The wonder fades into normalcy, but every so often it reappears. When I see you interact with the world or when you reach over and touch my hand and look at me and smile, I’m reminded of that impossible feeling from when you were born. But you’re real, you’re here.
I see new things from you every day. You can hold two different objects at the same time, you’re learning to use your tongue to swallow food, you have preferences for toys, you love to laugh. Our love for you has exceeded every expectation and it grows each day.
According to our Solid Starts app, you’ve now tried 44 different foods. Peanut butter was a bit scary to introduce, but now you eat it mixed into your yogurt every week with no reaction. One of your seemingly favorite foods so far has been a bison steak from your Uncle Peter. Another popular one is tomato slices, which are easy to find at restaurants.
Various audio recordings of William babbling, crying, and laughing.
You love looking at Pisatchio and Kafka and just smiling and laughing at them. You get into everything you’re not supposed to, even when we make 100% sure there’s nothing else you could possibly get into in the room, you still find a way. You love exploring and finding new things. You effortlessly crawl now and pull yourself up on things— you even stood without holding onto anything for almost 5 seconds before plopping down relatively gracefully.
The doctor said you were a little bit short, but you’re only ½” behind average, which isn’t much. You’ve had all your shots and didn’t even spit up your oral rotavirus vaccine this time.
I feel so proud when I put you in the carrier and walk around stores with you and Mama. Speaking of Mama, she just turned 30. We took a little trip down to San Diego for a picnic with her family and slept over at your Aunt Bee’s house.
You’re finally getting your bottom two teeth, your right one first but we can see both coming in. You haven’t really been too fussy from it.
You can imitate us when we “scream” together now. Mama says, “Ahhh” and you copy her with another, “Ahhh” and it goes back and forth and you both smile and laugh.
In the car, we’ve played your favorite song for you a multitude of times. You instantly get calmed by her voice. And when I take you out of the car, I can simply say, “Arm through!” and you know how to move your arm through the car seat straps.
You reach for us, often back and forth between Mama and me. You understand when we point at something. Mama says you’re incredibly loud when she takes you on walks and you’re in the stroller. But who’s kidding, you’re pretty loud all the time (in a good way!).
I never knew how much I could love someone. Both you and your Mama.
