Dear Maya,
My sweet baby girl, this month, you have really woken up. It is an incredible transformation. Your personality is beginning to show and you are such a lovable little cuddlebug but also a feisty little lady.
You get furious when daddy or I take your bottle away to burp you. You get lonely when you wake up and nobody is around. You’ve started to stick your tongue out and smile. You are beginning to discover your voice, you coo and grunt. Sometimes you sound like a karate ninja with your sharp “ay ya” and sometimes when you are staring at the changing lights on one of your toys, you squeal with a delightful “haiiiiiii”!
Most mornings, I unwrap your warm little swaddle and hold you to my chest. As I lift you up, you arch your back, pull your clenched fists to your chest and mush your face into the sweetest little wake up stretch faces. You move your head back and forth and squeak and stare at my face to say “hello!”. But every now and then you greet the day by screaming your head off like I am the worst mommy on the planet and someone needs to please please come rescue you from this terrible crib prison and would you JUST FEED ME ALREADY. Then you gulp down your breakfast and you turn back into the Maya I love. No matter what mood you wake up in, I truly love our mornings together. I love cuddling with you in bed, watching tv and singing songs. I love it when you smile and even more when you smile at me!
Your have started to notice things around you like the changing lights above your rainforest play mat and you love staring at your brightly colored butterfly puppet. You hear birds chirping on our walks. The other day you followed Daddy with your eyes as he walked across you on the couch and held onto the rattle we placed into your (left!) hand. Your smiles and reactions to my kisses and tickles and songs make my whole day!
You aren’t into the pacifier or sucking your thumb, you prefer to stick your whole hand in your mouth. Quite the talent.
You are a wonderful sleeper and I am thankful for that. You usually sleep from 8-2 and then 2:30-6. Sometimes I can even get you back down for another stretch until 7:30 or 8. There are some nights it’s so much fun reading a book with Daddy you don’t want to go to bed. He rocks you in the chair and sings to you and soothes you in your dimly lit room until your little eyelids get heavy. He is so sweet and patient with you, his darling baby girl. I am regularly touched at what an adoring daddy he is.
Speaking of time with daddy, tummy time with him is paying off because you can lift your head and chest up while lying on his stomach. Your head wobbly but you can also sit propped up for a few seconds, you are such a strong girl!
Your neck strength isn’t the only thing developing. You can hold eye contact and I get lost in those sweet eyes. Sometimes you flail and swipe your arms aimlessly around- what are you trying to grab onto? You look like you are directing planes on a tarmac or an orchestra.
You have your difficult moments; like your mommy you are in a great mood in the morning but as the afternoons wear on you get a little cranky. Although I sometimes wish you came with a neato decoder ring, I try to remind myself that your fussy times are much fewer than the playful ones and it won’t be long again until you are nuzzling sweetly in my arms.
Its funny what everyday household sounds get a reaction from you. Especially running water- whether in the sink or the shower, it really seems to calm you down. You get upset when you think you are alone; often times just hearing me say “I love you sweet girl” from across the room will get you to relax.
My days now are not measured by meetings or the congressional calendar, you, my sweet girl are the boss. Our daily activities are based more on your moods and bodily functions than any semblance of a schedule. It is exhausting and dirty and never ever predictable- but I absolutely love it.
I am smitten with you, my little one. I’m addicted. Your smiles make my heart race. I cant get enough of your delicious little rolls of fat in your legs. And those feet? They were just made for kissing. My little monkey, my stinkbug, my sweet baby girl. How did I live without you for so long? I love you so very much.
Love, Mommy
