Dear Ana,
Today you turn seven months old, which may not seem all that exciting to you, but it is very exciting for your father and I. Actually we are pretty much constantly excited because over the last month you have had so many firsts. The one that impacts our lives the most has been the addition of eating solid foods. Rather than just nurse you for every meal, I now have to plan ahead. I set you in your Bumbo, with a bib around your neck and a spoon in your hand, and prepare your baby puree and cereal. But rather than being an inconvenience, it is actually the highlight of my day. I love watching your reactions to the various tastes and textures. So far you have eaten rice cereal, avocados, bananas, sweet potatoes, applesauce and prunes. You are still not sure about this whole food thing, and spend a large portion of the meal gagging…which I will gladly take over spitting or throwing up any day! As long as you keep opening your mouth for more, and reassuring me with a smile from time to time, we are going to keep right on trying new foods.

About two weeks ago you and I started a Baby & Me swim class, which at your age isn’t so much about swimming as introducing you to the water. We sing songs, splash around, and play with fun water toys. At first you were a little skeptical, but once you realized there were other babies and toddlers in your class you were very excited. You spend the majority of the time kicking and splashing around as you watch all the other children around you.

As a result of your swim class, I have noticed your increased confidence with water in general. You now play in the water during bath time where as before you merely sat still in the water while we cleaned you up. Now we have toys to keep you entertained–and keep the bath water in the tub and not all over my kitchen! But your favorite part is when we rinse you off because you constantly try to drink all the water we spray at you. Your Daddy lets you take occasional sips and we watch you wiggle and shake with all the excitement.

Your bottom front teeth are totally visible now, and while we got a slight reprieve from the torment of teething for a couple weeks, the obvious signs are back once again. You have an abundance of drool, spontaneous shrieks of discomfort and the most obvious sign of all, you chew or bite on everything. You love chewing on your Daddy’s cold pop can or my water glass more than anything else.

In the last couple weeks you have really gotten good with your hands. I have to keep a really close eye on you because you are suddenly able to grab just about anything within a couple feet radius. I think you also view my hands as an extension of your own because as soon as I pick something up you instantly stick out your hand for me to give it to you.

Every night as part of your bedtime routine you read a story with your father. But only recently have you actually started showing signs of favoritism in your reading material. In particular you enjoy the Fluffy, Snuggly, Cuddly Baby Animals book. It is a touch and feel book we bought to teach you how to gently pet animals. You love the book so much you have taken to “reading” your book alongside Daddy outside of our nightly rituals. Apparently you inherited both your parents love of reading.

On two separate occasions in the last month you have been with a babysitter. That is, someone other than your mother or father. While it was important to help you adjust to being around someone other than your parents, it was equally important for your father and I to go out on a date. Even if all we did was go out to dinner and ended up talking about you the majority of the time anyway. One thing we did discover on both of these occasions was your You-Are-Not-My-Mama cry. Now I would never in a million years wish tears upon you, but a tiny part of me was happy that you missed me. You wanted me. As soon as I picked you up and wrapped you in my arms I saw the smile spread across your face and you knew all was right in the world again. Just know, my sweet little girl, I will always come home to you and I will do everything in my power to keep that beautiful smile on your face.

All my love,
Mama

Dear Ana,
My sweet little monkey you are now six months old and we are having so much fun together! This month your firsts include camping, going to the park, sitting in the grass, and riding in your stroller without the car seat–just like the big girls do it. I know all mother’s say this, but the stage you are at now is my favorite. You are learning new things each and every day. So many things, in fact, it has become difficult to keep track. All I know is you continue to constantly amaze me.

Your latest milestone has been teething. I had recently started telling people you were teething when you were acting fussy, however I didn’t really believe it myself. I would prefer people to think you are a sweet baby and not allow a little outburst to tarnish your typically mellow personality. So you can imagine my surprise when I was letting you chew on my finger and I felt your first tooth. Actually, teeth, is more accurate. Without my really knowing it, you went and got your bottom two front teeth. Turns out you really were fussy because of teething!

You have also become very aware of everything around you and reach for things you want. It is so much fun to watch you intently examine everything you can get your hands on. Your favorite things, the things when you see them you instantly light up and reach for, include my water bottle, the TiVo remote (the colored buttons are the best), my cell phone, and each and every one of our pets.

You are mesmerized by the cats and dogs. You love to reach out and try to pet them. When I lay you on the floor to play, the dogs will lay on either side of you. Molly picks a spot close enough that she can excitedly lick you back when you tug on her ears. Ellie, on the other hand, will lay just out of your reach–close enough that she can watch over and protect you, but far enough away that you can’t actually touch her. But the cats have surprised me most of all. They actually let you pet them! Even when you “pet” them so vigorously that your tiny hand comes away filled with tufts of hair. I guess the cats understand sometimes love hurts.

In the last month you also started rolling over. Currently it is only from front to back. I know it was your sheer dislike of tummy time that brought on this new skill. It also makes me wonder if you will ever roll from back to front because I know you would never willingly put yourself into tummy time! I am sure you will be performing tricky acrobatics, or at the very least advanced yoga, before you voluntarily spend time on your stomach.

Hand in hand with rolling over has come sitting by yourself. If we set you down and pretend we aren’t watching you, you will sit unassisted for several minutes. However, if we noticeably look in your direction, or God forbid speak of your sitting up, you topple over. It is as if the words themselves knock you down. On the plus side, when you fall over forwards, you are quickly able to flip yourself over onto your back. You are perfectly content when you fall over backwards and look at us as if to say, “Nice! That’s just what I wanted!” Either way, it is highly entertaining to watch.

Not necessarily a milestone, but wonderful nonetheless is the fact that you have started giving kisses. Now these are not your typical slimy, wet baby kisses. Oh no. You give piranha kisses. You come at us open mouthed, like a hungry baby bird and chomp down on whatever gets in your path, be that my cheek, chin or even shoulder. But I don’t mind, as long as you are giving out kisses, I will always be there to accept them.

All my love,
Mama