Month Seven

Dear Amelia,

Today you are seven months old. You have grown so much this past month!  I think it has to do with all of the solid food you’re eating. You’re chowing down on three meals most days, and your absolute favorite thing to eat is sweet potatoes! You are slowly mastering your sippy cup as well, although you only use it at mealtime to wash down your food. It was funny to see you the first time you got some water out of the cup. You looked incredibly confused – I think you were wondering why it wasn’t milk! Your pants are fitting better now, and every time Grandma B sees you she says that you’re definitely getting bigger. We went to the doctor last week about a rash on your cheeks and it turns out that you gained one and a half pounds in three weeks. You are just about 13 pounds now!

I have been trying some baby sign language with you lately, and you seem to know the sign for milk. I’m also trying to teach you “eat”, “drink”, “more”, “all done”, and “bath”. You haven’t done any of the other signs, but I’m sure that will come soon enough! You are growing up fast – you are sitting so well now, and if you start to lean too far one way or another, you are able to brace your hands on the ground and keep yourself upright. Your balance is getting much better! This past month you have also started scooting around in your crib. Sometimes when I go in at night to check on you I find that you have turned 180 degrees in there! Your nickname “Scoot” is proving true! I’m not sure if I have ever talked about how you got that nickname. When you were a tiny newborn, you spent a lot of time lying on our chests. One day you started inching your way down Daddy’s chest, and he asked where you were scooting to . . . we’ve called you Scoot from that day on. Now that you are getting more mobile, you are definitely growing into your nickname!

You haven’t shown any signs of crawling yet, which is OK with me. You are showing no interest in rolling back to belly, either – when you’re on your back all you want to do is play with your feet. You have a pair of pajamas with bumble bees on  the feet, and one night when I put you to bed without your SleepSack you wouldn’t go to sleep because you were playing with those bees! I’m not worried about the crawling or rolling over – all babies do things in their own time, and I know you’ll get there eventually. I’m sure one day a light bulb will go off in your head and Daddy and I will have to baby-proof the house overnight!

Right now we are in Florida visiting with Grandma G, Grandpa D, Uncle Dan and Uncle Erik. You are having such a great time! You have had lots of “firsts” this trip – first time meeting Uncle Erik (as he was in Norway last time we visited Florida), first time in the swimming pool, first time at the beach – and your first tooth! It feels like it is your bottom right central incisor, and I first noticed it on Sunday afternoon. We were in the car and you were fussing – I had forgotten your pacifier so I gave you my finger instead, and you chomped down and bit me! I can’t see the tooth yet, but I sure can feel it. The days of your gummy grin are behind us . . . now Daddy will get to brush your hair AND your teeth at night before you go to bed!

Everyone here in Florida loves you, Sweet Girl, and they are really enjoying getting to know you better. You are so much fun these days, and I love seeing you light up as you experience new things. Your grin is infectious, and your eyes sparkle when you smile.

Love, Mama