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

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