Dear Bella,

You, my girl, are totally awesome.

I have no idea how a smile so huge fits so well on a body so small but, my goodness child, can you ever smile! You have a special little squeal, arm wave and smile that you reserve for me when I return to your sight after a brief absence, and I love it. Sometimes it’s fun to walk away just so that I can come back. You also have a special big smile just for Daddy, and you never hold back. Primo gets the coolest smiles of all – he gets the ones that happen when you’re mad at me for some unknown reason. (I probably tried to make you sleep – more on that later.) He makes silly noises and faces for you and you laugh our loud at his silliness. He adores you and you return the favour. I love watching the two of you together. We just bought you a booster seat that matches his so you can sit together at the table and it’s the highlight of your day to be right at his level. He helps you get cheerios into your mouth when you can’t quite get them in, and he entertains you with his goofy nature. You both love to hang out together, and I love the freedom to pee alone while you’re both strapped in. It’s a win-win situation.

You had your six month well-check today, a month late, and you were 17 lbs 7 oz (50%, same as your head circumference of 43 cm) and 27.5 inches long (75%). Perfect all around. But we didn’t have to see a doctor to figure that out.

In the five weeks or so that you’ve been bum scooting, you’ve progressed from rocking and sliding a little to often hopping around the room on your butt. It’s pretty darn funny, except when you’re too fast for me and you are eating dog food before I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten that far. You and your brother both inherited a taste for dog food from my infant self. Sorry about that. At this point I doubt that you’ll ever roll regularly and may not even crawl. You can jump around on your bum so fast that you may just go from that to walking. You detest being on your stomach and your back when it’s not sleep time because you can’t see everything so it’s sit or stand. Speaking of standing, a couple of weeks ago I plunked you beside the loveseat in a standing position and you held it with one hand and stood there for at least five minutes. You’re a powerhouse.

You’re loving the solid food thing and are ahead of the game in wanting to chew stuff. I have yet to find something you don’t like. You eat pears, avocado, peaches, nectarines, watermelon, cherries, apples, apricots, green beans, hummus (with garlic!), banana, prunes (to counteract the bananas’ bunging up effects), sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, cheerios, puffed kamut (just like puffed wheat, but I couldn’t find wheat in organic), mum-mum crackers and bits of Mommy’s homemade bread. Also dog food and anything that your brother shoves in your mouth. I call it “Second Child Syndrome.”

Your sleep has been changing over the past month, too, and not for the better. I can’t see a pattern yet so we’re just rolling with it. You refuse to nap in the morning unless you’re in your carseat and that nap is only 20-40 minutes, you fall asleep on your own for your afternoon nap in your crib but I have to nurse you back to sleep after 40 minutes to get you to sleep 1.5 hours and at night you sometimes go to bed in your crib just fine and come sleep with us after your first waking (you wake once or twice) and other times you act like I’m burning you alive if I so much as extend my arms with you in them and will only sleep while tucked nicely in my armpit. We’re going to work on making sure you get a good afternoon nap and no evening nap now, and try a bit more of a bedtime routine. At this point we’re just taking you downstairs after Primo goes to sleep and you hang out and have your bedtime snack while we watch tv and relax. Often you end up passing out on the couch or in Daddy’s arms so that’s probably part of the problem. It’s my only time with Daddy so I didn’t want to just stay upstairs but I may have to until we get bedtime sorted out. Eleven is not a good bedtime for a seven month old. Or for an exhausted mommy who needs some “me time” after everyone else is asleep. With that said, I do still love bringing you to bed with me. It’s pretty amazing to wake up to your big smile right beside me, and to not have to move a muscle to nurse you is cool too.

You’re still talking a lot and have added “Mamamama” to your regular repertoire. I think you’re making the connection that it might be my name because I get so excited when you say it. You said “Dadadada” for a long time before you hit the m’s regularly so it’s pretty exciting. You squeal & scream just for fun and you love to squawk and laugh at Thai & Mavi. You also love to pet them (ie. grab and pinch) but Thai is the only one who lets you get away with it. He’s a pain in the butt but he’s very patient with you and your brother. Last night you actually fell asleep on the couch downstairs draped over your nursing pillow with your head resting on Thai’s back. Daddy ran for the camera but you woke up and smiled at him as soon as he got the lenscap off. When you want to play, Mavi primarily runs away and prays for safety. He does like it when you squeak his ball in his face, and never tries to bite you to get it back which is really kind of him. Chloe loves to watch you from afar but when she’s sitting beside me and you reach for her she’s gone like a shot.

I love you to the ends of the earth, my baby girl. You’ve made life so much more fun for everyone who knows you.

Love, Mama
xoxo