Dear Max,
We made it! One whole year of love, fun, moonlit nursing and snuggling back to sleep, sticky fingers and faces, walking and bouncing for hours, swaddling, pacifiers, stories, milestones, and learning how to live life as a family of three. I am blown away that your baby days are officially over. I thought I would be super sad, but to be honest it's really more bittersweet. I miss how tiny you were and your sweet bald-headed cooing and babbling, but at the same time it's completely thrilling to see you take off and start to work towards boy-hood.
In the past few weeks you have suddenly become very affectionate! You often give Dad and I hugs while we are playing and when we pick you up; and you give us big wet kisses on our cheeks (which we have to be careful of because sometimes you'll bite, too!). I melt in to a big puddle of mush every time. When you want to kiss on the lips you put your lips together as if you were whistling, and say "oooooo!", lean your head back, and try to put your lips on ours. It's so funny and sweet!
This month you sprouted a few more teeth! Two more came in on top and one more came in on the bottom. We can sort of see a white dot for your other bottom tooth; and we think you might be working on some molars, too, because you tend to stick your fingers and teething toys way back in your mouth to chew. It's hard to get our finger in your mouth to feel your gums and check because you think it's funny to chomp down- ouch! In the last month or so we've adding brushing your teeth to your morning and bedtime routine. We have a little baby toothbrush and we try to brush (just with water) a little bit, then you like to take over and chew on it a while. It's important to care for those pearly whites!
You've really started to interact and try to figure out how to communicate this month, which has been really cool. For example, one morning you were crawling off somewhere and I tried to call you back to where I was in another room. You didn't peep around the corner (which was unusual) so I went to see what you were up to. After some back and forth I realized you wanted me to follow you so you could show me something! It was pretty neat. Your random "Doh, doh, doh!" that I mentioned last month has started to gain dual meanings. When you hear a dog bark you always point in the direction of the barking and say, "Doh!" which makes us think you are trying to say "dog"; however, you'll also point and say "Doh!" when you hear other new noises which makes us think you are asking, "What's that?" Other words in your repertoire include Daddy ("Dah-eee"), Mama ("Mama" or "Mum-mum", and Hi ("Hi-eeeee!").
Right now you're still in daycare three days a week and you stay home with me while I work the other two days. A few months ago we partitioned off about half of my office so you could crawl around and play without getting under my rolling chair or near all the computer cords (we affectionately call this area "the cage" haha). Since you're so active now it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage my role as Mommy and Director of Client Services on the stay at home days. You're usually content to play independently for ten or so minutes at a time, then you're ready for me to come join you. We are so blessed that I have had such a flexible job and a boss who understands the importance of spending time with children. For now, we're continuing to make it work and I just work after you go to bed at night if I'm not able to finish my projects while you're home with me during the day. At some point we'll probably have to shift to more daycare time, but hopefully we can ease in to it. I sure do love spending time with you!
Speaking of daycare, you somehow went from being the youngest to the oldest in your class in the blink of an eye! Three or four of your little friends are also turning one this month and sometime in October or early November you guys will move from the Infant Room to the Toddler Room. There are so many big boy things that happen in that room-- sleeping on little cots instead of cribs, eating at a table instead of a high chair, no bottles, etc. Dad and I are nervous for you, and hope you'll have a smooth transition. We LOVE your current teachers, Ms. Vickie and Ms. Sondra, and wish you could stay with them forever. They've already told us how much they are going to miss you, too. You guys have lots of fun together, and you always get so excited to see them every morning. Dad and I hope your new teachers will fall in love with you, too, and that you will thrive there as you have in the Infant Room. If anything, we're sure you'll have fun seeing your friends who have already moved up!
We had a visit to the pediatrician this month. Overall you are in good health! You continue to be a tiny little guy having barely gained a pound in the last three months (which puts us at about a pound and a half or two pounds over a six month span of time). The pediatrician gave us some feeding strategies to try, and we're going back in six weeks for a weight check (your next well visit won't be for a few more months). Hopefully you're just a small fry and that there aren't any bigger issues. In the meantime... eat, baby, eat!
Here are some facts about you as a 12 month old boy:
Nicknames: M.J., Munchkin, Tiny Baby, Little Man, Sir Chomps-a-lot, Bitey McBiterson (you like to use our shoulders as teething rings!), Little Guy
Loves: "Helping" Mom and Dad (which generally involves being under our feet and un-doing whatever we are doing- haha), looking out the window, bouncing, dancing to music, riding on Dad's shoulders, taking baths in the big tub
Dislikes: Not much new here! Still hating nose wipes, nail clipping, and getting strapped in the car seat when you'd rather be on-the-go
Height: 29.5 inches (39th percentile)
Weight: 18.5 lbs (3rd percentile)
Head Circumference: 18 inches (30th percentile)
Clothing: Mostly 9 month sizes (a few six month sized items), size 3 diapers
Well, Max, I guess this officially wraps up my letters to you! I know Dad and I will read these in the future and recall your baby days fondly; and if you ever ask what you were like as a baby, I know I'll have fun reading these letters with you.
Our hearts are so full and God has truly blessed us with your life. A friend recently told us that we are "shepherding God's blessing" and that it is something we should not take it lightly. Those words are so very true, and we seek God's guidance in our parenting decisions each day. Dad and I promise to love you and raise you as best we can, and hope you'll extend us grace along the way when we mess up. We never knew someone so little could bring so much love and joy in to our lives.
I love you, sweet baby.
Love,
Mom
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