summer lovin'

Six months down, six more to go.

Dearest Paul,

Today marks the beginning of your seventh month of life. What an incredible summer you have had, growing by leaps and bounds. This past month I have had many moments where I look down at you and cannot believe that you are mine. This happens when we are sitting and quietly nursing and your hand is tracing the outline of my face. It happens when you are just so tired that you fall asleep upon my chest, thumb in mouth, chest rising and dropping. And when you are sitting upon my lap, one of your new favorite spots, playing with your toys. Every so often you look up and bring your hand to my cheek, just to make sure that I am still there. All of these situations are so sweet that they break my heart, in the best way possible.

These instances usually bring about a deep sigh within me, followed by either one of two thought patterns. I either sigh and then cannot believe that I am a mom, that maybe I have dreamt the last year. Or I feel such an overwhelming sense of love and joy that I almost cry. And sometimes I do. Not a sad cry, just a little tear or two.

Your sixth month of life brought about many milestones, the most important being your new ability to move about freely and with much enthusiasm. You can now crawl all over the place, and do. You are actively using your arms and legs to help you get to toys, to come and visit your papa or I and to hunt down Julie.

Your interest with food has continued with developments in touching and tasting. We know you are not really hungry when we feed you and your blow raspberries, spraying your dinner all over us and the house. You have developed a face/reaction for when we give you something you are not too fond of. It generally looks like someone has given you a shot of whiskey and you are feeling the after effects. Most importantly this month we discovered how big of a boy you have become. You now sit at the table between Papa and I and play with your Sesame Street characters or your cup while we sit and eat. You are very patient and extremely polite.

Bath time has become a whole new experience this month as you moved into a big boy chair in the tub. You love tub time and cannot believe all of freedom you now have with this new chair. Tub time is now filled with much splashing, giggles and water squirting. There is not a night where you do not emerge from the tub without big pruney feet. It is fabulous.

As you can see Toots, this month has been incredible. Not only are you growing by leaps and bounds physically and mentally but our relationship, and my love for you, keeps on getting bigger and better too. Thank you for being such an amazing son Paul, and for keeping my days light and full of many laughs and smiles.

Love you
Mama.