My darling boy,

This past month has required a lot of flexibility from you. Right after your 6 month birthday, wedding season hit with a bang. We haven’t had a full weekend home since, but you’ve proven to go with the flow and my mama heart is very grateful for that. Your grandma told me after babysitting you last Saturday, “he just does exactly what he’s supposed to.” While I feel you may have her fooled only slightly, I do realize that our months of a steady and consistent routine are really paying us back now.

You love routine. You love to know what’s happening and when it’s happening. You’re so like your daddy in that way. That part of your personality has made these past few months so much fun and has definitely made the transition for me back into full-work mode a lot easier.

You’re generally a really happy little guy. You can entertain yourself, but also love to have attention and interaction. You’re a good balance of the two which I’ve read is a good thing.

You’re developing so quickly that it’s hard for your little body to keep up with your brain and sometimes I think you get frustrated that you can’t quite make your fingers work exactly like you want or your legs to hold you steady when you wish you could stand. Bit by bit, child. You’ll be able to achieve all of these things soon.

You love sleeping in your crib and I usually just sing you a little song and lay you down. While it’s wonderful (!!), the only part I miss is having you fall asleep while I’m holding you. You’re kind of independent like that and prefer to get comfortably sprawled out before falling asleep. But I did have a moment a few days ago where you woke up early in the morning and couldn’t resettle yourself. I went in to your room and picked you up and rocked you. I sang every lullaby I could think of and I finally heard your breathing settle into a deep sleep as your little body curled against mine. I probably could’ve laid you back down in your crib, but I just held you and memorized the smell of your hair and the warmth of your cheek.

You’re sitting on your own now and rolling over with ease. You started eating solid foods last month and you continue to love to eat. You’re the least picky eater I’ve ever seen and will happily eat everything I give you (save papayas…you’re not sure about them yet). You’ve just figured out how to make the “b” rumbly sound with your lips and that means lots of spitting everywhere, which is especially non-fun and messy when you’re eating. You think it’s the greatest thing though and I’m completely unsure how to teach you to stop doing that during dinnertime.

You love being outside and you’re still obsessed with the interstate. Lucky for you, there’s construction happening on a nearby avenue so all the detour traffic is routed down our street. That means you’ve gotten extra car-watching time this month as you can see the interstate traffic from the living room and the detour traffic from the kitchen. It’s your own little version of Disney world.

You love your bath, but shrieked when I tried to put you in a baby pool at your friend Emmett’s house. Granted, the water was cold and you had just had your shots the day before so you were still not feeling completely yourself yet. We’re going to try the pool again, this time with warm water. I think you’ll be a big fan. I also learned a lot that day about swim diapers. Apparently they don’t catch pee at all. As I was sitting on the ground holding you (because you didn’t want anywhere near the pool), I kept feeling progressively wetter and wetter. There was water dripping off of your swim trunks and I just couldn’t figure out where it was coming from since you hadn’t even gotten more than your big toe in the pool. After much research and advice from other mothers, we’re going to be trying out some other options (like double diapering a reusable over a disposable for starters!). I don’t mind you peeing in the pool (Lord knows you pee in your tub every night), but I’ll be keeping a towel handy for when I’m holding you!

Now that you’re sitting and faux-walking and jabbering non-stop and giggling, I keep seeing glimpses of a toddler in you. We’ve still got a ways to go until then (but yet not really…) and those glimpses remind me to enjoy every precious moment with you because they continue to move quickly.

My darling Henry Pie, I could never describe to you how my heart aches with love for you. There is nothing quite like a parent’s love and even then, knowing that every parent must love their child as big as I do mine, it’s hard for me to believe. This love feels so special and unique and personal. It feels overwhelming and powerful. And I think, “Is it possible all of us mamas in the world are all walking around with these big, powerful, aching hearts brimming with love too big for them?” I imagine so. But the wonderful thing about you and me, honey, is that my love for you is ours.

If there are a hundred billion shining stars in the night sky, my love would still shine brighter.

Mama