Dear Morris,
Brace yourself, this is a long one. It was a big month. My favorite yet. I'll probably say that next month, too. You are a happy, little person, constantly laughing, smiling and growing way too fast. You’ve doubled your birth weight and just a few days before your fifth month, the rough ridges of your first two front teeth popped up! You've started trying solid foods (though it's far more of a fun sensory experience than an interest in food) and you're rolling over like crazy, twisting and turning your body into all sorts of funny positions. Your grip has strengthened so you can finally reach and grab the things you want while you're on your tummy, moving and passing them between your hands and into your mouth to chew on. You're even strong enough to sit on your own for a few seconds!
When you look at us, you really look at us. You’re always watching us with big, curious eyes and a cheeky grin. Now you even see and smile at us from across the room. Behind those eyes are thoughts we can see processing and we're dying to know all about them. You also want to touch everything. When we're in the shower you love the water running through your fingers and you are very excited you can finally reach your toes. This month you also smeared your hands in paint, dunked them in the sand and salt water, helped mama bake with flour, and so much more! You also got your hands on your very own Dutch passport. You're ready for the world (more specifically Portland, Oregon) whenever it's ready for you!
You are a little chatter box (some say like your mom), chatting away as you take in everything about this big world. Blowing raspberries is one of your favorite things to do these days and you make the funniest face as you it. Drool and spit are everywhere! And your laugh. Oh my, your laugh. It's so frequent now; the very best part of our days. When you laugh, you really laugh hard. You love playing peek-a-boo, when we make silly sounds, and when we kiss you on the neck (especially with the tickle of papa's beard). You also giggle every time I try to change your shirt or when you see mama and papa laughing. You don't want to miss out on the fun so you laugh along. So cute. More than playing with toys, you could lay around playing with mama and papa, all day and we love that about you. My favorite is when you imitate my cheek kisses and give me sloppy, wet open mouth kisses right on my cheek.
Lastly, you've developed the most adorable habit of cuddling, turning on to your side and holding us close to fall asleep or just to be cozy. I'll admit, I hear this is what the sleep experts call a "negative sleep association" and... well, don't care. I totally fall for it every time you wake up and reach for me, no matter the hour. Whatever bad sleep habits it may be creating, I'll deal with them a thousand times over for these moments. The good news is you're a pretty good sleeper thus far, even when on vacation for a week. You just prefer to power nap during the day and manage to always make your way into mama and papa's bed at some point at night.
Before having a baby there were so many things I didn’t understand but thought I did because I worked with kids. I swore I wouldn’t be a mom who struggled with school drop offs or the first days of daycare. I didn’t see myself wanting to be home with the baby for long seeing as how I loved my job so much. Here I am almost six months later and I can't imagine going back to work this week and not getting to see all of these milestones and moments unfold, every day. Luckily, I'll have plenty of time to stare at the outrageous number of photos I've taken of you during those three working days a week, while I attempt to hide from my curious kindergarteners, pumping and mourning those cozy breastfeeding moments with you.
I'm not crying. There's just something in my eye.
Love, Mama