Letters to Nash - 9 Months

Dearest Nash, 

Such a crazy thing to be celebrating such a joyous occasion on such a sad day…10 years ago Monday the towers of the World Trade Center came crashing down thanks to a group of terrorists that have continued to affect our country this entire decade.  I am thankful you did not have to experience this horrible event, even though I know your years will likely feature a tragedy all their own.  But it’s your birthday nonetheless, so on to happier things.

My god you are amazing!  I’m truly stunned by how smart you are and all the skills you’ve picked up in the last few months.  You are standing, cruising, and falling like a pro!  I have no doubt that walking is in your near future, and although that thought frightens me (child-proofing!!), I’m excited to hold your hand as you take your first steps through life.  You love to explore and learn, so you’ve been crawling at warp speed whenever anyone puts you down!  You’re grabbing things, conquering obstacles (like Mama’s legs), and still love to jump, jump, jump.  You’re totally fearless and have come dangerously close to launching off the couch (and even out of our arms).  Couple that with your incredible baby strength and we are some tired parents!!  Most importantly, you have learned how to give kisses!  It’s the highlight of my day, every day, to get a kiss from you. 

You have 6 teeth now!  You chew like a pro and seem to prefer the chunkier foods over that overly processed mush that we sometimes try to feed you.  You love pasta with tomato sauce, wheat toast with butter, fruit, and your little baby snacks.  But you eat pretty much everything we give you.  You are learning to use the sippy cup (but still don’t like it much), and have taken to needing a drink after every few bites (washing it down).  You are drinking about 24 ounces of milk a day now, but some days you seem to care less! 

You’re such a good sleeper!  You even managed to nap on the plane both ways when we went up North to see the family!  You sleep 10-12 hours at night (although you usually wake up at least once for about 2 ounces of milk…might be more habit than hunger) and take two 1-2 hour naps a day.  You thrive on schedules, and we try not to make your days too crazy so as to throw you off.   Our nighttime routine is still the same as it’s always been, with bath time, a bottle, stories, singing, and rocking.   When it’s bath time and the water is running, you know it’s time to get undressed, so you help Mama take your shirt off!  Those 30-40 minutes at night are the best for Mama because it’s time she gets you all to herself and we get to sit and cuddle.  Sometimes it’s tough though because you like to fight diapers, clothes, and stories all the time…

You don’t really have a favorite toy, but you sure do love to play with all of them!  You literally crawl from one toy to the next almost the whole time you are in your play area…and every now and then stop to look out the window or play with one of us.  You like to “take everything with you”…often holding an arm or a tag in your mouth with the rest of the toy dragging behind you as your crawl.  You have become quite attached to your blanket and know that when you get it (and the binkie), it’s time for bed.  Mama and Daddy have limited the binkie to sleep time because you were REALLY starting to get attached to that. 

As we prepared for your first holiday season, Daddy and I are so excited for all the things we will get to do.  We’re excited for you to experience your first Halloween, eat your first Thanksgiving dinner, and celebrate Christmas for the first (real) time.  We are also beginning to plan your first birthday and can’t believe you are already nine months old!  I know there are other things I want to write in here, but this letter is already so long and I can hardly remember all of the amazing things you do every day. 

Love you more than life,

Mama and Daddy

Vote for us if you like Nash's "ice cream face."

8 Months Old and First Boo Boo

I can't even believe it...he's 8 months old. Where has the time gone?!? My baby...my tiny precious baby...is 3/4 of the way through his first year. Wow. Everyone says it happens, but you just don't get it til it happens to you.

Dearest Nash,

Where do I even begin?  You change almost every day so this post could literally go on and on just cataloging all the little details.  I'll try my best to keep it short and sweet.

Physically you are unreal.  You are tall, strong, solid...with just the perfect amount of sweet little baby rolls.  You are already wearing 12-month clothes and size 4 shoes...and we're constantly buying new stuff.  We'll do your measurements tomorrow and can't wait to see how much you weigh!  You have beautiful dirty blonde hair that's almost in need of a cut!  But I can't do that yet...I just can't.  You definitely have Mama's hair and eyes/eyebrows.  Your eyes are still this beautiful shade of blue with a little bit of honey brown in the middle, so we're wondering if/when they will turn.  You have 5 teeth with another coming in!  It's crazy!  And you have enough drool to fill your baby pool...daily.

You are mastering the speed crawl!   Mama and Daddy have only a few seconds to react before you are off and running!  You can conquer speed bumps and ramps, and roll/sit up/fall down like a pro.  You are standing now and every day you test your ability to just "let go."  This scares the crap out of us.  Based on your rapidly advancing skills and confidence, we give you one more month before you are walking...tops.  You are truly fearless and will leap towards things you want without regard to distance, obstacles, or danger.  Because of this you've suffered your first major boo boo... 

You love to eat!  I should have known based on how good you were in the beginning.  If there's food around, you want it...and we have yet to come across something you don't like.  You LOVE the little organic puffs we give you (to help with motor development and to give Mama a chance to eat)...and you love to eat whatever we're eating.  You practically maul me whenever I'm snacking on a cracker...  You don't always seem interested in milk, but generally drink 5-7 ounces every 4-5 hours.  You are napping great (2 1-2 hour naps) and usually go 11-12 hours at night.  Mama gives you a bath, then reads to you while you drink your milk, then it's rock-a-lullabye time until you get sleepy.  It's Mama's favorite time.  And nothing makes me and Daddy more happy than walking into your room after a nap or in the morning and being greeted by your sweet silly smile!

You have the best personality!  You are almost always in a good mood, and love to play and learn.  The other night, a woman at Texas Roadhouse told us, "Your baby is so animated!"  We couldn't help but laugh and wonder if she meant that in a good way or a bad way (you were screaming!).  You have these great "chats" with Daddy (coughs) or just with yourself (babbles).  You have officially said "mama" but seem to use it whenever you are crying or want to be picked up (regardless of who is there)...but I'll take what I can get.  Everyone loves you and tells us how cute/sweet/funny/good you are.

Mama and Daddy could not be happier.  Tonight we talked about how we used to dream about what you'd be like (back when we were pregnant), and how we never could have imagined how amazing it is.  How you are THE PERFECT baby for us...and we're so lucky.  You're truly the love of my life...and the apple of daddy's eye...and we can't wait for more adventures with you!

If you love babies in chucks, give us two clicks...

Letters to Nash

One of my favorite bloggers, Melissa over at Dear Baby, writes sweet little letters to her daughter Everly at various intervals throughout her growth to serve as a sort of baby book rememberance kind of thing.  I thought this was a great idea...so much more personal when directed at the baby.  So I thought I would steal borrow the idea and do the same for Nash.  I wrote one for his 5-month birthday, but never posted it, so will do that sometime soon.  Here's the one for his 6-month birthday:

My Dearest Nash,

My gosh, you are too much!  You're so incredibly full of energy, charm, and love I can hardly handle it.  Every day you wake up with a smile and play play play until your eyes droop and you go comatose!  You love to jump jump jump in the stationary jumper, the doorway jumper, Mama's/Daddy's arms...wherever and whenever you get a chance.  You are sitting up all on your own now, but you seem to prefer to be up with everyone else, so you only tolerate it if someone is sitting with you.  You've become adept at grabbing/swiping things.  Every day it seems something gets swiped or swooped out or pulled in that we weren't expecting!   Your coordination is awesome!

You are still tall and skinny and are wearing 12-month clothes right now!  Mama and Daddy get so worn out just lugging you around these days!  You have two cute little teeth, but we think you might have another one coming (based on the increase in drool these last few days).  Your eyes are still blue, but do have bits of light brown forming around the center, so we're still not quite sure what color they will eventually end up.

You love to eat!! You don't really care much for milk most of the time (although you drink it wholeheartedly sometimes too), but you LOVE real food.  Anything that Mama eats, you want...doesn't matter that you only have two little teeth...you're willing to try.  There hasn't been anything we've given you that you don't like (well, except for that time when Daddy thought it would be good to give you rice cereal and plain potatoes...he quickly tasted it and realized it was like cardboard).  You L.O.V.E bananas, avocado, and watermelon...but also take quickly to peas, squash, and green beans.  You don't care much for juice though, no matter how much or how little water we add...we have to trick you to drink it (trying to make sure you are properly hydrated and, erm, regular).

You are so smart!!  You practice crawling all the time and have even managed to get yourself really high up the side of the crib (you use the bumpers).  You are so curious in everything going on around you and enjoy watching us do things.  You also really love to watch other kids...I feel like you are absorbing their skills through some sort of baby osmosis.  And you have a knack for photos!  Surprisingly, you look right in the lens whenever Mama shoves a camera in your face and are never shy to smile, scream, or throw me a dirty look if you're just not feeling it.

Your daddy and I are tired, but love every minute with you.  We've yet to leave you alone to spend time together because we both agree we'd miss you!  But we plan on a date night as soon as Grammy and Grampy get here because we know you'll be safe and happy with them.  Our perfect days involve time at home or getting outdoors and just watching you play and learn.  You're truly the light of our lives...and we're so lucky that you're our baby (Mama's still in disbelief).

P.S.  Doctor says you're perfect!

Letters to Nash

My Dearest Nash,

I regret that this is the first letter I am writing to you, but I will do my best to make up for lost time.  You are growing so much every day, it’s hard to know where to begin.  Every day you make us laugh, you impress us with your talents, and you challenge us as parents.  You are such a sweet baby, with an unparalleled feistiness about you!   You really know how to express yourself!

You are getting so big; Mama and Daddy can barely carry you!  I weighed you tonight and you are over 17 pounds!  Someone saw you in the grocery store today and thought you were a one-year old - I couldn’t believe it.  You’re tall and robust, and definitely an athlete!  Your kicks are still going strong – from the time you were in my belly kicking me in the ribs until now when you repeatedly kick me anywhere you little legs can reach.  You’re just now starting to get some chub on you, which is so cute.  Your little legs are finally getting some little rolls, and I noticed some little dimples in your elbows the other day. Your giggles are infectious and you LOVE playing peek-a-boo!

You are finally sleeping well!  We struggled so much the last few months, but we’ve managed to find a way to help you sleep.  We spent the first few months sleeping close, snuggling with Mama, and then we tried to put you in your room to sleep on your own.  At first, you did great!  But then around 3 months, you seemed to really want Mama there all the time.  After a month of hanging in your room with you (all night sometimes), we finally had to let you just hang out by yourself for a while.  At first you were not happy!  But now you seem to prefer sleeping in your crib and even demand it when you’re super tired!  You love your nighttime baths, and Mama loves the way you smell when you’re all clean and snuggly!

Daddy and I are working hard to make sure you experience as much as possible, while still providing you some routine for comfort.  We go to Gymboree classes twice a week to sing songs and play with other babies.  We go to the beach, take you swimming in the pool, and you’ve even been to two baseball games already!  We can’t wait for August to come so we can take you on your first flight (or maybe train ride) up north to see the rest of Mama and Daddy’s families.  They are so excited to meet you!

To date you have mastered rolling over in both directions (sometimes even when we don’t want you to!), can almost stand on your own (it’s incredible), and have a very hearty vocabulary.  You seem to love milk and food alike, and Mama can’t wait to continue making yummy homemade food for you to try.

It’s hard to believe you are about to be 5 months old…it seems like just yesterday I was smooching your sweet little cheeks for the first time in the hospital and asking in disbelief, “Are you my baby?”  I still ask you this every day, as if I can’t believe you are really mine.  Your daddy is so in love with you, and is so protective.  He hates when he has to work and doesn’t get to see you, so we try to make sure he gets plenty of love when he is home.   We can’t even imagine what the next month is going to bring, as you seem to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time.  Until next month, we love you more than life itself.

Love, Mama and Daddy