Dear Violet,

Well, you have your first ear infection.  You've been tugging at your right ear for a few days and you caught a fever last night, so I took you to the doc today and sure enough: infected.  Poor girl.  You've been fussy, but not "rotten fussy," more like "sleepy fussy."  I had to hold you down in the exam room so the doc could get out a wax "plug" in that ear, too, and you did NOT like it.  Man oh man, I didn't either.  I felt awful seeing you like that!  We now have antibiotics, so hopefully in the next couple days it'll get better.  We caught it pretty early so it's not bad, which makes me feel better.  You always get really clingy when you're not feeling well, and this is no exception.  I had to make a palate with my comforter in the living room for your nap today because although you were EXHAUSTED from the doc's office experience, you kept waking up when I'd put you in your crib.  I just suck it up and try to multitask, because I think that you should get all the loving and cuddles your heart can handle when you're sick.  This morning I just caught up on my DVR'd episodes while you slept on my chest.  I had a long list of things to accomplish, but comforting my sick baby quickly made it to the top of that list!

You're getting a lot better at walking.  I've lately been catching you walking by yourself more and more, without being "coaxed" from person to person.  You're starting to realize that you're getting better at it, and I love that look in your face that just says "I can do it, I can do it."  Such determination- you get that from your dad.

You had your first swimming experience this week!  That was special for me, because I'm a waterbug- I LOVE swimming.  What was even more special was the location in which it happened.  It was at Shelby and Adrian's pool, where I spent summer after summer as a kid with my brother and sisters.  They had blackberry bushes covering the corner of their back yard, and we'd take turns jumping out of the pool, picking 2 armfuls of berries, jumping back in the pool to wash them off, and we'd all eat them while we swam.  The water was probably purple by the end of the summer!  I have such great memories there of playing "alligator," and a made up game of holding onto each side of the diving board with my siblings, trying to kick each other's arms off the board.  We'd have breath-holding contests and races from one end of the pool to the other.  Summertime is the best!  You made me so proud- you LOVED the water, and even dunked your head all the way under the water the second day!  I was so nervous, but daddy and nana swore you'd do fine, and you did.  We went late in the afternoon so by the time we jumped out to dry off for the last time before we left, the light had warmed up from the sun starting to set.  Shelby has a beautiful back deck and yard, and you were sitting so calmly and contently in front of some lillies, and I couldn't help but have a little photo session.  Your big ol' sweet belly was just delectable in your little bathing suit.  It wasn't my first choice for bathing suit, but I was in a hurry when I got it.  It's cute enough, though, and I actually like you in blue because it matches your eyes.  Your eyes matched the bright aqua blue pool, and I couldn't help but think about how I have the most gorgeous little girl to ever grace the earth.  I think I see a little green coming out just around your pupils, so I think you may have blue-green eyes.  Such a beautiful combination with those pouty lips!

Here are pictures from the pool:

  Here's your pucker face!  I love it.

And here's your beautiful round belly in all its glory...

Here's a face you make that reminds me of Allison:

and here you are just babbling away.  I think you look like me here:

  Oh how I wish wish wish I hadn't moved my camera as I took this.  I almost missed this moment, so I'll take it, even if it's blurry.  This is a BEAUTIFUL moment.  It's rare to catch your daddy in a genuine moment on camera, and this is lovely.  He's so handsome, and you're just breathtaking.

And here we are.  You were in such a relaxed mood.  Being tired from the water, having the sun on your face, and there was a slight breeze, it was all just enough to make us relaxed and content.

I know I've known you for over 10 months now, but I just can't look at your face without feeling absolutely blown away.

I'll Love You Forever,
Mom

Dear Violet,

This is the hilarious pucker-face I was trying to describe in my last post.  This means that you're either not done chewing on your previous bite, or you don't want any more food.  Today you've started to incorporate shaking your head  "No" while making this face.  I didn't think I shook my head when I told you "No," but maybe you learned it from that?  Or maybe it's just a coincidence.  Nah, you're just a genius....

(By the way, I had to be quick with the camera, so they're not the best photos, but you get the idea...)

Now you're smiling again- you were in a great mood!  This was your first "prune" experience.  You liked them!

The tail end of your side-tongue grin.

You were talking so fast!  I wish I knew what you were saying, because it seemed pretty important!

Dear Violet,

Oh, you're in the middle of such a fun, tiring stage!  You're soaking everything up like a sponge, and you love to learn new things.  You can see the concentrated look on your face when someone is trying to teach you a new word or concept.  You're such a smart little person.

You aren't 10 months old yet, but you're about a step away from just walking all over the house without any care.  You've taken several steps at a time- probably up to about 7, and it started when you were 9 months and 3 days old.  Until yesterday it was just from person to person, with coaxing and some kind of incentive to get you to walk, but you were playing with some old Nintendo controllers that uncle Ryan donated to your chew-toy collection (ha!), and you just decided to up and stand right up on your own, from sitting!  Yay Violet!  We were at Nana's house and we were all so proud of you, just giggling and clapping and so happy for you!  Then not an hour later, I set you down on your feet from being in my arms, and instead of the usual "plop" on your butt you do, you just started walking off!  I was just beside myself with excitement for you.  I've been working with you all day today with walking around the house holding just one of your hands, so you can work on your balance.  You're doing so well.

Your new favorite game is "chase."  I say "I'm gonna get you!  You can't stop me!  Here I come to TICKLE TICKLE TICKLE!" and you just crawl your little one-legged scoot about 90 miles an hour giggling as loud as you can, and when I "get" you, you just splat your body on the floor and shout with laughter.  I can't get enough of it!  My jaw hurts from smiling so wide after that game.  I love love love it!

We surprised Mimi for mothers' day by driving down to Dallas to visit her, and you (as always) did amazingly well in the car.  It was such a nice, relaxing trip, and you had a lot of fun with Mimi, Pawpaw, Amanda, and Kepler.  I wish Mimi was closer so you could see her more often.  You sure love spending time with her!  You look so much like her- so beautiful!

Because the weather's been nice out (and dogs shed like crazy), we've been having the dogs as "outside dogs" for a while.  It started just when you started being COMPLETELY interested in them.  Well, after Emma's "escaped" from us 3 times in the last 3 weeks, we've been having them stay inside more often (I think she's just a BIT jealous of you...), and you're IN LOVE with them.  Speckles does pretty well about running off at your approach, but Emma thinks she has to let you claw all over her.  (Poor dog!)  It's no wonder she's been running off every chance she gets!  You love her so much, and I love to watch you interact with her.  You're not scared of any dog you meet!  Nana's 110 lb. Hagrid doesn't scare you a bit!  In fact he's a little terrified of YOU!  Ha!

Cute little things you do right now include:
*Grinning with your tongue sticking out of the side of your mouth

*Growling like T-Rex (or Donald Duck or a possessed zombie) while playing and talking- everyone gets a GOOD kick out of that!
*Waving like a "Miss America meets interpretative dancer " by twisting and waving your arm around in circles.  It's HILARIOUS.
*Scooting across the floor with one leg constantly in the "sitting" position rather than crawling like a regular baby...  :)
*When you're done eating, you scrunch up your face real tight and shake your head.  Your little button nose scrunches up and your lips pucker out so far.  It's adorable (I'll catch a picture soon)!

Life is never boring with you around, especially with the stage you're in, and the stage you're entering will be even more exciting (and tiring)!  You have a radar to play with things that are choking hazards or electric, and you're starting to realize that "No!" is not a game, but you continue to think it's funny when I say it.  You're very sweet and affectionate and sensitive, but you're tough when it comes to bumps and bruises- you're littered with battle wounds from crawling/cruising/walking, but that doesn't stop you!  You just have a confused look on your face for about 2 seconds, then you just flip over, get up and keep going.  That's my strong little woman.  I can't wait to see the big things that are in store for you.  You're going to continue to amaze me every day for the rest of my life.

I love you!
Mom

Dear Violet,

Please stop attacking my arms, chest, neck and face like a rabid ferret when I try to put you to bed.  Thank you.  I look like a crazy cat lady...

It's a good thing you're cute!

Love,
Mom

Dear Violet,

You started fake laughing today.  It was hilarious, because it was totally random, and sometimes you'd even be by yourself in the middle of the living room floor, just laughing at one of your rubber duckies.  You really crack me up.

Yesterday, however, you totally hurt my feelings... okay, not really.  It was bittersweet.  You had your first "I don't want mommy, I want daddy" experience.  I'm talking complete with you crying when he'd try to give you to me to put you in my carseat.  I gave you back and you immediately stopped.  What's wrong with you?  It's supposed to be a girls vs. boys household!  What team are you on?!  Just kidding, actually it made me happy.  Daddy deserves a little lovin' too, I guess.  We thought maybe after that you'd let him put you to sleep... we were wrong.  It's really not that I mind putting you to sleep every night, it's just that when I can't put you to sleep (when I'm shooting a wedding), it's going to be a total nightmare for all involved.  That, and every once in a while it'd be nice if your dad and I could go out to eat.  Ah well, sooner or later you'll get better at that, right?  Right?

I have 3 months to ween you off of breastfeeding, and knowing you, I think it's going to take the full 3 months to do so.  I'm trying to get you eat more regular food during the day, because since you've discovered Puffs and those freeze dried yogurt drops, you don't want a regular helping of pureed food.  You do, however, want whatever's on our plate.  The problem is that you don't get full off of anything, because there's never a lot you can eat that we're eating.  I did make you a sundried tomato puree meal today with panko breadcrumbs, basil, olive oil and a little mozzarella cheese, and you did enjoy that for a while.  It was your first cheese experience.  You also had your first corn on the cob experience last night.  You were fussy at Aunt Kathy's house during dinner, so I gave you my cob after I'd eaten it (it was grilled so it had a good smoky flavor), and you LOVED and ADORED that cob for at least 45 minutes!  You were just chomping and sucking away on that thing!  We were all very entertained by you.

Since I've taken up running, you've been having a ball riding in the stroller while I run along the Riverfront Trail and the Big Dam Bridge.  We have so much fun as running buddies.  Everyone always smiles and laughs and coos at you as we pass.  I try to have you wear either sunglasses or a cute hat to keep the sun out of your face, but that usually just either ends up lost when you throw it overboard and I don't notice, or I do notice and I have to stop to pick it up, totally throwing off my pace, and I throw it in the storage basket under you.  You typically end up slouched over asleep, with the wind causing your hair to look electric.  Your chubby cheeks and chubby thighs are just so cute all sprawled out in the stroller.

Here are some photos of the past week:

I LOVE this new hair band!  You make this face and said "Bha Bha Bha" all the time.

I like this shot because your onesie is so true... and your cheeks are just too kissable...

You love playing with your daddy

Where's Violet?

Peekaboo!

Your crawling is not very graceful... 

Learning how to use your sippy cup, and doing a great job!

I absolutely love the look you give us when you're in a playful mood...

Watching cartoons, chewing on my lens cap...

But your TV isn't as entertaining as your daddy!

Your hair has always been one of the funniest things about you- it's never under control!  Here is our bathtime tonight, with your lovely 'do and your favorite rubber ducky out of your large collection.

I love you!
Mom

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