Dear Violet,

You're starting to look more like a person rather than a baby these days.  Maybe not to other people, but to me, because I see you everyday.  Your face is starting to thin out a little bit and the things you do are so much more "purposeful."  You have such a big personality, I get such a kick out of hanging out with you all day.  You're a lot like me so far- you're sometimes shy, but most of the time you'll giggle and shout at random people in line at the deli or post office.  You're emotionally sensitive, yet you're tough when you hurt yourself.

You're moving into a different phase for sleeping, too.  You still take 2 naps a day, but your first nap is becoming a LOT shorter than before.  At night, I usually either nurse or rock you to sleep, but these days you're just so restless in my arms!  You'll be ALMOST asleep, yet you still try to turn and twist and flip and jump out of my arms, all the while your eyes are shut and you're whining like I'm supposed to know what to do with you- you little greased pig!  I decided a few nights ago that you may just want to be put down in your crib still awake (NEVER before have you done that!), so you could stretch your long little body out and get comfortable.  Well, I was right... sort of.  You did want to stretch out, then tuck your little legs under your butt so it pokes up so adorably I want to cry.  I do have to massage you before you'll let me leave the room.  You L.O.V.E. massages!  It's so cute!  You'll wake up and cry, but if I'm quick to rub your legs and pull on them to stretch them out, you just melt and go RIGHT back to sleep.  So funny.  You also like when I trace your eyebrows, nose and lips with my finger.  That puts you to sleep too when you're almost there but fighting it.  I'm still the only one who you'll let put you to sleep, and sometimes I complain or get frustrated about it, because I don't have time to leisurely cook dinner and photograph it for my blog, but when I finally get you to sleep (either in my arms or in your crib), I just LOVE the feeling of seeing you sleep, so sweet and innocent.  I also love knowing that there's NOWHERE in the world you'd rather be than sleeping up against me- your mama.  :)  Knowing you feel safe with me is a great, great feeling.  I hope you'll always feel that way!  I know I still feel like that around nana.

So, I have to admit, I'm a little addicted to making sure you always look stylish and adorable.  And unfortunately that's not free.  Ooops.  Although that is one good thing about you growing so fast- there's always reason to need more clothes!  I'm LOVING warm weather clothes- they look so cute on you and your chunky legs and arms are exposed so they can be covered in kisses whenever I want.  I got you 2 little straw-sun-hats the other day, and some shirts that match them.  You try to take the hat off, but if I can distract you well enough after I put it on, you'll forget you're wearing it.  I'm so sneaky...

Everyone always tells me how beautiful you are, so I feel like I have to match your outfits to your cuteness level.  It doesn't quite compare, but it's still fun to try.  :)

I love you,
Mom

Dear Violet,

You are a genius-baby.  You surprise me everyday with the things you can do.  Allison and Kristie drove to Arkansas for a little while for a visit to make papa's Biggest Loser audition tape, and your cousins all came with them.  You'd been around other kids a little before that, but not for any period of time.  It was so much fun to watch you interact with them.  You did so well being social, I was so proud!  You and Katie were so adorable to watch.  We were surprised at how interested you were in each other.  By the last night, you two were giving each other "kisses."  You're 8 1/2 months old now, and so far you've said "mama," "dad" (really "dat," but you're talking about dad), "dog," and as of last night "more."  You've been able to wave, bounce, and "dance" for a while now, but your new tricks are giving "kisses" and as of today clapping.  So many new things!  You crawl like a speed-demon these days, and have stood up on your own for a good 7 seconds a handful of times.  You're going to start walking before we know it- you love to pull up on anything and everything (including dad's leg hairs, which make the poor guy want to cry, but he can't tell you no), and you aren't afraid to let go of my hands and try to walk by yourself. 

We've had to try to babyproof the house as much as possible, which is harder than it seems.  You've already fallen off our bed twice (yes, I've finally learned not to leave you there for a millisecond, even if it's just to throw something away RIGHT across the hall!).  You also love to pull yourself up on the drawer under the oven, which is so scary to me, because it's gas and when it's on, there is a LOT of heat in that drawer!  I have to be very careful to make sure you learn not to ever climb up there, even if it's not on.  You also love to pull yourself up on the toilet (YUCK!), try to dig diapers out of the trashcan in our bedroom (DOUBLE YUCK!), and you're a magnet for all cords plugged into outlets...  let me tell you, to say that you have to be watched every second is an UNDERstatement!  It's pretty fun to watch you explore and learn how independent you can be.  "No" is still a game to you so far.  You giggle when I say it, even with the most serious face and tone I can muster, all I get is a whole-face smile from you...  man, I'm in for it!  You're lucky you're cute... 

Here are some beyond adorable photos of you from this past month:

This is at Wye Mountain.  I think you look like me in this photo.

 
 This is your 8 month birthday. 

This is you playing in your toy box.  You are such a little spitfire, with SO much energy.  You make the cutest and silliest faces for the camera.  You definitely know what to do in front of that camera!

This is you pulling up on dad's leg while he shaves in the morning.  You sit in front of the bathroom door waiting for him to get out of the shower, and then you follow him around ALL morning.  You just started to whine when he leaves.  It's a feeling you can't describe to see how much you have fun with your dad.

This is me and you.  I don't like the lighting or how I look, but I think it's so cute how you're looking right in the camera like you know that I'm trying to get a shot of both of us.  I was laughing so hard because I took about 4 shots and you just kept cheesing it up and looking right in the camera. 

I have so much fun with you.  You're already my best friend and you're not even 1 year old!  We have quite the perfect family, if you ask me.

Love,
Mom

Dear Violet,

This afternoon we had a picnic with some of my girlfriends and their kids.  I got you bathed and dressed before I got myself ready, and then you fell asleep on my bed right before I needed to get in the shower.  Now that you're crawling, I can't leave you on the bed, because you wake up and immediately start moving!  I didn't know if I should've chanced picking you up to move you to your crib, because you needed that nap, and you probably would've awoken.  So, instead, I chose to barricade you in the bed with pillows, blankets, and couch cushions, so if you fell, I'd at least know you didn't hurt yourself.  When I finished, I looked back and had to laugh at myself for all the trouble I went through on the small chance you'd wake up, and the small chance that if you woke up you'd fall. 

Then I smiled, leaned over and whispered:

I promise I will ALWAYS soften your fall.

I love you,
Mom

Dear Violet,

Our poor dogs had no idea what they were in for when you came home!  Speckles keeps her distance and doesn't really pay much attention to you, but with Emma, it was love at first sight.  When you were brand new, she'd sit at my feet  with you in my lap, and just watch you.  When you'd cry, sometimes she'd go bring you one of her toys and shake it around in front of you like she was trying to cheer you up.  It was so sweet to watch.  Now, you're finally old enough to start really interacting with the dogs, and you LOVE them- especially Emma.   Last night you discovered that she'll let you tug on her to pull yourself up, and you giggled for the longest time while she just let you tug and grab and pinch and pull all over that poor girl!  I actually think she liked the attention, because sadly we don't give her much anymore!  She's such a good dog, and I hope she sticks around for a long time so you can appreciate her like we have. 

Dear Violet,

You are finally crawling.  You were 7 months and 4 days old when you first took your awkward, clumsy, hilarious scoots across the floor.  I caught it on tape and sound like a goon because I was just so happy for you!  You have about 2398234 times more energy these days.  It seems like you've snuck into the coffee while no one was looking!  It's so much fun to watch your face while you feel these feelings of interest, determination, success or frustration, and pride when you go exploring around the house.  It's interesting to see what and where you want to explore, because this is the first time you've been able to get where YOU want to go, rather than just going along with where I put you.  You've discovered CHOICE!  It's really amazing how many little triumphs there are with a baby.  In these past 7 1/2 months, I've felt more pride than in the previous 27 years I've lived.  It's just wonderful to be a part and witness in your first everything.  I can't thank your dad enough for working so hard to enable me to stay home with you so I don't miss out on all these little things.  It's too good to be true.  I can't imagine my everyday life without you!

Your cousin Avery was born last week.  You wouldn't let me be in the delivery room with Sarah because it was in the middle of the night, and you had one of your "separation anxiety meltdowns" with dad, and he had to call me to come home.  You absolutely tear the heart out of anyone within ear shot of you with those meltdowns.  It makes me feel so guilty!  What's worse is that all you want is me.  You stop immediately when you see me, although you still have those hyperventilating breathing noises we all make when we've been crying uncontrollably for too long.  It just rips my heart out and stomps on it.  And I only hear about 7 seconds worth of it!  Poor nana, papa and dad for having to endure it until I get there!  Oh, I hope those fits don't last too much longer, because I'm not always going to be able to come back right that second!  It's always at night when this happens.  I don't know what to do to help it, either.  If I'm not the one to soothe you back to sleep after waking yourself up, all hell breaks loose.

You're sweet with Avery, although you want to be too rough with her.  You're also a little jealous when I hold her, and I thought that was adorable.  You wouldn't take your eyes off us!  She started crying when Sarah put her in the carseat and you started crying too, like you felt bad for her!  It was so sweet! 

We went for a walk tonight with Avery, Sarah and Nana, and you had fun until the very end.  You were pretty sleepy, but would still play peekaboo with Sarah and Nana.  It was a beautiful sunset.

Last weekend you came with me to Memphis to visit 2 of my friends there.  I was taking maternity photos for Kim, and then we met Sarah for lunch.  While Kim was changing outfits, I had to snap a few photos of you playing in the grass, so quiet and well behaved!  I was so proud of how wonderful you were that day.  Everyone we saw commented on how beautiful, happy, pretty you are.  I agreed with them. 

Seeing Avery makes me realize how fast you're growing up.  It's literally in front of my eyes.  I don't notice it everyday, but every couple weeks I'll look at you in wonder and awe at how much you've changed in such a short time!  You get more beautiful, more hilarious, more rambunctious, more inquisitive, and more loved every single day.

I love you,
Mom

 

Dear Violet,

We went on a road trip with you this month to see friends in Chattanooga, and we all had so much fun!  We went to the Aquarium in Chattanooga, then spent Saturday in Atlanta, going to Ikea and Trader Joe's, 2 of your mommy's favorite places.  :)  Rob and Petrina's little boy, Evan, is just under 3 months older than you, and it was SO much fun and SO interesting to watch you two interact!!  You took a little while to get used to him, you silly, sensitive girl.  :)  But you ended up having so much fun with him, and he taught you a few things- sitting in a high chair at a restaurant (you were in your stroller, and wouldn't stop fussing until you were next to him in your own highchair!), eating more than just a little bit in the morning (he eats a whole lot, and you were so interested in watching him, he had to share some of his food with you!), and you wanted to crawl around with him so terribly bad...  I feel bad because I know you're so close to doing it, but you just won't seem to keep those knees bent!  I try to help you out, and you know what to do with your arms, but those knees just flatten, fall and swim around everytime you decide to try crawling.  You've been close now for quite a few weeks, but you can already pull up to standing by yourself and you're starting to cruise around your crib and pack-n-play, so I'm starting to wonder if you'll just skip crawling altogether!  You stood by yourself today for a good 6 or 7 seconds at nana's house.  It was pretty amazing to your mama, who thinks you stole the moon.  :)

Here you are with Evan after a few minutes of warming up to him.  You two were so cute!

Here you are at the butterfly farm, seeing a butterfly for the first time.  I'm so glad I got something like this in a photo.  It's a memorable moment!  ...even though you could've cared less.  :)

Here is your family!  Daddy, your sweet little self in that cute outfit, and your proud mommy, with penguins behind us.  They had their backs turned toward us and wouldn't swim... such a rip off!  You liked seeing them though.

Oh, I love this photo.  This is you and your daddy, watching the fish swim around in a huge water tank.  You were very interested in them, and they were making you sleepy.  They should've had cots lying around that place- it was so relaxing!

Here are you and Evan "playing" on the bed at the hotel in Atlanta.  You liked him about 2/3 of the time.  :)

Here you are in your first pair of sunglasses!  Such a HILARIOUS baby you are.  Look at that pose!

You were pretty stinking jealous of Evan and his crawling abilities.  You were determined to practice until your limbs were shaky, and you still didn't get it!  We tried!  So close though, as you can see...

I LOVE PHOTOS OF YOU AND YOUR DADDY...

Here are you and Evan in your monkey shirts...  I swear Petrina and I did NOT plan this either!  You two were so cute.  We had to wave something above your heads to at least get you both to stay still.  Too cute!

I love this face of yours- it's so inquisitive and eager to learn.  We were impressed that you were interested in this toy!  You're such a little genius.

There's that face you made 2309843 times while we were there.  You were a little whiny baby!  It's okay, though, he was a new friend and he could do more things than you so you were frustrated.  I understand, sweetheart...  :)

This is one of the cutest pictures I've ever seen.  I really think he's trying to help you crawl here!  He stayed there like that for a long time!

 Here we all are, the McGarvey's and the Guice's.  Look what you two are doing...  :) 

Here you are, being so so so so incredibly, wonderfully sweet and good on the way home.  You are such a good traveling buddy.  It was a near 8-hour trip, and you didn't break into a full-on cry a single time!  Parents all over the world are jealous of me...  :)

You'll be 7 months old tomorrow, and holy moly, time is flying!  I can't believe you're growing so fast, it's hard to keep up!  It's so amazing to watch you learn.  You really take everything in.  You fight sleep a lot and I think it's because you just love to learn and explore, and you don't want to miss a thing!  Nana and I went jogging tonight while you stayed with papa, and you hadn't had your afternoon nap.  You were red-faced and tear-stained when we got back a short 25 minutes later.  Poor thing, you're such a mama's girl when you're sleepy.  I was talking to them in the kitchen before we left, and you ended up literally "falling" asleep on my shoulder.  Your head was up and you were on my hip, and you just suddenly slumped over and passed out!  It was so cute.  I just love that warm, heavy, soft weight of you sleeping on me.

Speaking of sleeping, you slept all night in your crib last week!  We're trying for you to do it again tonight too, but we'll see.  Mimi and Aunt Amanda came to visit with Kepler, so we had you sleep with us again, but we're trying to see if you'll do well in your crib for the whole night.  I think your daddy wants his bed back...  :)  He's worried he'll hurt you while he sleeps, and I think you may sleep better without having me right there next to you.  We'll see.  I do miss you, though.  It's funny, because I see you every waking second, but I still miss you while I sleep!  That's love, little missy- don't you forget it!

I Love You,
Mom

Dear Violet,

You've decided to go changing on me again! Every few weeks I look at you and think, "What happened to you? How did you learn all these new things?!" You're a second away from crawling, and you've just learned how to wave 'bye bye' thanks to nana. You're pulling yourself up on your own in your crib, and I can no longer just plop you in the middle of our bed and leave the room even for a minute. You can sit up strongly enough to let me set you in your crib to entertain yourself for a while, and I love that you are now able to do that.

Here's one way I can keep you on the bed while doing laundry!

Here you are, entertaining yourself in your crib

You are a very, very silly baby! You make the funniest sounds with your mouth and love when we throw you around and hang you upside down. You're so much fun to play with. This afternoon you were laying on my belly, and I was blowing on your neck/cheek, and you decided to spit in my nose! I'm pretty sure I cried a little I was laughing so hard. If I thought you knew any better, I wouldn't have thought it was so funny... ;)

It's been a beautiful snowy mess here lately, and I got you out in it with the dogs a few times. Other than that we've been holed up inside, nice and warm and dry.


Here you are, quietly and sweetly rocking to sleep, looking out at the beautiful snow coming down.  It was such a relaxing afternoon.

I tried to get a picture of both of us, but I ended up getting mostly you (it's better that way anyway!).  Look at your gorgeous face!  This makes me want to get up right now and kiss your sleeping little cheek....  In fact, I will do just that...

 

Here you are, having so much fun and smiling so big your paci is about to fall out!

 

You were really hoping I'd pull you around in this basket, I'm pretty sure...  (You were pretty toasty in that huge coat and those Uggs!)

I'm a little obsessed with baby hats. Your aunt Amanda made you some absolutely beautiful ones (those are my favorite), but you have quite a collection. I found one that had been too big for you, but I tried it on you again last night and it barely still fit, so I got a few shots of you in it. You're such a beautiful little person. I couldn't be more proud to have you as my daughter. You've got such a cool, funny personality, and you're breathtakingly gorgeous. You look just like your mimi. I call you her mini-mimi. :) Sometimes I see me or the deRoque side in your face, but at least right now you're a Guice everywhere but your mouth. That pretty little pucker is definitely from me.


This is my new favorite picture of you.  Those cheeks are heavenly, and that hat is just perfect!  You're my little angel pie...

I've been debating whether to have you start sleeping all night in your own room, but I just can't seem to pull us away from each other. First of all, your room is freezing cold all the time (in the winter). The vent doesn't work well and when I close the door to keep noise out, it makes it that much colder. That's my first excuse... Then there's the fact that I love to snuggle with you, and I can't possibly say no to your sweet little warm arms wrapped tightly around my neck as if to say "you'd better not let me sleep here all by myself!" And when I really think about it, what's the harm in letting you sleep with us anyway? Other children aren't scarred by sleeping with their parents for a few years, so I'm pretty sure you'll still grow up normal, despite cuddling with your mom as an infant. You do well in your crib when you first fall asleep or during naps throughout the day, so perhaps sometime in the next year or so we'll make the move.  We'll see... That first time you wake up to nurse, though, you don't want to go back in the crib. I just moved you from your crib to the bed tonight after going in to soothe you for the 3rd time.  After hearing a few squawks from your monitor, I walked in to find you on all fours, half asleep, eyes shut. That was a first! I had to laugh at you.   They say dreaming helps establish the things we learn, and you're learning to crawl, so... I guess that explains it!


Here you are cuddled up to "Sophie the Bear" after playing in the snow.  The bear is a feeble substitute for me, but sometimes you don't seem to notice that it's not my arm you're gripping, but in fact a tiny fabric bear... 

 

Last week your aunt Allison decided to send me a link to a woman's blog whose little boy drowned in their tub and is in the PICU.  I was mad at your aunt for making me cry at work!  This woman left her young boys in the tub with shallow water, then went across the house to get pj's for them. On the way back she noticed a pile of laundry and decided to put it away, then noticed an unmade bed and made it. After that one of her boys came screaming about Bronson drowning (they had turned the water back on). They don't know what happened, but the boy wasn't breathing- there was no pulse. In that short time of that poor mom letting the little, unimportant things in life take up her time, she will live with guilt for the rest of her life. The boy died for 11 minutes, but luckily is now doing well- awake and semi-alert (they've still yet to determine the long term damage). Reading this woman's blog, about the heartache she goes through every day, just breaks my heart. I cry just about every time I update myself reading it. My point in bringing this up is that although it's heart wrenching, it's a good reminder for me to squeeze you a little tighter, to kiss you one more time, to snuggle with you every night because "to hell with rules of perfect parenting!" I want to appreciate and cherish and remember and enjoy every moment with you. I want to be patient with you and I don't want to forget that each moment passes too quickly to look away. I don't want to miss any little bit of your life, because it's just too short. I feel like I won the lottery every time I look at you, and I revel in the honor of being your mom.  I hope I never cause you to doubt how lucky I feel.    

Love,

Mom