Tonight we went out for an early dinner. At the table next to us was another family with two young girls. The girls were fascinated by you, and you by them. Finally the father asked if the girls could come say hello to you. They were very sweet and gentle, and obviously enamored by you. You just sat back and observed, not really smiling but definitely not fearful or upset by their presence. I love watching you take in the world around you; you seem so curious and open-minded.

You love to bang and pound on things, so a few weeks ago your dad and I set out to find a piano for you at the toy store. We didn’t find a piano that was appropriate for your age, but we did find a neat wooden xylophone set, which inserted into a wooden box. On top of the box were three balls. The idea is that you could bang the balls with the little hammer that was included, and when the balls fell they’d hit the xylophone then roll down it, and out the box, all the while making sounds. This toy was for ages one year and older, but we figured we could play it with you, you could roll the balls around and hit things with the hammer, and eventually you’d get the hang of it as you got older. Well one night recently we got home from work and your nana casually mentioned that you knew how to play with the toy. We were so surprised as we hadn’t witnessed this yet. She sat you in front of it, gave you the hammer, and you whacked away until eventually you knocked out the first ball, then moved on to the second and then the last ball. Although you didn’t have the dexterity to hit it hard and get the ball free on your first hit, you displayed amazing strength and understanding of how the toy worked, and you were able to get the ball free in just a few attempts. We were really impressed!

One of the latest developments in the last week or so is that you’re making a scrunchy face when you’re really happy. It’s like just smiling or squealing doesn’t do justice to the joy that you feel, and you wrinkle up your face in an expression of your excitement. It is so cute.

So happy!

Another scrunchy face

Another development is that you’re almost crawling. You are so close! The problem (if I can even call it that) is that you are a very proficient wiggler/roller, and you can get anywhere you want to be by wiggling and rolling around. So, you haven’t yet had much of a need or desire to crawl. We have been encouraging you to crawl, placing items you desire just a little out of your reach. You stretch your body out and try to reach, and then wiggle and roll your way to the item. But a couple of days ago the object of your desire was Moguly. He was lying about two feet away, and you stretched yourself out towards him but couldn’t quite reach. Then, in what was your closest approximation to crawling yet, you sort of wiggled/army crawled on your belly over to him. Once there you grabbed his leg and tried to pull it towards you. Moguly, with his all of his patience combined with an over-abundance of laziness, didn’t move, but just pulled his leg away and laid it back down out of your reach. You kept wiggling closer, grabbing, pulling, and he kept pulling back. It was pretty entertaining for a bit, until Moguls finally had enough, got up, and left. But I think we found the thing to motivate you to crawl – Moguly!

Today was my work from home day and also one of the days your nana watches you. She’s been taking you on a walk or two every day, and lately you guys have been walking by the elementary school. If the timing is right, you sit and watch the kids play and she talks with you about how someday you will go to school there. Today the kids were in class, and your nana spotted the tetherball. She said she went over and played with it a bit, telling you afterward how she used to rule the playground at that game. Someday you and her will play together!

Hanging out with nana (and Guinness too!)

Deep in thought

Happy with your ball

Tonight your nana offered to spend the night and watch you so your dad and I could go have a dinner out. We tried a new restaurant, enjoyed an evening out, and finally celebrated our anniversary. We even got around to exchanging cards, which we’d each been holding onto for almost a month! I love your dad so much, and I appreciate all he does for us. There’s no way I could manage being a mother, daughter, wife, friend, and professional without all of the support he gives me. I’m so thankful that he’s my husband and your father. We’re pretty lucky.

Today outdoor soccer started for the Fall season. We brought you along, set up the tent, and rotated between your dad and I watching you while the other one played. Everyone on the team was so excited to see you since it’s been a few months. It is neat how much everyone loves you and welcomes you into our little group of friends. Everybody is so supportive and caring, and it’s nice to feel like you’re as much a part of the team as we are.

Today the US Pro Cycling Challenge came into town. The riders raced from Golden to Boulder, then around the Boulder area and climbed to the finish on Flagstaff Mountain. Nana and papa came over and we all walked down to Broadway to watch the bikers race by; our neighbor Lulu and the dogs also joined us on the outing. As usual, you loved being outside and you seemed enthralled by all the activity in the neighborhood as people poured down from the neighborhood to Broadway to watch the racers. When the riders went by I held you and we watched them go, but they literally flew by so fast I’m not sure you were able to see them. I hope the race will come through Boulder every year and that we can keep watching it as a family in our hometown.

Enjoying the US Pro Cycling Challenge with your parents, grandparents, and our neighbor, Lulu

Your uncle Brett left today to return home to his family and life in Reno. We went over to nana and papa’s last night for a nice dinner with everyone. Brett was so excited to see you; he got you out of the car seat the minute we walked in the door and had lots of fun holding you, talking with you, and walking around with you for about thirty minutes. It was really nice to have him here and to get to see him this past week. He and your cousin Kyle are coming to visit in October and I’m already looking forward to it.

Playing with Uncle Brett

Today we had an appointment with the PT, OT and speech therapists that we worked with when you were born. At that time they helped you learn to suck so that you could nurse. They called about a month ago and asked if we wanted to come in for a follow-up. I told them that we don’t have any concerns and that you’re doing great. They responded that for most parents this is the case, but that it’s a good opportunity for us to ask questions regarding development and so we decided to take them up on the offer. I’m so glad we did; the appointment was great and we learned so much!

You were very talkative and active. They had so much fun with you, saying that you’re much more active than most 6-months old and that they enjoy the more lively kids. One of the ladies called you precocious. I have to admit that the word had negative connotations for me, and that in fact I couldn’t exactly give you a definition for it. But after looking it up, I’m happy to report that you are, indeed, my precocious little girl.

We learned of a lot of toys and activities to do with you, including exercises to help you develop more sounds a well as a stronger tongue for eating and eventually talking. It was so interesting everything they covered. They even noticed a slight tightness in the left side of your neck as a result of your getting stuck while I was in labor. They gave us exercise to help stretch your neck, and we’ll go back for a follow up with them in a month or two.

Throughout the appointment they kept commenting on how active you were, and in the notes they took and later gave to us they wrote down in three separate areas how active you are. They stated, as had your doctor previously, that we’re going to have to keep you busy, and they suggested music and Gymboree-type classes. We’ve already signed you up for swim classes and I’m researching music classes, so we’re hopeful we can find some good ones to keep you entertained and challenged.

We’ve been feeding you avocado for a couple days now, and although you don’t dislike it, you don’t seem to love it. You have eaten almost all of the servings every time we offer it to you, but you don’t seem to put it down with much enthusiasm. Tonight was the last of the avocado and so your dad fixed up sweet potatoes for tomorrow and the next few nights. We’ll see how that goes down!

Do I have something on my face?

This bib is tasty.

Feeding yourself

Loving dinnertime