Count 'em... 9 months!

Dear August,

You are nine months old and I have no more words for these letters to you. No, not really. That's what we call an ex.ag.ger.a.tion. I am just having trouble putting these feelings to words. I am boiling over with love for you. I look at this picture - get overwhelmed with emotion - well up in tears - the screen gets blurry - and it's all over. Every day I fall more in love with you. With your beautiful eyes, your scrumptious chubby belly and thighs, your irresistible giggle, and your heart-melting cuddles.

You keep growing and changing by leaps and bounds. The last two weeks in particular have been incredible to watch. Before then, you were probably (technically) developmentally delayed. Did you hear me on the phone with the therapist or the pediatrician? Did you get tired of sitting in one place, crying and flapping your arms like a baby bird? Did you finally realize that your tummy wasn't so bad after all? Well, whatever the incentive, it is such a relief to see you move. You can flip yourself over so easily, push up to hands and knees, crawl forward (slowly), crawl backwards (a bit faster), pull yourself up to stand, and walk around furniture. All within two weeks!! At this pace, I'm tempted to strap a helmet to your head. What's next? Driving?

With all this work on motor development, your speech has stayed about the same... with one big exception... your first word! It's nothing phenomenal or flashy, but it is definitely a word. Every time you catch a glimpse of that ADORABLE baby in the mirror, you say "aiyee" in a high pitched voice (probably imitating me) and wave. You don't do this to anyone else or at any other time, but it's just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. You imitate inflection a lot in your babbling. You also must be telling little jokes, because sometimes you make yourself chuckle after a particularly long sentence.

You laugh easily, startle with loud or unexpected noises, and scream bloody murder if you think you've been left or forgotten. You are the most ticklish baby I've ever met. Two bottom teeth now accompany your gorgeous smile. A hat is your most favorite article of clothing. You LOVE to eat, but are clear when you're full. You still grab your ears when you're tired. The pacifier makes almost everything better. And Eden continues to be the highlight of your waking hours.

Thanks for being the highlight of mine.