eight months with alice

Posted on 11. Jan, 2011 by Princess Lasertron in alice, baby

Dear Alice,

This was a very social month for you. You started conversing, taking turns talking, and had your first word–”mama.” You say mama when you want me, but also when you’re hungry (which makes sense). We also say “mumumumumumum” when you eat, so that might contribute to you associating “mama” with food.

You also started clapping your hands a) when we clap our hands; b) when you are excited; c) when you would like us to stop being mean to you. We’ll be like, “Sit down in the tub Alice. ….Alice. ….ALICE! No.” and you’ll stick out your lower lip, furrow your brow…then smile and start clapping like “See? See? I’m actually good! Cheer for me and praise me!” You understand the word “no” and you hate hearing it.

You’re so TALL! We saw our new doctor this month (who is great) and he said that you were in the 50th percentile for weight, but off the chart for height. You were long when you were born. I don’t think that necessarily means you will be tall forever but with a 6’7” dad it’s possible, hmmm?

You’ve gotten your first boo-boo, a little burn on your finger from touching the outside of the stove (Who knew?) You cried when you got it, but you were easily comforted and I didn’t realize that you had hurt yourself. A few days later I noticed that you had a bleeding blister, and since then we’ve been carefully washing and loosely re-dressing the blister and putting a mitten over that hand after you fall asleep. It’s like getting a pet to leave a wound alone–I can’t stop you from pulling at the bandage or licking it.

You also know how to whip your hair back and forth. Just a little bit of 2010 pop culture for you.

This month you also had your first Christmas. You played with another baby for the first time–your cousin Waylon who just turned one. You got a lot of matching toys from your grandparents and we unwrapped a few for you two to play with together. Every time Waylon picked something up, you made a beeline over to him and snatched it out of his hand. A rubber lizard. Plastic balls. The errant ribbon or gift bag. You bossy, girl.

What else is wonderful about you?

…you’re crawling at top speed
…standing up unassisted…for a moment.
…you can wave hello and goodbye, and you know that when we put our coats on and grab our keys, it means we are leaving.
…more codependent than before. you want to be held or talked to at every second.
…you still don’t have any teeth or signs of teeth. we keep thinking you are starting to teethe when you get fussy or get red cheeks or drool, but those symptoms aren’t really consistent and only pop up like once a week. then for the rest of the week you are just happy and cheerful and normal. teeth, where are you!
…you have a new babysitter who you really like named Carrie. it’s awesome to see you getting used to people.
…speaking of getting used to people, you LOVE your grandparents. seeing my parents’ joy when you reach for them is one of the reasons I had children.
…you can push a cart, walking behind it.
…dad is in charge of feeding you meals every day and he is always cooking something yummy. you love spicy lentils, squash, applesauce and cinnamon, and tiny bits of anything we are eating. you will truly eat anything. you’ve also started using your pincer grip to pick up cheerios and cubes of tofu.
…you can take all of your puzzle toys apart carefully piece by piece, and then you get bored of them.
…when you are fussy, the best thing to do is go to a store where we can walk around, see people, touch new things, be in a new surrounding.
…you won’t sleep with your feet covered up–no socks, footed jammies, or blankets. generally you just will not wear socks.
…you’re very ticklish.

One of the most interesting developments this month is fear and stranger anxiety. You suddenly became afraid of all dogs, turning to me and clutching me tight, whimpering, and keeping one alert eye on any canines in the area at all times. This needs to stop because we are dog lovers. You aren’t afraid of any cats and will pat them gently. A game you invented this month is reaching for dad when I am holding you, then reaching for me after I pass you off to him, back and forth, over and over, giggling. I think it’s cute but it’s going to get old soon. You really have your own ideas about what is funny.

I kind of hoped that as you reached this stage of increased independence and curiosity, you would be more content to play by yourself. When you were littler, I could leave you alone in your room on a blanket with a little box of toys and music or a movie on as I did work, but now you fuss and object any time you are not being engaged. It’s exhausting. I’m finally exhausted and your dad is too. You are happy as long as I am carrying you around, showing you things, describing things, letting you feel things, chatting back and forth, giving you my undivided attention. But as soon as I sit down on the couch you know that my focus is off of you and you start whining. The whining is unbearable.

Grandma signed you up for Kindermusik class every Thursday afternoon, and I know she is as excited to spend that bonding time with you as I am to have a break. You got a drum for Christmas that you love to hit with your hands or with a stick, and some egg maracas that you shake or hit together. I can’t wait to hear about your reaction when you enter a classroom full of all KINDS of musical play!

Bedtime is a lot tougher than it used to be. I think you sleep less than I do every day–about 8-10 hours at night, and maybe one 1-hour nap during the day. I have tried everything to get you to sleep more, but you are showing me that you just don’t need it. I miss our afternoon naps together and getting you to relax and calm down at night is such a losing battle. What works best is massage and having a conversation. Then I nurse you to sleep and take you upstairs to (already asleep) dad after you nod off.

My favorite thing about you this month overall is your growing sense of humor. YOU THINK HATS AND SUNGLASSES ARE THE FUNNIEST THINGS EVER. Any time I put on sunglasses, your eyes roll back in your head and you fall over laughing and squealing. Or if someone puts a hat on. Or, if you’re lucky, both. The real icing on the cake is if you get to crawl over and pull our glasses and hat off. We have spent–I don’t know, maybe 45 minutes?–at one time just putting on hats and glasses and taking them off. Sometimes we do it in front of a mirror, then there are TWO mommies or daddies with glasses and hats on and it’s twice as funny. It never gets old.

Alice’s favorite things ♥ Babybug Magazine ♥ blue bath puff ♥ cheerios ♥ whining ♥ your instruments ♥ the eensy weensy spider ♥ rubbing fabric with your open hand ♥ getting your picture taken–I swear you are posing ♥ untying bows ♥ chewing on cords (unfortunately) ♥ mama’s hair ♥ chewing on dad’s hoodie ties ♥ baths ♥ laughing in a shopping cart as I sprint down the aisle with it at top speed ♥ sleeping on your tummy ♥ watching fire ♥ licking spoons after we cook ♥ silk chiffon ♥ watching picture slide shows♥

I love you, bee.
xo
mama

Tags: letters