Dear Alena,
Many times when I look at you, I’m still amazed that I have a daughter. You are so beautiful and full of life. You continue to be a terrific baby. You eat well (it’s as if we never feed you!), you sleep well (which is such a gift to us, your parents) and you charm friend and stranger alike with your round, rosy cheeks and bright, observant eyes.
Ways you have developed this month include:
- Drool city! We have had to buy two sets of new bibs to keep up with your saliva generation. You slobber over everything.
- You love sucking on your fingers; particularly your index finger, sometimes your thumb.
- You have discovered your high voice. One of your favourite pastimes now is squealing and shrieking – almost as if you’re trying to sing.
- You’re starting to engage more with toys – mostly by looking at and/or eating them. This past week, you took interest in your rubber ducky as well as one of your books, grabbing at them and promptly tasting them.
- You really enjoy your exersaucer. Bouncing around in it often makes you squeal with glee. We’re glad you’re so entertained there because it gives us a safe place to put you when we have to do stuff.
- Your hair has gotten longer and frizzes right up to curly cuteness when we bathe you.
- You’ve had many play dates! You had your first play date with a girl (so many of your friends are boys!). And your first play date with multiple babies.
- Mommy drove you in the car by herself for the first time. You were a champ. You didn’t cry the whole ride there or back. (Maybe because Mommy stuck the pacifier in your mouth?)
- You and mommy took a bus together for the first time. You took that ok too.
- You laugh! And it is such a delight when you do. We’re not sure what makes you laugh just yet but that doesn’t stop us from being our silliest just to try to make you laugh. Sometimes, you’ll laugh when Mommy dances with you. Or when Daddy makes faces in the mirror.
- You’re wearing 6-12 month clothing. You are tall.
- You can sit for longer in your high chair. We think this is partly because you can see farther now. You’ll smile at me when I’m across from you at the table!
- Yesterday, you rolled from your back to your tummy! You looked a little surprised to find yourself lying face down.
Other highlights from this month include attending your friend, Isaac’s, baby dedication (where you chose the quietest moment when Mommy was speaking to poop very loudly), and meeting all the babies from our prenatal class. We wonder if you might be introverted like your Mommy. We’ve noticed that when you’re among a lot of people, you will quietly take it all in. But when it’s just us, or you’re alone in your crib, you can get wildly talkative and hyper. You’re also beginning to get startled by loud noises (like Daddy’s sneezing). Sometimes, you’ll cry because something has scared you.
In general, you continue to be a content and happy baby. We love having you in our family!
With all my love,
Your Mommy
