House of Estrogen

Letter to Addison, One Year

Dear Addison,

Today you turned one. Although you maintained the activity level of a meatloaf for 11 months, you are definitely moving now. Your funny, awkward, endearing bum scootch is getting faster, and in just the past week, you've started to crawl short distances. You are even pulling up to standing and beginning to cruise. The inquisitive toddler in you is beginning to emerge as you explore the house with your new found mobility. Last night as I was running your bath, you threw both your shoes in the toilet. Awesome. Thanks.  Last week, I caught you just as you were inserting a small metal object into an electrical outlet (Yes, all outlets were babyproofed immediately following that incident). The most astonishing thing about that was the identification of the small metal object. You had somehow managed to unscrew the screw that holds the outlet cover to the wall and that's what you were using to try to fry yourself! I think you may be following in Nina's footsteps as a little junior engineer.

 

Your daycare teacher described you well one day recently. After watching Nina pick you up (all 28 pounds of you) and drag you awkwardly around the room, she said, "Addison, it is a good thing you're a big baby. I'd be worried about you if you were a little delicate thing." I think that is true for you both physically and emotionally. You are not a "little delicate thing" by any stretch of the imagination. You are a tough cookie both inside and out. You are not easily frazzled and usually roll with whatever the day holds for you. I think you got your father's disposition. You are pretty self sufficient when it comes to eating or taking a bottle. I think that comes with the territory of being a third child though. If you had to wait for mom or dad any time you were hungry, you might just starve.

 

 

Tonight we had a small birthday dinner for you at Carrabba's. Your dad and I decided that you will have many years to torture us with birthday dinners at McDonald's and Chuck E. Cheese, so since we got to choose this year, we chose one of our favorites. We ordered you a small serving of whipped cream for dessert, and I don't think you liked it nearly as much as your party hat.

 

   

This first year has gone by lightning fast, and I can hardly believe it is over. Although a big part of me doesn't want it to come to an end, I also know I'm blessed to have had a healthy baby who is growing up and developing as she should. You add a touch of sweetness to a house often filled with drama and chaos. Of course, you will add your own level of chaos in the coming year as you get more and more mobile and start exploring your world. Age twelve to twenty-four months is always a wild ride, but I know it will be fun. I can't wait to see your interpretation of what it means to be a toddler.

Happy First Birthday, Addie! I Love You!

Love, Mamma

Letter to Addison, 6 months

One of my favorite bloggers, Dooce, writes a letter to her daughter Leta every month. I always enjoy reading them, and I know some day Leta will treasure them. I love the idea, but trying to write three letters every month would just be setting myself up for failure. I've decided to try for twice a year instead. Here is my first.

Dear Addison,

 

You turn 6 months today. It is hard for me to believe half of your first year is already behind us. It has flown by way too fast.  You are such a love and delight. I'm relishing in every moment of this too short baby time, absorbing it all, and trying to keep every moment in memory... the snuggles, the coos and gurgles, your sweet little toes, the smiles and belly laughs, the squeezable rolls on your belly and legs, your burps that would make a frat boy proud, that soft fuzzy head, the little open mouth kisses you give, the sheer delight you find in splashing in the bathtub, and even the crying and screaming. It all goes by too fast, and soon you'll be chasing after your big sisters, rolling your eyes at us, and singing High School Musical songs at the top of your lungs along with the two of them. For now, you seem to have almost endless patience with your sisters. It amazes me. Occassionally your big blue eyes glance at me with a look that says, "Mom, what is this crazy sister person doing? Why is she in my face singing like that?", but for the most part, you just watch their antics and sit quietly while they climb on top of you or shake toys an inch away from your face. One of these days, I'm sure you'll figure out that hair pulling is your best defense, but you haven't quite mastered that one yet.

 

 

You've rolled over once, but despite the great fanfare we gave your big accomplishment, you have yet to do it again. I'm sure you'll be glad when you can roll on your own though. Right now, Nina likes to roll you, and that's just a broken arm or dislocated shoulder waiting to happen. Let's just say she isn't as gentle as she could be.  You're sporting one tooth now with another soon to follow, and you're eating solid foods which I can't shovel in fast enough. Oatmeal and peas must be a delicious combination. You have started attending daycare two days per week. I can't say that you're thrilled to be there, but you seem to like it just fine, and it gives me a chance to recharge my mommy batteries by writing code a couple days per week.

 

Our adjustment to being a family of five has gone pretty smoothly... not without mishaps, of course (like when I left my car running outside a restaurant while we ate dinner, or when your Dad left you in the car), but overall, I think we've handled it fairly well. You get all the credit for that though. You have rolled with the punches. You get dragged to school functions, swim lessons, birthday parties, the bus stop, and you just take it all in stride. You have a sweet, laid-back disposition. I can't wait to see more of your personality as it continues to emerge.

 

 

Happy 6 month birthday, Addie! I love you!

 

Love,

Mamma