seven months

dearest Cecilia,

you've always been a happy baby, but this month, your sense of humor has truly blossomed. you laugh when we laugh, when i kiss your tummy, when we mimic your "mad dog" pant, when Greta plays peek-a-boo with you. and speaking of peek-a-boo, it's your new favourite game. if we put a small blanket over your head, you dramatically pull it off and laugh and laugh. you know your name, and you love the little song i made up one day: "Cecilia Bedelia, Cecilia Marie! you are my best Cecilia, and always you shall be." 

you are a pro at sitting up now, and sometimes when you're on your tummy, you scoot yourself backwards just a little bit. you love to spin yourself around in a circle to reach your various toys. you entertain yourself for long periods of time in the pack'n'play, looking at books, shaking your maracas, and chewing on your beloved Sophie giraffe. 

you blow raspberries and you love your sippy cup, although you don't actually drink much water out of it -- you just gnaw on the spout. this month, you've eaten all kinds of things: peaches, green beans, mashed bananas, peas, and oatmeal mixed with fruit. you chow down on rice rusks (which are marketed as a "no-mess" snack, but somehow you manage to get half-dissolved crumbs all over yourself). you sit with us at the dinner table in your little Fisher Price highchair seat (attached to one of our dining rooms chairs) and eat your food like a big girl! 

i don't want to jinx myself, but you are a fantastic sleeper. when you're getting tired, you rub your cheek with the leg of your little froggy Wubbanub and sometimes you rub the top of your head. you're still sleeping in our room, mostly because i'm afraid that if i move you in with your sister, you'll end up keeping each other awake! 

you're still wearing size 2 diapers, and you're well into 6-9 month clothes. you had some 6 month onesies and rompers that still fit until literally yesterday, when you outgrew them seemingly overnight. that might have something to do with the fact that you transitioned to formula this month. my supply just kept dropping (as it did around this time when i was nursing Greta) and so we gradually made the switch. you were not too pleased about taking a bottle from me at first, but after a few days you decided it wasn't so bad after all, and you now drink 5-6 ounces between four to six times per day. 

so many fun things happened this month! you attended your first wedding -- and such a special wedding, at that. your godparents, Jen and John, were married in a beautiful traditional Latin mass at St. Boniface Church. you were a good girl throughout the whole service and then Nana watched you during the reception. then, your friend Addie (ten months) and her mom Amelia came to visit for a few days. you two were equally fascinated by each other and i'm so excited to watch you two grow up together.

and finally, you went on your first plane trip -- across the country, no less! this was a very special trip back to Redmond for Auntie Krista's high school graduation. you met Grandpa Kyle for the first time, and loved snuggling with him. you also met Uncle James, Auntie Krista, and Great-Grandpa Bill and Great-Grandma Jo. we had a wonderful, albeit short, trip with family, and you were a trooper on both flights. i wore you most of the time in the Ergo, and it worked out so well! we hope to fly back over Christmas, and i'm afraid you might not be so keen to stay put for so long by that point when you'll be much more mobile! 

we love you, Cece! happy seven months!