Nine

My Dear Boy,

What a thrill and pleasure you are!

At 9 months old we are having so much fun with you, laughing, squeezing, chasing you around. Your spirit is luminous. Your unbridled joy is undeniable.

I feel so grateful every day to be your mama. And so I say thank you, THANK YOU for choosing me.

The past month has been all about bringing some much needed balance back into our lives, as we began sleep learning! I put this off for so long for several reasons. First, I love cuddling and snuggling your warm little body. You like to tuck your chunky legs up into my belly, and then you knead your little toes and feet on me. I never get tired of watching your puffy, relaxed sleep "face." The second reason we were hesitant to start the sleep learning was that I didn't have the heart to let you cry. Everybody says, "you gotta let them cry it out." But I just couldn't leave you alone to cry.

So we consulted the amazing Sasha Hawkes, a sensitive and skilled attachment parenting sleep expert. She gave us a personalized sleep plan and we put it to use right away as I was reaching Zombie Mommy status. Your Dad was the main executer of sleep learning, and after a couple of nights, you showed us that you were starting to understand how to go to sleep on your own in your crib. The first night I went to get ice cream while you and Daddy did "night night bedtime." The second night your Auntie Margaret met me for a lovely ladies tea during your bedtime prep. Now, several weeks in, you go to sleep without tears, on your own! It's truly amazing to see how you went from needing to nurse to sleep to putting yourself to sleep. We are so proud of you. And so grateful to have some quality sleep. I feel like I can be a more pleasant, better mama and wife.

Your Dad and I have been married for 1 year as of Monday. It's hard to believe because it feels like eons ago that we exchanged vows--mostly because your presence has changed everything, and we have entered a "new life time warp" in which your new life has obliterated our sense of time both daily and past. We always say that it's hard to remember life before you, but we do remember and cherish our wedding weekend. It's pretty cool that (at 6.5 months in the oven )you were there to celebrate our union along with family and friends, and I can still remember your Dad and I rubbing my belly as we took photos in the Palm Springs desert. We had no idea how much joy you would bring to our lives.

So I cooked you for about 9 months, and now you've been earthbound for about 9 months. Our lives are so different, yet we wouldn't change a thing. What's really amazing is that I can barely remember what you looked like at 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 14 weeks...but I can remember exactly how I felt at each stage. I felt a simultaneous joy and peace that I had never felt before in my life. I felt an endless well of gratitude brimming my heart over. I felt overwhelmed and I remember panicking when your Titi C was going to leave--she was our last baby visitor-helper and I thought, "Wow! This is real, no more help, just me being a mama--AHHH!!!" I sometimes felt insecure when "explaining" my parenting choices to people who had no idea what attachment parenting was or who questioned our "granola/hippie" ways. But I knew in my heart that even though I had never been a mama before I was going to try to do and give my best for you.

Love to you little one,
Your Ma

Here's what's been going on:

House Guest
Grandma Deb came out to visit for a whole week! You two had such a blast--playing at the park, singing, motor-boating and more. She helped you learn how to stand unassisted. And she helped me to have some moments for myself.

Don't Bother Me I'm Eating
You FINALLY embraced the puree. I'm proud of both of us for sticking it out, because it was not easy! You prefer to feed yourself. And you prefer hard regular, non-pureed food. And you would gag on the rare occasion that I actually penetrated the jail cell doors your mouth became when you saw [dunh dunh dunh]... Baby Food.

Fall Fun
We went apple picking and hung in the pumpkin patch, and at your age, it's mostly for us to get cute pics of you in an apple orchard or pumpkin patch. You barely tolerated the altitude. But. You loved the Rome Delicious apples we got! So you've been gettin down on those bad boys at breakfast and dinner time. Good job, Phee :)

Haute Couture
You've been wearing clothes! Yes, this is exciting because you normally don a diaper. Only. You run hot, my  sugar boog, and so we try to keep you comfortable. But now that you are a crawling maching, and the weather is (sort-of) cooling off we find that some leggings or jeggings are appropriate. As much as I want to buy every cute little daily deal site's organic, stylish "discounted" offerings, I can't justify it as you fit into things for like, maybe.... a month. So how cool is that a kids re-sale store in the hood hooked your mama up with 5 or 6 pair of pants and a few shirts for $24?! So cool. This is the way to go! And I can sell it back when we are done. Just feels better on the wallet and the wastefulness.

Your People
You finally met your Uncle J. You've gotten to hang with Grammy T, the Townes of Claremont, West Hollywood and DC, both of your uncles, the lovely BabyLadies Naomi and Isla, and the usual suspects, Bandit and Theo. You surprised Auntie Lauren with a fun birthday photo shoot. And gave her some sweet, sweet kisses. You hung out with Delmy while your parents had a date afternoon. She enjoyed reading to you!

Home Improvement
I am so proud to report that we will be moving into our new house in about 4 weeks!!! Yay!! Can't wait to chase you around the family room and make lots of memories there with you and your papa.

Snaggletooth
One of your top front teeth has popped through! The second one is so close to coming through so I may not get my snaggletooth munchkin for long. We've had a couple tough nights with teething, but mostly you've been so pleasant and I think we have the amber necklaces, slung on both ankles, to credit your comfort.

Walk This Way
Dude. You took your first steps. Just a few, I'm told, as I was napping while you walked for the first time. Daddy and Grandma witnessed you go from standing solo to plopping those big feet one in front of the other! So exciting, yet scary. I mean, you progress so quickly sometimes I feel like I need to catch up with you. Since then you are happy to stand on your own, if you don't know it ;) You will hold onto a toy with both hands while you're standing, then realize that YOU ARE STANDING and plop right to the ground, surprised at your own skills. Other than that you just scale the furniture and walls, walking around the living room, banging your toys and babbling away, "ba ba ba ba" and squealing! And of course you love to motorboat.

Stranger Danger
It seemed right around then end of 8 months you were beginning to have stranger awareness. You do stare at people more, and really take them in, studying their faces. But you will still let people hold you and you're a social and sweet little guy, flashing that BIG grin once warmed up.

Besos-Bisous-Baci
You have been giving kisses! It's the cutest, sweetest thing. You gave Lauren 2 kisses for her birthday. They're an open-mouthed, no tongue affair, and your Dad says you've perfected the on-screen kiss.

Away From You
I spent my second night away from you. Mommy and Daddy got some much needed quality time, and we missed the snot out of you while we were up in Ojai celebrating our one year anniversary.