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.

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.

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!

The past few nights you have fallen asleep while nursing, and I gently get up, kiss your forehead, whisper I love you and lay you down oh-so-carefully in your crib. On multiple occasions, despite being in a deep sleep when I lay you down, you appear to wake the instant you touch the bed, rolling over onto your tummy, pushing your head and chest up and looking around the room for me. When you find me your face bursts with happiness. It literally breaks my heart to have to turn my back on you and leave the room when you’re so visibly happy to see me. You fall asleep in a minute or so own your own, but it takes a lot of willpower for me to leave.

Today on your morning walk with your dad and furry brothers you saw all the neighborhood kids heading to school; today was the first day of school in Boulder. Your dad returned from your walk with stories of excited kids and anxious parents escorting their children to school. He even told me of a little boy who lives up the road and who hasn’t quite perfected bike riding yet. He clearly wanted to ride to school but wasn’t yet fully ready. His dad encouraged him to come into our cul-de-sac to practice before embarking on the adventure to school. I loved this story and the picture it evoked in my mind of a little boy so ready to head to school that even the fact that he couldn’t fully get himself there couldn’t dissuade him from trying.

Today around the country friends of mine saw their children return to school, and Facebook was plastered with photos of kids in their first day of school outfits. Accompanying almost every one of these pictures was some variant of the phrase ‘Where does the time go?’. Just yesterday we walked with Uncle Brett around the neighborhood and up the road to Bear Creek Elementary School, where you’ll go in five short years. That milestone seems so amazingly far away, but I know that a time will come when I carefully choose an outfit for you to wear on your first day of school, I get you dressed up and packed and I photograph you endlessly, and send you off with a tear in my eye asking your dad, ‘Where did the time go?’. Just thinking about it is enough to get me teary-eyed. Luckily I have five years to find my resolve.

Today we were driving home from nana and papa’s house and Uncle Brett was in the back seat with you. He was keeping you company and entertaining you during the drive, and at some point he became focused on a conversation with us and lost track of your shenanigans. Out of nowhere he yelled, ‘Owwwwww!’, loud enough for your dad and I to turn around and investigate what was going on. Apparently, while he was engaged in conversation with us you were playing with his hand. You proceeded to pull his hand to your mouth and stuck a finger in there and gave it a good hard bite. Now that you have a couple of little teeth in there, combined with your already powerful jaw, you can deliver a surprisingly hard bite. It’s funny because this exact same thing happened to me this morning! We’ve always been careful not to let you gnaw on our fingers unless we’re sure they’re clean, but now we have even more reason to keep them away from you, you little finger eater.

Today you attended your first Rockies game. I am not much of a fan of baseball, but your dad is so fond of it that I have a hard time at least not attempting to not like it. He was so excited to take you to the game. We haven’t taken you to any sporting events yet, worried that the sounds are too loud for you, or not sure how to work the timing since most of them start in the evening. Today’s game started a little after 6. Your Uncle Brett came into town this afternoon, so we met him and your nana and papa at the game. At first you enjoyed taking in all the sights and sounds, but after about an hour you were tired and less than impressed (well, the score was 6-1 with the Rockies down…). We made a hasty exit around 7:45, and you were asleep within minutes of being secured in your car seat. I think for the immediate future, the day games will be the best timing for you.