Dreaming Like a Baby

Our local library launched its summer reading program this week with the theme Blazing the Trails.  It is phenomenal and the librarians have put an immense amount of work into this.

On opening day for the Tiny Tots, we dug for pennies in sand, panned for gold, lassoed ponies, raced stick horses and sat real ponies.  EK loves the library and loves the books.  She wouldn’t put her book down before getting on the pony.  She walked around with her book open like she was reading it.

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The next day at the library, a trick roper entertained us with his horse, his rope, and his dog.

Understandably, EK’s new favorite word is “hosh”.

Early this morning, still sleeping but stirring, eyes shut, she rolled over in bed and let out a soft “neigh”.

Ah, the sweet dreams of babes.

7 months old

Hey baby girl,

Another month has come and gone.  It’s simply unbelievable.

You are still as cute as always.  And pssst, just between you and me, some people are saying you are starting to look like me.  It thrills my soul every time I hear it.  You sure are good lookin’, but your insides are more important.  Let me tell you about your little 7 month spirit.

You are determined.

You are alert to everything going on around you.

You are smart, smart, smart.  Your brain is working all the time.  Just for future reference, I don’t think I’ll be able to help you with your homework.

You’re getting the hang of the peek-a-boo game and we can play that for a real long time.  It seems I get bored before you do for sure.

You are sweet and have just begun to give hugs and snuggle down to us when we pick you up.  You are starting to show affection to your people and it is so darling.

Sleep?  Who needs it?  You are too busy scooting around on your tummy, dragging one leg behind you like a wounded soldier, exploring everything you can and everything you shouldn’t.

You’re getting much stronger in your legs and have begun to attempt to pull up, especially in your crib when you don’t want to be in there.  You can also stand for a real long time holding onto something, like the ottoman.

You aren’t crawling on your hands and knees yet, but you’ve started to crawl onto things.  The other day you got in quite a bind when you crawled on top of a case of water sitting on the floor, and you didn’t really know what to do next so you started yelling.  You’re funny, girl.  But you don’t think other things are funny.  Although you grin and smile all the time, you rarely laugh.  It usually takes your cousin Ash to get you to laugh, and yesterday for the first time ever, you laughed at me.

This month we’ve hit a few bumps in the road.   It seems that you’ve developed a small case of “Stranger Danger” and will sometimes cry when your not familiar with the person holding you.  Also, you’ve gotten super attached to momma, and you’ll cry if I walk out of the room.  So guess what I’ve done?  I’ve pulled out the old baby wrap.  Remember that thing?  I’m back to strapping you to me and away we go to do the things that don’t really get done, like sweeping and cooking.  I need to figure out how to turn you around to face out however because you keep twisting your little torso around to see what in the world is going on behind you.  I’m worried you just might topple out.

But the biggest bump is the sleeping thing.  All over the internet is says kids your age should be sleeping through the night.  You did that once.  Once.  Months ago.  So in case I haven’t already told you, mom and dad would really appreciate it if you’d go ahead and meet that milestone real soon.

I hope you know sweet thing, that I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.  I google directions everyday for you concerning all sorts of issues.  Should I let you cry it out at sleep time or should we co-sleep, should I teach you sign language so you can communicate, what sorts of foods should I fee you and the list goes on and on.  I don’t know if all the “experts” have a clue either.  What I do know is you are loved deeply,  and you matter.  I want you so much to be an independent, confident, well rounded little person, now and always.  I’m trying my best and we’ll just figure this out together, okay?

I love you, baby.

XOXO

Mama

Really, Mom?

My baby’s got hats.  She’s got a lot of hats.  I am nuts for a knitted hat.  Or crocheted, since I don’t really know the difference.

But my baby’s also got problems.  Her head is small and her hats are big.

So while I’m waiting for her head to grow, I thought we’d try out a headband.  I’m not crazy about headbands, but decided she needed a different look rather than just her bare head.

This is what we got.

I don’t know, but there’s something vaguely familiar about those feathers on her head.

Oh, I know.  She kind of reminds me of one of these, only pink.

image courtesy of mypetchicken.com

Except of course, my baby girl is much cuter.

So, instead of toting her around looking like a white silkie rooster, I’ve decided we’ll wait for her to grow into her hats.
(and the whole world nods in agreement and sighs in relief)