the catch up letter

Dear Bella,

So I skipped a month. I skipped a month because, wow, things have been busy, and you've been a trooper. I have asked so much of you over the past month, and you've been right with me, hanging in there, taking it like a champ. Last month I was supposed to attend our friend MJ's birth. Help her out and take photos. She finally had her boy 15 days after he was due, and you spent the weekend with Daddy. The whole weekend. It kind of messed up our night weaning, and you certainly showed me how much you missed me when I got back, but your willingness to try a weekend without me, and Daddy's big help let MJ's baby come into the world in a peaceful, healthy way. I can't thank you enough.

And then what did we do the day after Thomas was born? We flew across the country. Guess it was a good thing you got so much Daddy time. We flew, then drove, then drove some more, then a bit more, and holy cow, just a bit more for the fun of it, and then we flew back home. You're used to visiting people. In fact, if we don't go out every day so you can flirt with someone else, you get quite grumpy.

I would never have put you through a trip like this if I didn't think you'd enjoy meeting with 20 or 30 new people every day. Twenty people who know you, but who(m) you have never met. People who say hi and want to hold you and already love you, and you will never know how much you brighten their lives. You do. And you beam and let them love you and soak it up and learn to wave bye-bye which you've never done before, and then let me throw you back in the car. Some cheerios, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, a few songs playing on our roadtrip soundtrack, and we're off. You are amazing, child.

And while we were in Massachusetts getting you baptized, you got that last bottom tooth. Then I took you home and it was over 100 degrees all week, and you decided this would be a great time to get your molars. We've been home for two weeks and you now have all four molars. Just in time for another heat wave to hit. Please keep the rest of your teeth underground a little longer, thanks.

I feel bad writing this, like I probably forgot something. You're growing so fast and two months is everything and a blink. You're in love with your stuffed animals and you're realizing with squeals that everyone has toes. You point to your butt when you need to poo, you use the sign "more" to say you're hungry, then snub your nose at food, say nyo... and turn on your heel and go. Because you can. There's so much you can do. You have so many wonderful quirks right now. And I can't think of any to tell you about. I'll write them down as they come. That'll be for another day, I'll make up for missing a month, I promise.

Love, mama