7 Months

Dear Kellen,

Seven months. Seven months? Seven?! How the hell did that happen?!

You have grown so much in these past seven months (seven?!), and it seems to me that all of those new skills are converging to make you a superbaby, one that can roll around an entire room and is beginning to communicate.

Your babbling has skyrocketed to a whole new level. Once you got those teeth - OHMYGOD THIS MONTH YOU GOT TEETH, THOSE TEETH, THOSE LITTLE PEARLS OF PAIN IN YOUR MOUTH THAT MAKE YOU SQUIRMY AND SAD- you started making  "thhh" and "fffff" noises. I keep trying to coax you into turning a "thhhh" into "Thhhank you mama, for putting up with me while I fussed and whined and cried through getting THOSE LITTLE PEARLS OF PAIN!" We're working still on it.

The "thhh" and "ffff" are accompanied by "mamama" (guess who jumps up and down enthusiastically every time you make that noise?) and "dadadadaaaa" and "babbaba" and a million other sounds that mark the beginning of you learning to speak. I know it will be awhile until you fully realize that these sounds have meanings, that making certain sounds will get you things besides just attention. But sometimes I listen to you babble and I can just imagine what it will be like to have an actual conversation with you. What is going on in that giant head of yours? I can't wait to find out.

By the way, I know it's not your fault that you have to get teeth. And unfortunately, once the whole set rips its way into your mouth, you get to lose them all in a few years and have a new set rip its way through your gums! Yay! Don't worry, that's the only part of growing up that isn't super fun. Ha.

You are attempting to crawl. It is obvious that you know what you want to do ("MUST. GET. SQUISHY TURTLE."), but you have absolutely no idea how to do it yet. OK, that's not totally true. You can get on your elbows and knees, but only if your face is smashed into the floor. I find it hilarious, you find it immensely frustrating. I can't say I blame you. Don't worry Kelly, you will figure it out soon. I just know that one day soon you will lift that big dome off the ground and crawl to your precious squishy turtle, I will squeal with delight and pride, and then I will think to myself "Oh  $&*#."

Below is a short video of a couple of hikes we did while in Eastern Washington and Oregon. We went to watch your uncle David graduate from college and then to visit your uncle Drew in Portland, and while we planned to camp a few nights the weather did not cooperate. Instead we decided to take you out to nature for some day hikes. Little man, you loooove nature. Sitting high on your dad's back in the carrier, you have a grand view of the wonderful sights nature has to offer. Every so often I would sneak a look at you, sometimes finding you smiling or giggling while reaching your hand out to touch a stray branch. Other times you were just looking, eyes wide with wonder. Whenever you caught me peeking at you, your face would break into a huge grin that told me you were happy, and then you would return to smiling at the trees. A friend recently remarked that taking a child on a day hike can be as epic as a 10 day backpack, and I couldn't agree more. I have found myself paying more attention to the world because of the special consideration that you give each and every detail. This is a truly special gift you have given me.

Your first six months came and went in a whirlwind. A blob to a tiny smile to a bat at a toy to a coo to a roll...and now to the beginnings of a little boy. Your father and I look at you now and we can see tiny glimpses of the little kid that you are going to become. You are our little miracle and we love you so much. So so much.

Love,
Mama