Baby Mim - 9 Months

Dear Mim,

I cannot believe that you've now officially been out here in the world with us longer than you were growing in my belly.  It seems like just a few days ago that we found out we were expecting and started imagining our lives with a new little being in them.  But all the daydreaming in the world could not have prepared me for just how amazing and wonderful you would be.  You have surpassed every possible expectation I had about babies and are just about perfect in every possible way.  You add so much joy and laughter to our lives.  You complete us.

Even though you have been such a fun and good baby, I have to say that this right now is one of my very favorite ages.  I just love that you are interacting so much with us.  You talk to us ALL the time - I thought Mac was a loud baby, but he's got nothing on you.  You babble away, repeating silly sounds, screaming to hear your voice and practicing your singing.  You can say "mamama," but you prefer to say "dadadada."  You spit and blow bubbles and crack yourself up.  Your laugh is the most amazing sound in the world.  You smile all the time and are so incredibly happy!  We've just started using some baby sign language with you and we think you'll pick it up quickly, like your brother did.  That was such a useful tool to communicate with him in the early days.  Right now you just look at us like we're crazy, but we'll get there.  

You're way beyond just rolling and sitting these days.  Your crawl is effective, but definitely not pretty.  You haven't quite figured out that you need to lift your belly off the ground and use your legs.  Mainly, you just drag yourself around using your arms, like a slug.  It works though, and you're getting really fast - however, your clothes end up absolutely disgusting by the end of the day.  You love standing and will pull yourself up on anything.  Once up, you love to bounce and dance.  You cruise from place to place, working on taking steps and raising and lowering yourself.  You're already incredibly well-balanced and I don't think it'll be long before you're officially walking unassisted. We got out your walker the other day, but you haven't figured out exactly how to move it around like you want.  Another few weeks and you'll be running.  

Your newest trick right now is waving.  I LOVE this.  You have the best wave!  It's a high wave with a fully straight arm and a limp wrist.  We call it your "hey girl" wave.  I die.  You wave at everything too!  Kids, cars, trees, birds, Sage, the TV.  Going to the grocery store with you is like walking in with a celebrity - everyone watches us, smiles at you, waves at you and has to come over and tell me how adorable you are.  I totally know, but it never gets old hearing it.  

You're quite the little chunk right now, which I love.  You feel so solid and yet still super squishy and squeezable.  You are still a snuggler and love to be held.  I still rock to you sleep every night and we still do our dream feed and I'm not ready to give either of those things up yet.  I love cradling you in my arms, kissing your perfect little forehead and holding hands with you.  I hope you don't mind if we continue to do this into your teens and twenties.  I just can't get enough.  I really do think that I'm going to have a hard time when you start sleeping through the night.  

You also LOVE being the center of attention.  Your baptism was this past weekend and you couldn't get enough of everyone fawning all over you.  We're in trouble.  Whereas your brother always liked (and still does) to have one-on-one attention, you certainly don't mind lots of people around and being passed back and forth.  You reach out for someone, give hugs and love and then reach for the next person.  You love having all your favorite people together and will gladly spread the love around to everyone.  You're a social butterfly!  You also love getting your picture taken and totally cheese it up for the camera, which makes my shutter-happy heart soar.

You're a fantastic eater!  You eat almost anything we give you and are actually starting to eat it and not just spit it back out.  You love fruit and steak, pasta and popsicles.  I'm totally in awe watching you eat most days.  You're a complete mess, but you're also amazing.  Baby led weaning has been even better this time around and I really hope your love for food continues and you don't regress in the toddler years like your brother did.  Keep up the good work, baby!

You are just the most wonderful baby ever.  Thank you for being you.  Thank you for being mine.

Love,

Your mama

For comparison: Mac (on left) vs. Mim (on right) - I think they look TOTALLY different!