Thursday, July 6, 2006

Monthly Newsletter, Month Ten

Dear Nate,

10 months. I can hardly believe it. This past month has flown by.

You and I had our first weekend apart last month. I went to the beach with Amy, and you stayed home with Daddy. It sounds like you two had a wonderful time - lots of playing, snacking, and chewing on things. I thought I would miss you two very much, but frankly I was too unconcious to think about you at all. You are my favorite boy, but the sleeping was almost as good.

We had a wonderful trip to Bermuda with Daddy's family. You got to spend time with your Peepa, Aunts, Uncles, and 12 cousins. I don't think your feet hit the floor for 3 days. Your Aunts told me that you're the best baby they know - better even than their own kids. Even your cousins kept asking "Does he ever cry?!?!" You almost never do.



In the last few days, you've started mimicing us. When I hold my hands up in the air, you do the same thing. Cousin Staige was making raspberries at you, and you made one right back at her. And yesterday you started waving when I waved at you. You're a very smart baby, boy. We're working on a secret trick to impress Grandpa, but I won't share the details of it until you've got it down. You are happiest when you're on the ground exploring - you can easily spend 45 minutes in the basement, crawling to different toys, shaking them, chewing on them, climbing over them. Sometimes I get a Mommy-pang and think I should be interacting with you, so I grab you and start singing to you. You spend the whole time trying to get down so you can play and explore.



You are independent and brave, but you also like to know that Daddy or I am around. While you're playing off by yourself, you often turn to check that we're still around and flash us one of your big smiles. When you do something new, like pulling up or standing, you grin at us proudly. It's a wonderful middle ground - you like to be with us, and you also are fine being on your own.

You like meat, especially when it's covered with barbeque sauce.



You finally like swimming! We went to Peepa's farm for the Fourth of July, and I took you swimming when we were there all alone before the bikers arrived. You grinned and splashed and laughed. Phew. I was beginning to think you were never going to like the water!



You have gotten fairly adament about things, and make your wishes known. When you're done with your bottle, you forcefully push it away. When I put your hat on to go for a walk, you grab it instantly and pull it off of your head (the funniest part about this is that your little arm sometimes doesn't reach high enough, so you're trying to pull it off sideways and your head is all tilted to the side. It's very funny.)



We were playing in the basement yesterday and you pulled yourself up on the side of the laundry basket. While you were standing there, your pacifier fell into the basket. You didn't cry, or scream, or look to me to get it out; you spent about 20 minutes shoving and moving the laundry basket, trying to figure out how to get your pacifier back. You have such independence, determination, and strength. I really admire you.



You love:

Your pacifier (this is a new thing!)
Running your hand along the wall while I'm walking up the stairs holding you
The electric toothbrush. You really love it.
Food. Anything and everything, especially with barbeque sauce

You hate:

Hats on your head
Being on the changing table, being changed, being dressed
Being in the carseat



You have a constant open-mouthed smile on your face. You are happy and curious and excited about everything. We adore you, Natey.

Love,
Mama

No comments: