10 months down...

To my sweet Abbie,

On Tuesday you turned 10 months old. We’ve hit the double digits! It’s unbelievable. Just when I feel as though my heart can’t possibly love you more, you show me that it’s always possible. I hope you know just how much you are loved. I hope you realize that I would give up anything for you. One night your daddy and I were looking at pictures of when I was pregnant (since I’m working on a baby book for you) and pictures of when you were a newborn and I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. Those first few weeks at home with you seem so long ago yet they are so vivid in my memory. I was so clueless but I’d like to think my maternal instincts kicked in and I learned to be the best mother I could be for you. I miss being pregnant. I miss counting the week we were in and seeing my belly grow. It really is the miracle of life and I hope your daddy and I are blessed to be able to give you a sibling someday. But not now…I’d still like more time as a family of three.:)

This past month you have done so much! It was month of many firsts for you…

-          I’m still making your food and this past month you tried pluots, chicken (yey, protein!!!), papaya and cantaloupe. Papaya and cantaloupe haven’t been your favorite but I’m still hoping that will change. Mom also started making you her famous alphabet soup! It’s known that all her grandkids LOVE her soup and you are no exception. :) You also tried mom’s chicken soup and I have given you a few fresh grapes to try too. It’s so much fun feeding you new things. I love expanding your little food palate. You also started feeding yourself organic cereal puffs and cheerios! It’s the most adorable thing seeing you feed yourself! Cheerios have quickly become a favorite of yours.  

-          It was your first time riding in a shopping cart! Nothing too important but still one for the books. You loved it so much. Although you did spend the whole time looking back so I wish there was some way of having you face forward but you still had a great time and I think you felt like you were such a big girl. 

 

 - Your little feet touched sand for the first time! We took some pictures at the beach and had you in the sand. I think you enjoyed the sand more than the first time you felt the grass in your toes. 

-          We had you try a sippy cup for the 1^st time but it's just not working yet. You hold it fine but you just make a mess with it. I need to learn that you feeding yourself and making a mess come hand in hand. 

 -          You started swimming lessons at our local YMCA so it was your first time in a swimming pool! Oh I already know you’re going to be my little mermaid…you love the water. You’ve never cried once and even when daddy has dunked your head underwater, you always manage to catch your breath and keep on smiling  It was also my first time in the pool with you! It was in your auntie’s pool. It was so much fun! I am looking forward to all our summers together. Ok, maybe mommy will take some adult private swimming lessons. Otherwise you and daddy are going to leave me behind! 

 -          You started saying the most beautiful word in the English vocabulary…mama.  Well, it’s been more like “ma ma ma ma ma.” But I’ll take it. And you seem to only say it when you’re whining and want something but I’ll take that too.  I love hearing you say it and I will NEVER get tired of it. 

-          You went to your first Relay for Life! It was a bittersweet one since it was the first without your Tio Henry. I know he was so proud of Mita, B and Andrew. They have been able to honor him so much this past year despite their aching hearts. You and I still pray for them each night and I hope they know how much they are loved. 

-          Weaning you from your pacifier is something I’ve had in the back of my mind for a long time. I kept thinking we should do it a little after your 1^st birthday but low and behold, you seem to have weaned yourself! For the past couple of weeks, you refuse to take it. It was always my sure fire way of soothing you to fall asleep but now you just don’t want it. Makes our job easier! But now I’m not sure what we’ll do when you decide to start “talking” loudly at a restaurant. 

-          You’ve been a little more feisty lately but I’m betting it’s your teething causing this. Your 8 teeth didn’t seem to faze you too much but I’m thinking your molars may be a different story. I am praying it doesn’t cause you too much pain sweetie. We’ll get through it together.

 It’s been 10 magical months with you. Your first summer has been a busy one. I hope you've had so much fun. Your daddy looks like at you each day with so much love in his eyes. We are his girls and he is our guy. We make quite the team….and I couldn’t be happier. We love you Abigail.