.  Then, you started getting your left leg behind you in your quest to reach any forbidden item placed tantalizingly beyond your reach.  Incidentally, your new favorite toy is whatever not-a-toy that is juuuust beyond your reach.  You seem to love the challenge of getting to it and shoving it in your mouth before Mama or somebody else can wrestle it from you.  Next, we started noticing how far you actually were from where we originally set you down.  You can scoot, but don't don't know how you are doing it (though you are rapidly figuring it out).  You also, in your quest for some far-off piece of fuzz from the floor, or whatever dangerous object has somehow escaped the notice of the rest of us, or paper (because you absolutely love to chew up paper of any kind), can get your legs into a complete side-splits

At first, you would utter a little squeak when you realized you were stuck, asking for our help.  Now, though, you can get your legs behind you and end up on your belly.  You've also figured out how to get from sitting position to either belly or back gently.  You so desperately want to run with your sister.

You are still rather a chunker.  At your six month appointment, you weighed 22 and a half pounds.  Two and a half weeks later, you weigh twenty-three and change.   18 month sized clothes are getting too small.  Your cheeks, though still impressive, are less round than they were, though, and you definitely have a neck now.  

You love to eat.  Not baby food.  You put up with the pureed baby stuff when you have to, but love eating whatever we are eating at the table with us.  I am far less careful with what I feed you than I was with your sister, and you pretty much get anything except sushi.  Not really.  You adore chicken, and love chewing on a chicken drumstick after the meat has been taken off.  You've also gotten tastes of ice cream (not my idea!  I did  protest!  I swear!) and LOVE it.  I mean, why shouldn't you?  Ice cream is delicious. 

This month you got to both go sledding in the snow and go barefoot in the grass, that's how fast our seasons changed this year.  

You also love animals.  Well, the dogs and cat, at least.  You absolutely love watching Roscoe fetch his ball, and what is funny, is he actually rolls the ball for you.  You love to pet Polar, who also loves you because there is usually some tasty tidbit close by.  Most amazingly, is the cat.  You are entranced by her, and you actually pet her so gently.  Mostly. At least you try.  And she seems to actually like you, as well.  She isn't the most loving of cats, but she seeks you out, rubbing against you, allowing you to touch her.  

You got your first ear infection this month, and showed us all how you hate being sick.  Poor babe had a high fever (running 104 for awhile), stuffy nose and congested chest, and was throwing up.  I could hardly get her to eat anything, and whatever she nursed was thrown back up.  So very miserable.  We got amoxicilin for the ear infection, but the next morning, she had a rash all over her torso as well as continued fever.  Doctor thought it was a reaction to the antibiotic, so we got a different one.  Luckily, because the amoxicilin is dosed twice a day for ten days, while the new med was once a day for five days.  Amalia hates taking medicine.  She learned quite quickly that we would stick the medicine in her mouth when she was crying, so started crying with her mouth closed tightly.  Little monkey. She fought it every step of the way.  Amalia, you are dramatic.  We were all miserable, and quite glad to see the end of that sickness.

Amalia, I love you so very much.  It is so much fun getting to know your personality and seeing how you interact with the world now that you have more control in it.  You are my world, a little piece of my heart.

Loveyoualwaysandforever, 

Mama

6 months

If the next six months go by as quickly as the first six, my baby will be turning one tomorrow.

Continuing to say how fast time is flying is entirely cliche, but oh so true.  My little bitty baby just keeps growing.  Slow down!  Just slow down, sweetheart.  Let us enjoy this babyhood just a bit longer. 

I know we can't slow down time, so we'll enjoy every second.  

Dear Amalia,

This month, you discovered opinions.  What you discovered is that you have them.  Strong ones.  You know what you want and you go for it.  When you can't get it, or aren't allowed, you express your displeasure.  You are grabby.  You love to pull my hair, and grab my face, especially when I'm sleeping and you want to get up.

You love your sister.  I know I tell you that every month, but it is still true.  She loves to make you laugh, and you love to laugh at her.  You also love to poke fun at your sister a little bit.  Whenever she is being whiny or crying about something, you start to laugh.  Every time.  

Not only do you love your sister, but you love to be entertained.  You are still pretty wonderful at entertaining yourself and playing on the floor or in your exersaucer, but you definitely get lonely if no one is there, and use your voice to get Mama to come hold you.  Papá dice sue tu eres un bochinchera - someone who loves to have fun.  You are always looking for a laugh, love being swung around and tossed in the air and tickled and played with.   

Mostly, you love to be entertained, but with new situations or new people, you are still slow to smile.  You need to assess the situation first, and are quite the little studier, intently staring into the face and eyes of a new person, once you've gotten to look at them without them looking at you first. 

You've also gotten to where you really don't want to miss a second of the action.  It needs to be dark and quiet to be able to put you down for a nap or to bed. You are really starting to enjoy eating solid foods.  You even started, yesterday, to be able to handle a bit of texture in your food, rather than gagging on anything that isn't absolutely pureed.  You ate boiled potatoes, rutabaga and carrots from our stew yesterday and loved it.  We put it on your tray, and though you had a great time playing in it, you still needed our help actually getting the food in your mouth to eat it.

I think you are working on teeth.  The past few days you've been quite crabby, drooly, and seemingly in pain.  I don't feel anything poking through yet, but they do seem to be bothering you.  It doesn't help that you are still fighting a stuffed up nose and congested chest, as well.  It's been a rough couple of nights, and I am exhausted.  Sleep better tonight, okay?

You are getting closer and closer to mobility.  Slow down!  This afternoon, I put you on the floor in the kitchen while I worked on dinner, and you somehow managed to travel all the way across the kitchen, and can even get your leg out behind you as if trying to crawl.  I'm not ready for you to be able to move around yet, but am so proud at your progress.

Amalia, you are a darling baby.  You are loved so very much, and love us so very much in return.  The first half of your first year has been incredible.  

Loveyouforeverandalways,

Mama

One month away from half a year, omg

Somehow, though I am not entirely certain how, it is no longer August, and we have, in fact, been parents to Amalia for five whole months.  I know, crazy, right?!

Don't let the picture fool you into thinking she still has a full head of hair.  It is a farce, I tell you, a farce!  From straight on, she appears to have thick hair.  In fact, what appears to be beautiful locks are three tufts of birth hair, steadfastly holding on where all other have let go.  She's rocking a five-month-old combover, and from the side, appears to be wearing a wig.  It is quite hysterical.  Her new hair is coming in nicely, so she'll probably never have a bald look, as this hold-out hair seems to be holding steady until the new hair (just as dark) fills out a bit more.  

Dear Amalia,

You are now five months old.  You continue to amaze and delight us, and make us want to hold onto these sweet moments of darling babyhood before you get a sassy four-year-old attitude like a certain someone else we know (kidding!  sofia is a dream most of the time, emphasis on the most).  Also, excepting the hours between midnight and six am.  That's the only hours I'd like to see less of you, actually. Again, I jest!  But only a little.  

Amalia, you are funny.  You love to goof around and giggle and do silly things.  You also like it when others do silly things with you.  You think your sister is just about the funniest comedian on the earth.  Whenever she makes you laugh, which is often, she runs to me to tell me that "Amalia is laughing at me!"  I can't imagine the days of sibling rivalry that I'm sure are ahead of me, so I just won't.  Right now, you two are the best of friends.

You love to grab hair.  Really.  If I'm holding you, chances are there are chunks of my hair in your fists.  It isn't exactly pleasant.  Daddy's hair, Sofia's hair, Grandma's hair, Grandpa's beard, you love it all.  The only time you don't love to grab hair is when it is your own.  

You also love to grab books.  You get SO! EXCITED! when your sister and you are read a story together and reach as hard as you can to get to the book.  Grabbing at things is your new pastime, and you are getting really good at it.  

You had your first tastes of non-breastmilk food this month.  I wanted to wait until you were six months old to introduce anything, but did some reading, and learned to watch my baby, not the calendar.  Since you had been nursing every hour and a half for a week, I decided you were ready.  You're sort of luke warm to the idea, sometimes wanting to try the new tastes, but other times resolutely sticking your lips together, blocking access to the spoon.  Your tongue is always working, though, licking at the food on your cheeks.  I gave you an apple the other day, and you spent half an hour licking the thing, getting all the juice you could.  I didn't taste too great after that.

You also achieved rolling-over status!  You've been working on getting to your belly for awhile now, and on January 19, we had full back to belly business!  You lay on your back, putting your face into the floor on your left side for several minutes, only to be rolled back on your back by the significant heft in your middle.  After a while, you decided to go for the right.  Lift-off!  You did it!  Daddy and I were right there watching you, and it was amazing.  You were so proud of yourself!  

You've also mastered sitting.  You had a handle on it at four months,  but about two or more weeks ago, you really got it down.  You can reach for toys, lay back on your boppy and get get yourself back upright, go right, go left, and get back up.  You even reached being on your belly from sitting up this morning, which was quite an accomplishment.  

Amalia, you love your mama.  Good thing, because I love you, too.  So much.  You are a dream baby most of the time, not crying much.  Whenever anyone else has you and I'm gone for whatever reason, however, your very loud, very persistent cry takes over.  As soon as I get back and pick you up, all crying stops.  We're buddies, and we love to play, and sing, and read, and snuggle, and nurse, and talk, and so much more. 

You love your daddy, too.  He gets the biggest smiles, and you have the most to say for him.  You love to dance with him, and giggle when he tickles you, or swings you around.  

You are observant.  When a situation is new, you need to study your surroundings before bestowing judgement.  A person doesn't just get a smile for being there and smiling at you, you need to check them out, first.  You are quite studious.  Once the person or situation is deemed acceptable, however, you are full of smiles and giggles.

You love to blow raspberries and make all sorts of noises.  Sofia calls it 'talking spit.'  It is quite funny, and also quite loud.  When you have something to say, no one can hear anybody else.  That's alright, we're all usually too busy talking right back at you to care that our conversation has effectively ended.  

Baby, you are the greatest.  We love you so much, and are so blessed that you are in our family.  Happy five months, my dear.

Love, 

Mama

The one where my giant, gorgeous baby turns four months old

So, Miss Amalia is now four months old.  Christmas Day, to be exact.  It's amazing how much a small person can change in just one month.

The child laughs, all the time now.  She prefers to laugh at Sofia, who can get a giggle for just standing there looking cute.  Mama and Papa have to tickle or be silly or smother her in kisses or at least do something to get the laughs.  She has also, all of a sudden, shown an interest in toys and having something in her hands to chew.  If there is nothing in her hands, she'll chew her fingers instead.  Since she still keeps her fists closed most of the time, that leads to wet palms constantly.  She's started lunging at anything she finds interesting and tries so hard to grab it by herself.  She's still rather uncoordinated, but is improving every day.

Amalia is growing.  We had her four month appointment today, and she weighs 19 lbs 12 oz, and is 27 inches long.  That is 99.99 percentile for both.  Pretty much the biggest baby ever.  She's got luscious cheeks that literally stop traffic (foot traffic, anyway).  We (just Amalia and me) went to Las Vegas on a whirlwind trip to visit Aunt Johanna and meet the cousins.  People everywhere stopped to admire at this baby's cheeks.  It was so wonderful to see Anika again and meet little Reni.  He's actually not all that little, though Amalia technically is bigger than he is. She's firmly in 12 month clothes, and 18 month clothes in some brands.  Seriously.  

This past week and a half Amalia has started sitting.  Not fully, but she can keep herself upright for awhile, and is working on balance and not bending all the way forward.  It's great fun to watch.  She got an exersaucer for Christmas, and she is so proud standing in it.

Amalia is such a chill little baby.  She doesn't fuss much, mostly looks around and smiles and loves.  When she does get upset, it starts as complaining. If we don't get with the program and give her what she wants, she gets so angry!  The daily 7:30 melt-down has basically ended, which is a relief.  Amalia is pure love, joy, and wonder.  I love you, sweet darling.  I can't wait to see what next month will bring.

3 months

Dear Amalia,
You are three months old, yesterday. (see?  I'm getting better at this!)  Yes, really. Though it feels like just last week that we first saw your precious face, it has, in fact, been three months.  In those three months, you have become a part of us, and completely altered our family forever.  And we are so grateful.

You are funny.  You smile and giggle and talk and talk and talk, almost like you are trying to get us to smile just as much as we are trying to get you to smile.  You get fantastic dimples on your cheeks when you smile, and your whole face scrunches us in complete joy.  Your chunky legs kick and your arms wiggle.  Your entire body is involved in your ever-joyful smile.  Your giggle is deep and from your belly.  You are ticklish under your chin  (when we can get under there!), on your chest, and on your feet.  You laugh also when your daddy laughs with you.  It is too adorable.

You are tolerant.  There are times, as the second child, where your face gets bopped by the stray sleeve of your sister's shirt, or Mommy has to lean over you to get to something else, or an entire host of other ways you are inconvenienced.  You don't seem to mind.  You watch us closely, and sit contentedly until the situation rights itself.  Then you coo at us some more.  It is awesome.

You are discovering your hands.  They can manipulate things.  They can manipulate themselves.  You can use them to put things into your mouth.  Or you can put them into your mouth!  Woot!  It is quite fun to extract your had from your mouth in order to feed you.

You are sleeping longer (thank goodness).  Just this week, you started sleeping 6 hour stretches.  It is fantastic.  Please to continue.

You have incredible lung power.  Your cry is not quiet, nor is your complaining.  When you are tired and ready for bed, or hungry and Mama is not feeding you instantly, you can get quite upset.  Though most of the time you are a very calm, quiet, relaxed little chica, there are times (most notably 7:30 pm, almost like clockwork) when you are not happy at all.  At those times, nobody can hear anything other than your cries.  They are quite loud.  You don't calm particularly easy when you get upset that way, and it is always a challenge to discover what will be the trick this day.  Daddy discovered you like to be held belly-down (sometimes).  Mommy figured out that bouncing on the trampoline will often calm you down.  Grandma found out that it sometimes works to hold you tight in our bed with a nuk and just wait.  Grandpa discovered that you prefer reggae-type songs sung right into your ear.

You love your sister.  Sofia loves to talk to you and cover you up and play with you like a little doll.  You eat up every minute.  You talk to her, you seek her out.  You smile at her.  It is precious.  She loves you, too, though she gets quite jealous when you get the attention.

You love your daddy.  You and your daddy have incredible conversations.  He holds you out in front of him, and the two of you chat and chat and chat.  You have quite the stories to tell.  You make all sorts of sounds and use inflection and everything.  It is pretty wonderful.

You love your mommy.  Nursing is still your favorite activity, and you definitely calm best with me.  We love to snuggle together and coo and talk and kiss and hug.  You are so sweet.  I love every minute.

Happy three months, Amalia Susan.  We all love you so very much, and really couldn't imagine our lives without you.  Was there ever a time when you weren't here?  I can hardly remember.

Loveyouforeverandalways,
Mama

2 Months

and one week, two days (but who is counting?)

Amalia, my love, you are two months old.  How can one little baby grow so much in just two short months?  How can life have ever existed before you were born?
In two months, you went from a chubby, cheeky newborn, to a 15 lb 8 oz, chubby, cheeky two month old.  You have the most kissable and smunchable cheeks in the world.  Sometimes, they get in the way of your smile.  You are staying awake longer and love to be entertained.  Smiles come easily now, and you especially like whistling and silly, smiling faces.  You coo.  All the time.  Happy coos, complaining coos, just talking coos.  Like right now.  You aren't crying, but you are cooing, telling me that you want some love!  I'd better go get you.

Okay, now you are here in my lap, watching me write this letter.  Also, you are asking to nurse.  You are always asking to nurse, then promptly spit it up.  Your hands and feet are always on the go, and even when nursing you are trying to stick your fist in your mouth.  It doesn't always work.  You still have thick, black hair that isn't showing any signs of falling out.  You hold your head up high, and like to look around and be part of the action.  You tolerate tummy time much better than Sofia did, and will lift up your head to look at me, though you don't like to stay there for very long.  Your eyelashes are starting to grow, framing your dark brown eyes.  You still have your little dimple on your right cheek, and a very loud voice.  Just ask Grandma and Grandpa.  On Wednesday nights, when I am in class and Daddy is at work, they get to look after you.  And boy, you don't like it!  At least at bedtime.  When you are tired, you work yourself up into such a state, and it is impossible for anyone other than Mommy to comfort you.  You cry and cry and cry, making both Grandma and Grandpa want to cry, too.  Eventually, you fall asleep from pure exhaustion, usually cradled in Mama and Papa's bed, where you can smell us.  When I get home, and you wake up to nurse, I can feel your relief as you melt into my arms, sighing a comforted sigh.  Oh, how I love you.

6 Weeks (and some change)

So, like everything with the second pregnancy and baby, I am a little behind the ball.  Sorry, Amalia.  I meant to write at one month, but all of a sudden we are getting closer and closer to two months and I haven't yet written.  I'm still proud I wrote your birth story before you turned one.  Better late than never, and I will try, I promise, to get your month letters done on the month.  Really, I will.
Amalia,
You are now six weeks old.  A marvel.  The chubby cheeks you were born with have gotten yet chubbier, and your big brown eyes have the power to melt grown mommies and daddies into puddles of love.  You have brought such joy to our lives and our home.  I cannot believe how fast the time has flown, how you are no longer a tiny newborn (not that you were ever very tiny) and are rapidly becoming a baby.  From the moment you were born, you have graced us with the most beautiful grins in your sleep.  Constantly.  You must have very happy dreams, because a couple weeks later, you began to giggle in your sleep.  It is the cutest sound in the world.  At three weeks old, on your daddy's birthday, you gave us your first voluntary smile.  You love to stare intently at mommy and daddy, hardly blinking, but holding us captive in your eyes.  This time, Daddy was holding you and talking to you like he loves to do, and you gave him the greatest birthday present - a real smile!  You don't dole out smiles to just anyone for any reason, though.  Getting a smile from you is a special time, and we all stop whatever we are doing to come see.
You make the funniest noises.  You are hardly ever quiet, even when sleeping.  You make all sorts of groans and grunts and sighs.  Sometimes, you sound just like a horse, other times like a car squealing its tires.  You have an incredible cry.  I don't have to worry about your lungs, because the volume when you are unhappy is certainly loud enough to get our attention, even if we don't happen to be nearby.
You love your big sister.  In fact, this morning, you and she were cuddling together in our bed, and you gave her some of your biggest smiles yet.  She loves to hold you and kiss you and hug you.   You watch her with the same intensity you watch us.
Mommy and Daddy have both been bathed by you.  You are a 'happy spitter' and spew impressive amounts of partially digested milk, usually once a day or so.  You are content and gaining weight, so the doctor isn't worried, but the milk takes an arc and flies several feet away.  It's quite the sight to see.  We do a lot of laundry, my dear.
I adore being your mother.  I love every inch of you.  I love to smell your neck and stroke your hair.  I love to rock you and cuddle you.  I love how you grab so tightly to my finger (or my hair or my necklace).  I love how you snuggle in.  I love your sounds, I love your smile.  I love everything about you.  Happy six weeks, honey.
Love,

Mama