Hi my gorgeous daughter, it's been way too long since I blogged. A lot has happened in the last month...
You had your first 4th of July! We had two cookouts at Grandma's house, one on the 3rd with Kevin, Maryann, Ivy and Ian, and one on the 4th with Mimi, Grandaddy, Auntie Beth and Uncle JJ. You and Ian played in the pool for a little while and had a lot of fun - although you don't really know what to make of each other yet. Daddy and Uncle J set off fireworks in the driveway, but you fell asleep in my arms! It was past your bedtime and you had had an exciting day. You know I never mind when you fall asleep in my arms - I never will.
The next day I had to have surgery to have my gallbladder removed. I didn't have to stay in the hospital (thank goodness! I told Dr. Sarantos that I was not about to spend a night away from you!) and was home by lunchtime. I was pretty sore, but the worst part was that I wasn't allowed to pick you up for 10 days! As you can guess, I cheated. Haha! You are just too irresistible. I didn't cheat too much though because you are getting to be such a big girl!
You turned 8 months old this month. I can't believe how big you are getting and how fast time is flying by. You are rolling around everywhere, sitting up so good by yourself, pulling to your knees in the crib (and once to your feet!). You can wave bye-bye, and sometimes when we ask "where's mommy/daddy?" you know who to look at! You love to laugh and smile, and get very bashful with strangers, especially boys. You are eating a lot of different baby foods now - your favorites are pears, apple cinnamon oatmeal, and green beans. We tried giving you the little puffs, but you spit it out and gag. Guess you aren't ready for textured food yet, but we are going to keep trying! You and I have a little game we play - when you are chewing on something (a toy, pacifier, whatever) I'll say "can I have some?" and open my mouth, and you'll smile and hold it out for me to "eat". Then I'll "eat" it and you'll take it back really fast and smile when I tell you thank you! You are already a generous girl! :)
Oh yeah, and you LOVE to swing!!! You laughed and laughed...best sound ever!
I was on YouTube tonight looking for a video to put on Facebook, and I started looking up all these old songs from when I was in high school and college. Definitely sent me down memory lane. Some of the memories are sadder than others, but now, almost 20 years later, the music is just comforting and makes me nostalgic. It's like, I remember the sad times when I hear certain songs, but I don't actually feel sad. Mostly, however, the memories are good and happy ones! High school with daddy, my friends Shannon, Patience, and Kristen, then later on, college at Santa Fe with pretty much the same people. :) And then there's the time I lived up in Buffalo - some bittersweet memories there, but experiences that shaped me into the person I am. Music has surrounded me, guided me, comforted me, driven me, inspired me throughout my life. If you love music the way daddy and I do, then each chapter of your life will have certain specific soundtracks, and when you hear those songs again years later, you can relive your memories in a very emotional and encompassing way. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I have a feeling you will understand. :)
I love you so much, my daughter, and I don't even really know who you are going to be yet. Somehow, though, I just know that we're going to have an amazing bond and be "kindred spirits" (to quote Anne of Green Gables).
I already know that you have a sweet and giving spirit, that you know what love is, and that you have the spark of curiosity. I see so much joy and potential in you, so much life!
Sorry if this was a ramble-y post; I need to post more regularly because I know there is a bunch of stuff I've been meaning to write about but just can't think of right now... Oh well, what I can tell you is that with every passing second of every minute of every hour of every day, you win my heart over again and again.
xoxo,
Mommy
P.S. Here's what I've been singing to you lately...
"For you there'll be no crying
For you the sun will be shining
Cause I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right.
And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before.
To you, I would give the world
To you, I'd never be cold
Cause I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right.
And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before,
Like never before; like never before."
- by Fleetwood Mac, covered by Eva Cassidy (my favorite version)
