7 months!

Rolling around, showing off your teeth on Mother's Day

My darling Cillian,

You are now closer to a year old than you are to a newborn.  It shocks me that you have been here for so long, but then I also can't remember what it was like before you burst on to the scene.

You are still the happiest baby in the world, and even when you wake up a little sad from a nap, your mood changes to pure joy within seconds.  You're so close to crawling, but are still managing to be very, very mobile using every other way possible.  You're not quite sitting unassisted, but I blame all the allergies that affected your tummy, which made it painful to be placed into a sitting position.

Your likes: Jakob the cat has become your favourite thing to watch.  Your face lights up with pure glee whenever he catches your eye, and your whole body does happy convulsions.  You still love Sophie the giraffe, but now usually break her neck to get a squeak out of her, not the gentle ear licks you gave her in the past.  You love going to the park to play on the swings, and it's a perfect day for you if there are other kids to stare at while you swing.  You are a good little eater these days, mashed potatoes being your favourite thing to eat.  This proves you're my kid.  Avocados come a close second, with sweet potatoes coming in third.  You have two bottom teeth, with no others on the horizon.  My favourite new trick that you do is giving mommy kisses, usually wet, and usually right on the lips.

Hanging out, people watching, with Grandad in Yonge/Dundas Square

Your dislikes: Being confined in any form other than being in a stroller moving.  The drama you produce when you are being locked into something you don't want to be locked into is quite hilarious, but luckily you are also easily distracted with shiny new objects.  You are starting to become a mommy's boy, and lately meltdown when not given the option to be in mommy's arms.  Luckily you are such a sweet little friend to have around, that I don't mind being the centre of your attention.

What a wonderful little boy you are becoming!

xoxox
Mummy

Happy Mother's Day to my mom

Happy Mother's Day Mommy!

I was not the first baby to call you Mommy, but I was the last, and therefore it must have been sweeter, and harder, for you to watch all my firsts. Watching me roll for the first time, say your name for the first time, and take those first few steps of freedom, knowing I would be your last child to watch those firsts.

I say this because I now know how special, how intimate, those firsts are for a mom. I understand now what it feels like to not want to put my baby down while he naps, just like you always told me that you never wanted to put me down. I can't imagine how it will feel to have Cillian crawl away from me for the first time, and I now understand how hard it must have been to see me crawl out of the room, my blankie trailing between my legs, as I discovered the adventures of another room, a room away from my mommy.

I'm sorry I was a little jerk sometimes. I'll blame my hormones, but really I can blame you and daddy, because you raised me to give my opinion, stand up for myself, and for that I am forever grateful. I hope you are proud of my integrity, even if it means having to deal with someone who doesn't back down.

Thank you for forgiving me for doing stupid things, but also thank you for teaching me the hard way that sometimes it's hard to forgive people, but we have to forgive and forget. You have never thrown one of my mistakes back in my face, which must be very hard not to do. This builds trust, and you and daddy have taught me that trust is something you earn, something that you respect, and something that you should never take advantage of. Thank you for teaching me this.

As I look down at my little boy, I can't believe you loved me as much as I love him, but I know you did. And that makes me feel like an even bigger jerk. So sorry for all the crap I said or did. ALL of it. If I could take it all back I would, but then how would I have learned all those lessons....

I hope this Mother's Day will be extra special, since it's the first one we will get to share.

Xoxoxox
Your baby girl,
Emily