Dear Evie,
You are six months old today. As I watch you grow before my eyes I really wish you would just stop. Well, maybe just slow it down a bit. Life moves very fast and I feel like I’m missing so much of your baby days. I know the memories will all melt together soon and I’ll have a hard time remembering the softness of your sweet baby skin and the feel of you rooting toward my chest. I took some time tonight to go back and read about your brother when he was six months old and it felt like it was decades ago, yet it also seemed like it was just yesterday that he was doing many of the same things you are now.
Physically, you are developing so fast. You can sit up on your own now. You haven’t quite learned to pull yourself up to a sitting position, but if I sit you up you can hold yourself up for while. This seems to work better when you have a toy in front of you. Otherwise you just topple right over so you can roll toward something interesting.
You are trying really hard to figure out how to crawl. You can get up on your hands and knees now and even get your belly off the floor, but you haven’t quite figured out how to move once you get there. That’s just fine with me really. I’m not in a big hurry to get the baby gates out. You also seem to really like being on your feet. If I hold you up you will stand and jump up and down until my arms give out. I’m sure it is only a matter of time before you are pulling up on your own.
Over the last couple of weeks, you seem to have figured out what to do with those two bottom teeth you have. I’m not sure if your brother told you or if you figured it out on your own, but teeth are for biting. Now we just have to teach you that they are for biting food, not people (or cat tails). Those two little bitty teeth? They are sharp! Just wait. It won’t be long before you get some real food that you can use them on, but until then let’s save the biting for the teething rings and toys, okay?
Speaking of food, you are doing just fine with the eating. You are weighing in at just over 20 pounds now. You love your food and are starting on the number two baby foods now. The only thing I’m a little concerned about is that you have started refusing your bottles sometimes at day care. You are ready to nurse as soon as I get there to pick you up, but you just don’t want the bottle. If you keep it up, we’re going to have a bit of a problem because you can’t go eight or more hours without your milk and I can’t drive across town in the middle of the day to nurse you.
You are getting more and more vocal and I can tell you want to talk so badly. I don’t think you’ve uttered any real words yet, although it does sound like you “hi” every once in a while. A couple nights ago you said something that sounded like “maaaa” but there wasn’t a second “ma” to finish it off. Don’t worry, you’ll get it soon. Reaching out your arms and crying as I walk by is good enough for now.
Even though I wish you would stay tiny forever, it is so much fun watching you discover the world around you. You are very observant these days. You love watching yourself in the mirror. You also love your toys. I have to move them all out of the way to change your diaper because you will twist and turn and stretch until you have a toy in your hand otherwise. You love your dolls and stuffed animals, but you seem to love your brother’s toys even more. He’s not too thrilled when he catches you slobbering on his cars though.
Over the last month we’ve been trying to enjoy the little bit of summer we have left. We took you on your first trip to the lake where you enjoyed riding on Grandpa’s boat. You attended your first Royals baseball game (and then your second). We also made a trip out to Deanna Rose Farmstead where we saw lots of cool animals. Out of all of those, I think you probably enjoyed the boat the most. You got some great naps out there on the water.
I can’t believe half of a year with you has already zipped by. I know I always say it in these letters, but time really does go by so very fast. I need to remind myself to slow down and enjoy every moment just a little bit more because I don’t want to miss a thing.
Love always,
Mama
