Seven months of Gwen

My Little Gwenner,

You are now seven months old. This month has been a big, big, big month for you. So many changes have been happening and it seems you do something new each day. I know that time flies. It always does. But, I am fairly certain that once a baby starts moving, time starts moving faster and faster, too. I am afraid to blink.

This month, one of our most exciting ventures has been into the world of solid foods. For how petite you are, and how quick you are at nursing you have totally and completely shocked me with how interested and eager you are to eat solid food. I totally expected you to be a bird. But, nope. Not even. So far, you are living up to your namesake with the amount you like to eat. We are taking a baby led weaning approach when introducing you into the world of solids, and girlfriend, you are 100% on board with this plan.

It is messy business. Messy, yummy, fun business.

So far you have eaten so many things. Carrots, cucumber, sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips, beets, avocado, broccoli, green beans, pears, peaches, mangoes, plums, apples, grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, raspberries, scrambled eggs, toast, chicken, steak, pasta, cheese, yogurt and much much more. Aside from greek yogurt, which was not your favourite, you have eat to turn down anything. I’ll be interested to see if you chunk up in the next few months since you seem to be quite the empty pit!

The other big news this month is that you are on the move. You don’t stop for anyone or anything. You have been somewhat crawling and lunging since Christmas (when you were under 6 months!!) but you have really gotten the hang of it in the last few weeks. Along with that, the last two weeks has marked a huge change in your agility and balance. Suddenly, you never topple over when sitting, you can easily and gracefully move from sitting, to tummy, to crawling and back again. It amazes me how quickly your movements have become so fluid.  You have even started to pull up to standing on furniture. Oh no, you don’t, little missy! You are supposed to be my itty bitty baby, so you can cut this funny business out right now. The pulling up on furniture has just started in the last few days and has resulted in a few head bonks and kabooms. I have learned that I cannot let you out of my sight for a second. Something tells me we’ll be spending a lot of time together in the ergo until you learn how to keep your balance a little better.

You are so cheerful and talkative. Although you still grace us with the high pitched squeal every now and again, you’ve mostly replaced it with a low growl, or with saying “Ah-ba! Ah-ba!” over and over again. You blow raspberries almost constantly and have recently started giving hugs and kisses. Your hugs are so sweet when you just cuddle yourself right into the crook of my neck. As far as kisses, you prefer those of the open mouth variety.

For the most part, you are sleeping fairly decently at night, although we’ve been up and down with sickness over the past number of weeks so that always throws a curve ball. Thankfully, though, (knock on wood), you seem to have given up your affinity for super early mornings and sleep until at least 6:30 most days. I cannot even believe that I’ve reached a point where I can say “at least” in reference to 6:30 a.m. But that’s how it goes. You go down around 7pm and usually sleep until 7am. Most often you wake up once anywhere between 2:30-4:30 for a quick nibble and then you go back down easily. Many mornings, you start to stir between 5:30-6 but as soon as I scoop you into my bed, you easily settle back down. You seem to love being warm and snug in my bed, because that’s the place where you usually sleep in the longest. You still nap three times a day, although your third nap is questionable. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes it’s an hour and sometimes it’s 10 minutes. Regardless though, your first two naps are starting to become much more consistent and predictable. You’ve even been doing an awesome job at putting yourself to sleep. Keep it up girlfriend!

You and your sister are up to no good. You spend your days giggling, playing and reading together. I love to see your relationships developing but when I see you straining to follow her and keep up with her, I am terrified because I know it won’t be long at all until you are spending your days conspiring against me and creating even more chaos than there already is. Those will be the days! Your relationship with your sister is not one sided, by any means. Just as much as you love her, she loves you back. When you were born, I wondered when the novelty of having a baby sister would wear off for her. It still hasn’t. Every morning she asks where you are and as soon as she sees you, she lights up and starts talking to you. She is so precious with you. Calling you “sweetie heart” and “baby girl” and “Gwenna Guhhh”. Your relationship has blossomed even more over this past month, as you’ve started moving and being able to play a little more actively with her. It’s going to be trouble from here on out!

Everyday I am overcome with gratitude and joy knowing that you are mine and I am yours. You have made my heart double in size and I praise God for you every day.

I love you sixty clock! (as your sister would say).

Mama