Well, my love, you’re seven months old today. It doesn’t seem possible that you’ve been part of our lives for more than half a year. And what a time it’s been. You find new ways every day to bring us joy.
Just after your turned six months old, we attended a very special picnic together as a family. The Ottawa Fertility Centre hosted a picnic to celebrate the families it has helped create. Despite the rain, it was a really wonderful experience to be surrounded by all these children that were hoped for and dreamed of for so long. And it was lovely to introduce you to the doctors and staff who were so supportive of us during our journey while we looked for you. They hold the picnic every two years; we intend to go again. And again.
And we travelled together as a family for the first time! You and Daddy and Granny and I all drove to Toronto together for Aunt Natalie and Uncle Darin’s wedding. We stayed with your Tia and Tio for the first night - you slept in a playpen for the first time, and you slept through the night! I didn’t. Then we spent two nights at a downtown hotel, and you did so well. The whole trip with you was such a joy. You behaved beautifully during the wedding ceremony and at the dinner at the restaurant afterwards. And you had some beautiful smiles for your new Uncle Darin - I think he was pretty enchanted with you.
In the last month, you have made huge strides in your solid food adventure. We have gone from rice cereal once a day to a wide variety of solid foods three times a day. So far, you’re a very easy going eater - you have liked pretty much everything we put in front of you. You’re just not big on the thicker textures yet. You drink water from a sippy cup with each meal. You’re even making noises about wanting to hold the spoon yourself. Occasionally, we get frustrated with each other - you like to chew on the high chair tray, I don’t let you. You’ve also been known to knock the spoon out of my hand in your exuberance. The solid food has also created other challenges - you now eat a serving of prunes once a day, and I never thought I’d say this, but I miss your infant poops.
And you are almost at the point where you can sit independently on your own. We still need to do a great deal of spotting, because you’re pretty wobbly, but we’ve seen you sit for extended periods of time without assistance. It’s been wonderful.
We have a few regular weekly adventures together, assuming your napping schedule permits. On Monday afternoons we attend the Baby and Me Drop In Playgroup at the Ontario Early Years Centre. There are a lot of cool toys for you to play with there, and a lot of older kids who are already crawling. On Tuesday morning, we go to a playgroup at Shannon’s house and you play with Elianne and Emily, and often the two Alexes are there, too. It’s a lovely time for Mommy - these are the mommies and babies we met through the Well Baby Clinic. It’s been really special to watch you all grow and develop. And for the past couple of weeks, we’ve been going to the Library on Fridays. We cruise the board book section together and bring home new stories to read. You had an especially positive reaction to Cat the Cat, Who is That? by Moe Willems. Maybe you just like the author’s name. I think you like the illustrations. We might have to buy that one for you.
We’ve had to move you up to 9 months sized clothing now, and I put you in blue jeans for the first time a week or so ago. You look like such a big boy! My baby is gone, and I have a delightful little boy instead. Granny has decided that the turtle is your totem animal - you have lots of turtle toys, your turtle onesie is one of your cutest, and let’s face it, when you’re trying to crawl, you kind of look like a turtle. A small, adorable turtle. So Granny bought you a great mealtime bib with turtles on it.
Granny and your Grandma love you so much - they are here as often as they can be and you smile when they come through the door. Your Grandma has a special song that she sings to you. If either of them have had a hard day, you are what makes the day so much better for them. Your Daddy and I feel the same way.
It’s interesting to see how you deal with unfamiliar situations. If the room is crowded or loud or the situation is new, you withdraw a bit, but you remain very intent on observing what is going on around you. As you get more comfortable, you become more verbal, and you relax.
The last few nights, we’ve struggled with your sinus congestion. You seem to have seasonal allergies. Your nose isn’t stuffed up in a way that I can aspirate - it’s your sinuses that are stuffed. So we’ve taken to spending some time in the bathroom with the hot shower running. It loosens things up. But you are still struggling to get to sleep.
We just love spending time with you. Your smile makes us smile, your laugh is the best sound ever. You are so patient and kind and sweet. You are adorable, lovable and at times hilarious. The best part of my day is right after you wake up from a nap - you’re smiley and cuddly.
We love you so much, little Moe. We tell you that a lot, but I don’t think you’ll ever really know how much we adore you. You make our life complete. Keep being so wonderful. We’ll keep doing our best to be everything you need us to be.
