6 Months

Dear Emerson,

Baby girlfriend, first and foremost.... do you care to explain the following pictures????

3 days old

6 months, 3 days old

Please explain to me how both of these pictures are pictures of you, because looking at them right now, I'm just not buying it. Surely that tiny little girl in purple is not the same baby as the happy little pumpkin who sleeps in her crib. Alas, it's true. You are 6 months old!!!!!

Being a mother is amazing, for so many reasons, but one of the best is that you get to watch your baby grow and develop and change every single day. Every day is a new adventure, a new milestone, a new skill, and a new reason that you absolutely, positively melt my heart into a puddle of love.

 

You had a few big firsts this month. Your first time in a real pool (which you HATED because the water was too cold); your first time in a baby pool, which you loved; your first wedding; your first time away from mommy and daddy for more than 12 hours (which I HATED). I guess every month will be full of firsts, because every day you learn something new!

(I love this picture because I feel like I'm getting a glimpse into teenage Emerson., There is so much sass on your face and I love it. Like "OMG, Mo-ommmmmm! Stop taking my picture! Stickers are for babies!" By the way, if you end up talking like a valley girl some day, I will have have failed you).

You tried "people food" for the first time this month. We started with whole grain oatmeal cereal, and though you hated it on Day 1, you started gobbling it up by the second day. However, you seem to be more interested in gnawing on the spoon that I give you, so I've started using two spoons and alternating one to eat and one for you to gum. It works out well! I also experimented with making my first food, sweet potatoes. I finally got to break out the Baby Bullet that we (you) got at our baby shower, and man that thing is awesome!! 2 sweet potatoes and some water, plus some ice cube trays for storing, and I had enough food to last you two weeks! And the whole thing took me less than 10 minutes when it was all said and done. I felt all accomplished and whatnot for having made my own baby food. I hope I can keep it up!

You are still sleeping like a champion! Sleep has changed the lives of everyone in our household, and a few times I've even worried that you sleep "too much." Seriously??? Why do I have to worry about everything? Ha. But yes, sleep is amazing and I still can't get over how gosh darn happy you are all the time. If you're not sleeping, you're smiling, and you charm every single person around you. Case in point: We went to Target on Saturday, and people kept stopping and commenting on how adorable you were. that will never get old. Of course I think you're adorable (the most adorable person ever, actually) but hearing that other people see it too makes me smile with mommy pride. You sleep on your belly now, which freaked me out at first because you tended to face plant when you rolled over and I was nervous that you couldn't breathe. But after several nights of staring at the video monitor for hours (and hours) I realized how much cozier you were in the position.

You and daddy are still best friends. It was your first Fathers Day (outside the womb, that is) and you decided to buy daddy a new golf bag and pose for this adorable photo op:

 

Seeing the two of together makes my heart happy. He is just as in love with you as I am, and I love the way both of your faces light up when you see each other. I am very nervous as to how much he is going to let you get away with when you're older, because you're so darn cute and charming, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

You still look like a deer in headlights when I take your picture, but that's okay. May you never become an actress, because the paparazzi will stalk you as an easy target.

I wish I could freeze time, because if I could, I would freeze it on this summer. Life is about as perfect as it can get, and I'm having so much fun with you, while also getting to hold on to the bits of your baby-ness. Will there ever be a time when I don't see you as my sweet little baby?? I doubt it. I don't care if you're 3 or 30, you will always be my boo boo, snuggle bug, pumpkin, sweet pea, girlfriend, and the greatest example that I've dfone something right in my life.

Until next month darlin'....

Love,

Mama