Just Barely Still 7 Months

Dear Tiny Bear,
So you turned 7 months old almost a month ago. Right. I apologize. To be honest, I've just been way too busy having fun with you lately to make time to document it!


As usual, this month has been the most fun of all. You are ever-more squirmy and wiggly, which makes playtime especially fun. You've taken a particular liking to books this month; rather, you've taken a particular liking to pulling books off the shelf and eating them. We also really love storytime together and you've become a pro at turning the pages, especially for your one owl book. That one is your favorite.


We've also really loved going swimming this month. While you were a little hesitant at first, you now adore the water and think it's so funny when we splash around. That's been helpful as it has been about a million degrees lately. I think you handle the heat poorest of all, so some cool activities make us all happy. You also adore the swings.



Your mobility has grown exponentially this month. While you were always big on rolling to get from place to place, you started army crawling in between your 6th and 7th months. For a while there, I thought you would maybe be one of those babies that skips crawling; you rolled with purpose, and weren't showing any signs of even being interested in crawling. Then, all of a sudden one day, you were up on your knees without me even noticing. Now, you move along faster than I usually realize. It is getting increasingly tricky to perform minor errands such as making dinner or even going to the bathroom because I can't be certain that you won't get into all kinds of mischief if I avert my eyes even for a minute.

On the subject of movement, you've also started pulling to stand. You did it for the first time a few weeks ago, but we thought it was maybe a fluke. But you've done it more consistently in the last few days, which meant that a crib lowering was in order. You've also grown rather fond of getting up on your hands and...tiptoes, almost in a downward dog pose. Really, can't you just stay little for a while longer?


You've also just started to take an increased interest in solids. Although we first started giving you some around 6 months, you just never really liked them very much (except for sucking on apples and carrots - that, you could not get enough of). Textures and purees alike seemed to weird you out, and even if something went in your mouth, it usually came right back out. In the last few days, however, you've seemed to make the connection that food is tasty and filling, and have gobbled up various things we've offered you.I actually think this newfound liking of solids really started with an introduction to panang curry. You see, I really like Thai food, so your daddy was very sweet to me and researched the best Thai in the area for my birthday dinner last week. One of the things we got was panang curry (of course), and you kept reaching for it (again, of course). So finally, I figured I'd give you a little lick since it wasn't overly spicy. I figured if you hated it or it burned your tongue a little, well, then you hopefully wouldn't want any more. To our great surprise, you started voraciously sucking on my finger with the sauce. Usually, if you put someone's finger in your mouth, you just gnaw on it, but you were sucking like crazy here. So I gave you some more - same thing. You kept asking for more, including with the leftovers the next day. Who knew?

You've also become quite the little hoarder this month. You love playing with all kinds of random things (spoons and water bottles are your favorite, followed closely by spatulas and hangers), and seem to amass little collections of all your little "toys." In fact, we have a grandfather clock in our living room, and we have an (rather heavy) extra chime stored below it. It has a metal disk on one end, and we recently found one of those disks in the backseat of the car. Hmm...

Oh, tiny, you are just ever more exciting to be around. While part of me misses that tiny newborn stage, this phase is just so so fun. You are smiley and social as ever, both with me and everyone around you (something on which literally every.single.person who meets you comments). You have this remarkable way of bringing people out and drawing them in. A friend wrote on her blog how sometimes her little boy will smile at strangers in the elevator, and if they don't notice or respond, she just wants to tap them on the shoulder and tell them that her son is sharing his smiles with them. I feel the same way; I get a little defensive when people don't notice when you are being so sweet to them. The remarkable thing, though, is that you are so willing to share your smiles and friendship with everyone around you, regardless of whether they reciprocate. You do so openly and willingly, never expecting anything in return. You're truly an example to me.
I seriously cannot get enough of you, and it has been a blessing for me to be around all the time this month. This stay-at-home-mommy thing is pretty awesome.



Love you, little bear,
mama