Month 10: The Screaming Soother-Stealer

My Loops,

You have officially lived in the outside world longer than you grew inside of me. All 21 pounds of you is lovable, huggable, kissable and smushable. You are so alert, bright, and communicative. You're so good at telling me what you need - especially if it's extra snuggles when you're not feeling so hot.

You learned how to crawl and pull yourself up in January; you practiced all February. You love joining me in the kitchen while I prepare meals - you especially love sitting in front of the oven and opening the bottom pan drawer. Open, close. Open, close. You don't tire of this task readily. You also love playing with measuring cups and spoons, and whatever morsels of food you can find that have fallen onto the floor. About every 15 minutes, you need a snuggle, and once you've gotten it, you're awesome at entertaining yourself again.

Something you don't love is when I need to take a shower. Usually, I try to shower in the afternoon when you've gone down for a nap (which happens, oh, about 75% of the time now). On those days that you refuse to nap, I simply plop you down on the bathroom floor mat with some toys and hop into the shower. Lately, though, you've taken to SCREAMING as soon as I disappear behind the shower curtain. You pull yourself up against the tub, and you SCREAM until I get out of the shower. It doesn't matter if I pull the shower curtain back and reassure you that I'm right there; you SCREAM nonetheless. Why am I writing in all caps? Because your screams are THAT LOUD! As soon as I'm done my shower and I step out of the tub, the screams stop and you're your happy little self again. I sure haven't figured that one out yet.

You're a social butterfly. You are so happy when surrounded by other kids, no matter what age they are. You're a soother-stealer, too. No matter who it is, if you see another kid with a soother in his mouth, you crawl up to him, grab it, and stick it in your own mouth, totally authoritatively. If the other kid tries to take his soother back, you're very resilient - you're not giving that sucker up without a fight. Why, again, do you refuse to take a soother to actually soothe? Such an anomaly, you are!

This month, I decided to finally start using the cloth diapers you received as a shower gift. I figured since you only poop every four days or so, and since you can go hours without a good diaper wetting, that cloth diapers were the way to go. It figures that the day I began using the cloth diapers, you decided that every single day was the best time to poop. Sometimes twice. I counted four on one day. Cloth diapers are a lot more work than disposables, but I'm emptying the garbage less and your bum just looks so cute in that fluff. If I'm not careful, I could end up dropping a pretty penny on some more cute diapers. I sure hope you have a little sister someday because a little brother would not look so cute wearing zebra print and fuschia diapers.

You're still a food monster, and you eat anything and everything I put in front of you, unless you're not feeling well. When that's the case, all you want is mama's milk. I can't say I totally mind. People are beginning to ask me when I plan on weaning you, and the truth is, I'm not planning it. You'll know when you're ready. You definitely nurse way less than even a couple of months ago, but it does amp up when you're sick, and I'm grateful that I can still nurse you for comfort. It doesn't feel right to me to have a planned weaning date. I even hope that when I go back to work at the end of April that I can still nurse you in the mornings and the evenings. But like I said, I have no plan. It will happen as it happens, and I'm okay with that. Not so sure about everyone else, but it's between you and me, my sweet baby girl. Oh, I can just imagine you reading then as a teenager, rolling your eyes, and screeching, "MOM! I can't believe you wrote that!"

A teenager. It's difficult to fathom that you won't always be my tiny (well, not so tiny anymore) baby. You're almost a year old; we're teetering on toddlerdom. My sweet, sweet, hippo-tooth babe.

Love,

Mama

Month 5: Sickness and the Death Stabber

My Sweets,

As I write this, you are slipping in and out of wakefulness, rocking side to side in your swing. You are suffering from an upper respiratory viral infection, conjunctivitis in your eyes, and a hoarse throat. And I feel awful. I took you to the doctor's office this morning after a particularly rough night; your scary, hoarse cough kept Daddy and I awake more than you, though. By 5:00 in the morning, I'd put you in your swing to keep you sitting up, and I finally managed to capture a few hours' sleep on the couch. I refused to give in to fear, as tempting as it was to rush you to the emergency room in the middle of the night. But your spirits were high. You're crying and grumbling more than usual, but who doesn't complain, whine, and moan when they're not feeling well? The hardest part for me is watching you deal with your sickness without the ability to express yourself in words. I want to make you better. I want you to feel okay. I want so badly for this sickness to pass.

Although this illness has marked the end of your fifth month of life and is bringing us into your sixth, it's far overshadowed by the progress you've shown throughout September. That hoarse voice? I'm surprised it took an illness to get so hoarse. You're a screamer. You love letting the world know that you're happy. We have to whisper to you to temper your boisterous calls; how else do you teach a baby that screaming is just not necessary? But it's so cute... so sometimes we encourage it. Don't tell Papa, though... your screaming is one thing he just doesn't like.

Not only are you screaming, but you're babbling. Mornings are the best. Sometimes, when you wake just as your mom and dad are stirring, you engage in conversation. You're happily cooing to yourself (or to us, but who knows) and those sounds of some of the sweetest noises I've ever heard. I love the expression in your voice; your vocal range is phenomenal (see: screaming, as detailed above.) Neither your mama or dad are particularly loud or talkative (especially not your dad), so it's a mystery where you got your voice from. But it's beautiful, nonetheless.

Vocally, September began out with one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard - a giggle escaping your throat as I played a little game with you. I haven't been able to get you to giggle again all month, which is heartbreaking, but your daddy is good at getting a giggle to escape here and there. I really hope that's a noise that we get a little bit more familiar with as the fall continues. 

Your mama started working at Inferno Fitness, a local gym, twice a week this month. I drag you along, where you're looked after in the back room by a child care provider with a bunch of other kids. There's one other little girls your age, and you're becoming more and more interested by other kids. Your world doesn't solely revolve around you and your parents anymore - you're curious in other people, and it's such a delight to watch you hold out your hands and lean towards others in curiosity.

September saw the advent of the "death stabber" as we so lovingly refer to it - that's right, your first tooth. It's your bottom left tooth, and it's sharp as can be. I think Natalie gave your tooth that moniker, and it's quite fitting - I'm pretty sure you'd be able to draw blood with that thing. You've been drooling crazily for the past week or so, so I'm assuming that its partner in crime is on its way. You love chewing on our fingers to numb your aching gums.

In other embarrassing news (I'm sure you'll love me for this one), I just have to share a poop story. Pooping takes up a significant portion of time in an infant's life, so why not discuss it? You used to poop only when you were breastfeeding, but now it happens at any given time, usually when you're dressed to the nines and we're just about to head out the door. That happens about twice a week. One day at suppertime, you were sitting in your high chair between Daddy and I. Usually supper time involves high pitched squeals on your part as you chew on plastic toys (we're not starting you on solids until six months), but this particular day, you were a little quieter, more concentrated. For about fifteen minutes, the only noise you emitted was a low pitched grumble as you stared forward. For fifteen minutes, Daddy and I watched you in your intense state of concentration. I bet your dad that you were pooping, and lo and behold, I was right. Daddy got to change that diaper. I hope I never forget the sound you made or the expression on your face, because it was hilarious. You make us laugh daily.

You're still rolling over crazily, and you've been showing an interest in crawling, but digging your heels into the ground isn't something you're capable of doing quite yet. You want it though; you want it badly. If I leave you on the floor long enough to try a few times, you end up high-centered (as your daddy puts it) with arms and legs kicking. Sweetie, you're just not going anywhere yet. Hopefully not for a while, either - I'm not ready to start chasing you around the house. Please just stay in my arms a little while longer?

Finally, this fifth month has been marked by an increasing interest in the toys attached to your jumparoo and exersaucer - if you're having a good day, I can leave you in your exersaucer for an entire hour while I prepare supper. I love watching you concentrate on a little plastic flower or bug, and sometimes you mash your hand down on the exersaucer's keyboard so it makes this horrible, stuck-electronic sound - but it doesn't seem to bother you one bit. You just look up at me as if to say, "mama, is this music?" No, dear, it's not. Please, let you have inherited my musical side and not your father's tone-deafness. Like I said, on a good day, that exersaucer will keep you entertained for upwards of an hour, but if you're a little bit fussy, I find myself constantly moving you around to find a position that suits your fancy. Don't like being in the exersaucer? Let's try your little pink playmat. Don't want to be on your back? You roll yourself over to your tummy. Oh, that position isn't pleasing? How about your swing? Nope? Okay, snack time it is, in mama's arms. I'm sad that some day the little bundle of you won't fit into my arms anymore, so I'll revel in it as long as I possibly can.

Love,

Mama

Month 4: Finding Yourself

My Sweets,

My little Lobster

That's actually Daddy's nickname for you. He has quite a few: My Sweets, Lexi Loopity Poopity Bear, and Varmint Milt to name a few. Don't ask me about that last one... as you'll grow to see, your father is fond of nonsense words. That's one of the adorable parts about him. I wonder how much of his silliness you'll inheret? Hopefully a lot, because this world is a tough one and it's even more difficult if you can't face day to day with a sense of humour.

Post-bathtime

Life has gotten too busy for me to write weekly updates, so I decided that monthly will have to do. What has Month 4 brought us? Well, you began showing an interest in grasping things - your bunny, blankets, teething rings, and Mommy and Daddy's fingers. As the month progressed, you became more and more accurate as you brought things to your mouth. It's so incredible to watch your accuracy improve. For a while, you got a little bit boring (sorry, but all you were doing was nursing and crying for a few weeks!) but through all that fussiness, your brain was actually growing the capacity to allow you to do really interesting things. And they only got more interesting as the month progressed!

Sweet thinker

Not only are you grasping things extremely well now, you're also showing us that you have quite the voice. The squealing that began emerging in your third month of life has now turned to full on screams of joy. Especially in the mornings, you love singing (well, screaming) us your morning wakeup song with a huge smile on your face. Mornings are such a joyful time for you; as the day wanes on, you get crankier and crankier.

Rooting... on Daddy. Seriously.

Another milestone this month? Rolling over. You managed to roll from your tummy to your back on Wednesday, August 14 at Kersey's house. I didn't expect back to tummy to come for another few months, but on Monday, August 26, you decided to show your great grandmother Nannoo (Lillian Gallant, your grandfather Gallant's mother) that you were capable of some pretty acrobatic feats. We have footage of your very first back to front rollover and I'm pretty grateful to have captured it on film.

You adore hole-y blankets.

Grasping, screaming, rolling over... this month has been a busy one. Through it all, you've packed on a few pounds. I'm not sure exactly how much you weigh as we haven't been to the doctor since your two month checkup, but we're heading there this upcoming Friday and I'm confident you're chunking up for all the crawling you'll inevitably doing in a short while. You've grown out of your newborn and 0-3 month clothes; even some of your 3-month clothing is getting a little snug. Thankfully, we're able to share your cute little duds with some friends - Amanda's little girl Lakelyn, and Lindsay's sweet daughter Farrah. I think it's so fantastic that Mommy and Daddy's friends have had little girls in the same year that you were born; there are so many friends for you. Right now, you're more interested in interacting with adults who can hold you and respond to you - we'll leave the little friends for when you're a bit older.

Pure concentration

Lexi, you topped off a fantastic fourth month with your very first plane ride, and you were amazing. You didn't cry once on any flight, and you got a ton of compliments about your cuteness as we travelled from Calgary to Ottawa so that you could meet your Mama's parents your uncle Louis. Grammy and Grandpa Gallant and Uncle Louis were absolutely thrilled to meet you... I think they secretly wish they lived closer so that they could watch you grow in person instead of on Facetime and Skype. Maybe one day your Mama's parents and brother will be closer. Maybe you'll even have cousins on the Gallant side of your family someday.

With Grammy Gallant

During our Ontario trip, you got to meet a ton of Mama's cousins, aunts, and uncles, your great grandmother Gallant (Nannoo), and Mama's great friends Dayna, Julie, and their kids. You dipped your feet in the Ottawa River at Norway Bay in Quebec, the cottage country where your Mama spent her childhood summers. You were so well behaved and pleasant during the whole trip and for that I'm very grateful! Once we landed back in Calgary, we drove straight to the Crowsnest Pass to see Grandma and Papa Liboiron. After a week and a half on the road, you almost slept through the night during your first night back in your bassinet... you're a great traveler, little girl!

Daddy, Mama and Lexi at Norway Bay, Quebec

I am amazed as I watch you learn and grow. Your shrieks, your drooly little fists, your gummy smile... it's all beautiful. I think I've shared this sentiment before, but I'll repeat it again... baby, I love watching you grow up and I can't wait to see who you'll become... but I wish I could freeze these moments in time.

Love,

Mama

Hammocks are not your friend

Four generations of Gallants

Uncle "Lolo" Louis

Bunny love

Having a time with Danielle Sullivan, Julie's little one

Grandpa Gallant trying to get you interested in poutine... it doesn't seem to be working.