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Eight months old

Dear MrMan,

Time is just flying by. So fast I can hardly keep track. But, this morning marked eight months since we first met face to face. I look back and am amazed by the changes. In this month alone, you have...

Mastered crawling: On the morning of June 22, I carried you to the rug in the yellow room and put you down so that I could go brush my teeth and do other first-thing-in-the-morning things. But before I could leave the room, you crawled to the edge of the rug to more closely examine its fringe. Maman Jan and I watched in awe. Not only were you crawling for the first time, it was your first act of the day. By the end of the evening, you'd duplicated the effort several times over. Now, a few weeks later, you crawl like you've been doing it forever. Sometimes, I look for you in the last place I saw you, just a few minutes before, only to realize you've moved on to another room. Usually in the direction of some cords, with the intention of chewing on them.

Developed major pulling-up skills: If it's there, you use it to stand yourself up. Inanimate, animate, you do not discriminate. All you need is a bit of a vertical surface and you're good to go. You are still working on not doing this until you're so exhausted that you tumble and fall. I am still working on allowing you to tumble and learn. You like to make your way around the table, or the crib, holding on and moving your feet. You also like to dance - holding on, and bouncing to music.

Revealed two teeth: As of June 29, your front bottom teeth are in. Or should that be out? You have yet to use them on me, thank goodness. But today I did notice a strange scraping sound as you carried out your usual moving-your-mouth-back-and-forth-along-the-side-of-the-coffee-table routine. I offered you a teething ring, but it seems the scraping sound didn't bother you as much as it did me.

Become an Os addict: When I first introduced the Os to you, you could take them or leave them. But you have now joined the legions of young ones who flock to the Os. For them, you have started cultivating a pincer grip. For them, you will squeal with anticipation. For them, you will calmly sit in your highchair or on my lap. For this, I love the Os almost as much as you do. Your other food of choice, though not quite as addictive, is plain yogurt.

Started swimming lessons: We've had three classes so far, and they're going great. You kick your legs, splash your arms, and laugh in delight. Even more so when you have the incentive of a rubber duck in front of you. You endure having your head under the water, but only sometimes.

Asserted yourself in very obvious ways: You've been strong-willed just about as long as I've known you. Yes, your entire life. You always seem to know what you want and do a pretty good job of letting us know. Lately, you've become even better at it, particularly when it comes to things you don't want. You're not completely anti-exersaucer, but you often struggle at being put in it. I laugh a little, thinking of the way you stick out your legs to brace yourself against the tray, so that I can't get your feet into the seat. Sometimes, I give up before you do. You've also had two... temper tantrums, for lack of a better phrase. Both were while I was trying to get you out of the bathtub. I had to work hard not to lose my grip on you as you struggled and squirmed and cried out, trying to get back into the bathtub. I think being your mother will not always be easy, but I like the fact that you are not passive.

I am sorry to say that I left two major developments out of last month's letter to you. I'd jotted them down on a piece of paper, but then forgot to refer to it. You have figured out the mirror. Now almost two months ago, we were standing in front of the mirror, looking at ourselves. I was making funny faces, which you watched in the mirror. Then you turned your head and looked directly at me so you could watch the funny faces firsthand. More instances like this followed. While your realization means the mirror is not quite so magical, we still have fun with it. Also, you respond to smiles with a smile. Assuming you're in the mood for such. If I hadn't come across the piece of paper with this note, I would have forgotten that there was a time when you didn't smile in response to smiles. I'm still waiting to see you respond to a yawn with a yawn. I'd always thought that this was a reflex, but maybe there's a learned component?

You adore your Amu Naysan. He's a new addition to your life, but you would think that he's always been here, the way you've glommed onto him. I think he's some sort of baby whisperer. You like pacifiers a little more than you have in the past, but more as an entertainment, than a comfort. You like to suck and gnaw on them, and then deliberately drop them on the floor. It seems you realize they're for you, as you think it's really funny when I put one in my mouth to clean it of particulate matter, or pretend that I'm going to suck it instead of giving it to you. You also laugh when you "discover" me under a cloth diaper - it's much more entertaining for you to unveil my face than your own when we're playing peek-a-boo.

I know this letter is very focused on what you do now. It may seem like I'm glossing over the things you like. But, these days, what you like most is doing - you're always on the move, always tackling the next challenge. This new phase of activity has been challenging, as it's meant my being more active too. It's also very rewarding. I love watching you interact with the world around you. Your uncles used to ask when you were going to become fun. They don't need to ask that question anymore. MrMan, I've always loved you, even before I met you. I also love who you're becoming. Every step of the way.

Love,
Mommy

Posted by Shokufeh at July 18, 2006 11:52 PM