mia | ten months

Dear Mia,

It seems like I was just sitting here writing to you, but no, an entire month has passed. And what a month it has been.

You were sick for a while, and teething for even longer. Those two stubborn bottom teeth are set to pop through any day now. You have been standing on your own lately and you love to have everyone watch and applaud your accomplishment. And just yesterday, you took two steps on your own, though I'm not sure if you knew what you were doing. You were pretty focused on Bert and Ernie in your hands.

You have the longest eyelashes and you know how I love your eyes. I love how you smile with your whole face - cheeks, eyes, nose - they all scrunch up and anyone watching can't help but smile back.  You can clap and wave, you love to rub your blanket on your face, and you love to play peek-a-boo with your blanket over your head.

You are obsessed with following your big sister everywhere and manage to knock down her towers and mess up her toys on an hourly, sometimes continuous, basis. You will likely find it much easier to keep up with her once you master this walking thing. In the meantime, I love to hear your little hands slap the floor as you crawl as fast as you can after her.

You had a terrible tummy ache yesterday afternoon and the night before. I can't figure out what is causing them and haven't been very successful in fixing them. I try my best to comfort you, singing and walking and rocking and patting, but they seem to take an hour or so to pass no matter what I do. After that, you are as good as new. I hope it is a phase that you will grow out of, and soon.

You have shown quite a temper lately. If something isn't going your way or your sister takes a toy, you are very clear about your anger - arching back, screaming, throwing your body to the floor. Fortunately, this does not happen often and you are quick to regain your composure. And, really, most of the time, you are a very content, happy girl. A good traveler, a good shopper (as long as I remember the Cheerios), and an all around easy going baby.  And you are an eater. We cannot forget that. To date, the only thing you haven't liked is watermelon, but it wasn't a very good watermelon to begin with, so I don't blame you.

I read something the other day that I've been thinking about a lot lately. It was an essay by a mother talking about how she loves her children, not because they are beautiful or smart, but because they are hers. It has stuck in my mind a few weeks now. I do believe that you are beautiful and smart and active and healthy and basically (almost) perfect. But even if you weren't all those things, I would love you just the same. I love you most because you landed here in our lives, and you are ours, a little piece of your daddy and me, and that's more than enough reason to love you.

With so much love for you,
Your mommom

PS: I even love the back of your head.  I have about a hundred pictures of the back of your head just to prove it.