Month 8

Well, you might have noticed that Month 7 is missing. The month just flew by with Daddy back at work full time and me being busy with my job as well. I'm sorry I didn't write you!

You continue to be the greatest joy of our lives and we just adore you. You've turned the corner with daycare and are now one of the best, if not THE best baby they have. They really love you and Miss Gladys told me the other day that you are "baby of the month". I was very proud.

You have grown so much and just get bigger and bigger all the time! You are an awesome eater and love yogurt, puffs and most recently avocado.

The dog is your favorite thing EVER and you still squeal with delight when she enters the room. Your father and I are not sure if you like us or her more. You love all animals, but dogs in particular are your favorite.

You love to dance lately and have this great dance move that you do - you don't just rock, but wiggle your whole body. Music, you don't need music - you dance to the music in your head. I sometimes wonder what it sounds like.

You were just asleep next to me and woke up - looked over and smiled. It is, as always, the BEST!

Month 6

Well Kiddo, you are officially a half year old. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by! You change every day and continue to constantly amaze (and amuse) your father and I.

You and Daddy have really bonded over the past month since you've been home with him. You guys go on little adventures every day. I know that your father is really worried about going back to work - he is going to miss hanging out with you a lot.

You've started to say little things - dadada is one of your favorites which your father eats up of course. You also make an "h" sound when someone says Hello or Hi to you.

You've fallen totally in love with our dog Summer and have become quite the animal lover. We plan on taking you to the zoo soon and I really think you will like it.

This month should be interesting as Daddy will be going back to work so you'll be in full time daycare for the first time ever. You've had some stranger anxiety lately, so I worry how you'll take the transition. We plan on slowly moving you in over a couple of weeks to hopefully ease the pain.

You're very close to sitting up, but aren't quite there yet. I really think it's gonna happen any day now. When you are on your tummy and want something out of reach you get very mad and try to move forward to get it. I think you are angry that your little body just won't do what you are telling it to yet.

No pictures of us again this month - not many at all for this month in general actually. Don't worry though, we've already started to make up for it.

Love you more and more every day,
Mom

Month 5

Well kiddo, you're 5 months old today. What can I tell you? I think you are the greatest thing since sliced bread. You are seriously a cool baby and I not only love you a lot, but like you for the little person you are.


Lately you have been a total riot. You laugh freely and often. You squeal with delight all the time and are such a happy baby. This has been a big month for you. You found your feet and think they are the greatest thing ever. You play with them all the time - even first thing in the morning. When we give you your bath you love to splash around in the water with your feet - forget the toys, forget the bubbles - it's all about the feet.


You roll over all the time lately and we find you in the funniest places in your crib in the morning. You've really taken to sleeping on your stomach now that you know how to roll that way.

We started you on solid foods this month and that has been really fun for us all. You started with oatmeal cereal and weren't too sure at first, but by the third or fourth spoonful you were a champ! Then it was on to peas, carrots, sweet potatoes - all a big hit. We tried bananas next and were quite excited because everyone told us you'd love fruit, but you hated bananas. Go figure. Apples were next and you seem to like those a lot. Next its pears!



You and Daddy are bonding a lot now that he is home with you for the summer. You go twice a week to a lady up the street's house named Tata and you have become very fond of her. It's been nice to get you around other people as you were way attached to us. You and Daddy have lots of adventures together during the days you are home with him and you love it.

The past few days you've noticed our dog Summer a lot more and like to pet/pull on her and have conversations with her. It's pretty adorable - another for the home video collection. We do have to be careful though because you pinch and grab at everything (I have some crazy bruises) and we don't want you abusing the dog. We'll wait until you are a toddler for that.

I think this is the first month I don't have a picture of us together to add. I do have some that we had taken during a photo shoot, but I don't have the soft copy of it. We'll have to get on Daddy's case about that one.

On to the next month little one - oh what adventures will you have for us next?
Love,
Mom

Month 4

Well what a month it has been! You have discoved so many things this month and it has been a blast for your father and I to see.

First, it was your hands - you realized they were yours. Then, on mother's day you gave me the best gift ever and rolled over for the first time. It was funny how it just all of the sudden happened. I was taking your picture as you did it so it was documented in some was as well.

Then you discovered your feed and you are obsessed with them. You try to put them in your mouth but have not figured out how yet. You have learned how to splash in the tub with them however which is a riot.


You have also discovered that you have a voice which is so cool. The past few days you have been screaming (in a good way) a lot. I'm glad you've found your voice and I hope you use it often through out your life.

You still wake up happy in the morning - the only way that we know you are up is that we hear you rustling around the your crib. I love that you feel secure in knowing we'll come to get you and that you don't wake up crying.

Daddy is now staying home with you and it's so fun. You guys have a lot of fun together during the day and I wish he could just quit his job and we could leave it this way from now on! He has a whole routine he does with you of tummy time, play time, walks and naps. Oh and there is Elmo time as well. You are OBSESSED with Elmo. You think Elmo is pretty much the greatest thing ever and when he comes on the screen you smile and squeal with delight. It is pretty much a riot.

We have so much fun with you every day and although I sometimes wish you could stay this little forever I love seeing you grow and learn new things.
Love,
Mom

Month 3

Well, kid, you are 3 months old now. Things are getting so fun! You are so smiley all the time and sleep through the night which rocks! You love this little rooster toy and will stare at it for the longest time. The dog has tried to eat it a couple of times...I don't know what we'll do if we loose Mr. Rooster - no other toy does it for you like him.


You like to watch the TV and you just HATE to fall asleep. You will be exhausted but still find a way to find something funny and re-energize yourself. You just hate to miss out on anything.

I returned to work full time just last week and you've been great through the transition. Janny is watching you and you just love her. You squeel and shake your arms when you see her. She feeds you and you eat like a pig for her which is a big relief for us since you weren't so wild about the bottle there for a while. I miss you like crazy when I'm working, but feel good that you are with someone who loves you tons.


We had you baptized on the 20th by Fr. Rippy. He is the priest who married Daddy and me and I've known since I was 5 years old. It was a really special day!

Lately I've often been thinking about bad habits I want to break for you. What kind of woman I am will profoundly effect who you become and I want to be the best I can be to give you a good example. It's an interesting introspection and I hope that I can break some habits I have that I don't want you to inherit. Of course, as parents your father and I can't influence everything, you'll just be who you are. Sill, we can at least be good examples.




Your Daddy is totally in love with you and you already have him wrapped around your finger. I truly believe that he would do ANYTHING for you. You just adore him and smile so big and start talking to him about your day even if you are cranky and tired and he is home late from class.

You've finally started laughing and one of these days I'll have to get a video of the things we will do to get a laugh out of you. I'm sure we could all look back on those in a few years and laugh together. One day you'll have a family of your own and realize that there is no better sound than the laughter of your child.

Love,
Mom

Month 2

Well sweetie, what a month it has been! You have changed and grown so much we can't believe it. A couple of weeks ago you started really smiling. You don't really laugh a real laugh yet but you make this sound that is your own version of a giggle. I'm sure a full fledged one is just around the corner.


I go back to work this month and am really going to miss having all our time together. My mother will be watching you for a few weeks though and I'm glad for that. She adores you and will give you tons of love and attention while I'm gone.

You just started sleeping mostly through the night which is awesome. I didn't realize how tired getting up so often to feed you had made me until I finally got some sleep. Now, I have more energy than I know what to do with and that has resulted in more field trips for us. You hate your car seat though so it's never fun getting out the door. Once the car starts going you usually calm down though - only to get pissed again at the stop lights.

You love the mobile in your crib and your swing as well. I can park you with those in the morning and you just chill out smiling while I get ready.

You started giving us some issues with the bottle, but we seem to be on the upswing there. You Daddy has been a trooper trying to give them to you while you scream your head off. He HATES it when you cry. Sometimes I think it bothers him even more than me.

You started to really enjoy being read to as well lately. I didn't think it would happen so early, but you love to hear our voices and stare at the pictures.

Today you get your first round of vaccinations. We are dreading this visit since you'll have to get 4 shots. Luckily, you'll never remember it, but we will be traumatized for life from it. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but we will be sad for sure.

I love you more each day and I can't wait to see what new things you do over the next month.
Love,
mom

Month 1

Well Rowan, you are a month old. I can't believe how quickly the time is already going by and how much you have grown. Although I wish you could stay a baby forever, it is exciting to see all the changes as they happen. Your temperament is very sweet and you are a very good baby. Your dad and I both love you very much and really enjoy everything about you.

You are sleeping more through the night which is nice for us and you nurse like a champ. You've started to smile (which is the coolest thing ever) and you make cute cooing noises. You love to sleep on your Dad's chest - I really think sometimes that is your favorite place ever. You get gassy when I eat beans so I have to cut back on those (which is a bummer since it's one of my favorite foods) but don't worry - you are worth all of it!

Everyone tells us how advanced you are - you lift your head and shoulders up already and are very alert and love to take the world in. I think you'll be a very inquisitive and curious person when you grow up.