Dear Daniel,
You tried a few new foods this week, including watermelon and Colby cheese. You didn't appear to enjoy either of them for the first few bites, but you quickly acclimated to the taste and gobbled them.
This week I heard you say Mom-mom several times. You usually say it after you've woken up and want me to come get you. This is really neat for me! I knock on your door and say, "Mama is here, baby!". You shriek in delight. This is such a wonderful welcome into your room. You could not do this a few months ago. I like it so much!
We visited the library to check out a developmental play kit. I didn't realize that you hadn't been there in recent months. The last time I went with you, I was looking for a book on infant sleep solutions. You howled. People seemed miffed until they noticed I was in the "Self Help Baby Section". You really enjoyed playing in the library. You crawled all around the children's section. You were interested in the book shelves and all of the doors and windows. One day I hope you will love the books, too!
This week you started to be a bit cling-y. When you are tired, you want me to hold you. I cannot put you down to do a few quick errands because you want to be on my hip, resting your head. At morning nap on Wednesday, you wanted more cuddling. I put you down in the crib and your lip quivered and you began to sob. When I picked you up, you threw your arms around my neck. I gave you five more minutes of rocking and cuddles. It made me feel warm and fuzzy that you like me this much, since its obvious I love YOU so much. It is affirming to see outward affection.
You have started to have favorite things. Like your toothbrush. You love it. You love us brushing your teeth. You like to try to brush your teeth. You like to lick the bristles. You like to hold your toothbrush and look at it. When we take it away, you sob as if the world has ended and it is your parents who are at fault. Good grief, baby.
We went to an auction in Hermann this week. You were calm and stayed in a baby back carrier I wore during the morning. Then we went to Great Grandma Landolt's house for a little while. You surprised her by crawling up her stairs at lightening speed! She did not realize you were such a fast crawler or stair climber! Grandma Becky took you for a tour of her flower garden, which amused you. You tried to eat many of the blossoms! You did not like it when we sat you up in a patch of Columbine plants. I guess it was too scratchy for you. You played at Grandma Becky's house and were so active that she said she needed a nap after you left! You had so many things to explore.
I took a lot of photos of you this week, baby. You were so patient during these times. Often you want to grab for the camera, and you do not sit still like you used to. It is difficult to get a good smiling shot. As you can see from these photos, you are quite active and have a mind of your own! You don't like me to tell you to sit still!
We went to Hermann another time this week for a special surprise birthday party for Great Grandma Landolt. You were her only great grandchild present (well, you are the ONLY one). Lots of your family was there, including your grandparents, Uncle Wes, cousins, and great aunts and uncles. You were so popular, of course. Everyone passed you around, which probably wasn't the best idea, since you started to get fussy. It was a little bit chilly that day, so you wore a sweater that Grandma Landolt had knitted for your father (or your uncle) some twenty five years before. You got a bit over heated and started to cry. You rarely cry, so I thought that something was wrong. When we got home and fed you, I noticed you were hot, so we took your temperature. You were well over 100 degrees! 103! We cooled you off in a lukewarm bath and with some cool water. You were so unhappy and uncomfortable! the rest of the weekend you were miserable, but your fever lessened. We cuddled you on the couch and gave you a lot of extra rest. Two days later, your top teeth started to appear.
This week was a great week, son. I love you, your father loves you, your family loves you, and your God loves you.
From Mama
