4 Years (plus a little)

Eden,

You turned 4 on June 15. Four! You're such a big girl. I know I sound like a broken record, but I cannot believe how fast the time has flown.

Three was... a hard age for you. It's one reason this post took a bit to write, actually, and a reason I've been a bit silent about your development this year. I'll tell you the story of your fourth birthday party, it about sums that up:

We were all excited for your party. You wanted your party in a barn. It's really hard to find a venue with a barn in New England in the summertime. If you'd been born in September, or even July, that would be a piece of cake, but unfortunately most of the farms are still closed for parties in June. So we decided to wing it in our condo complex's clubhouse, and make it feel like a barn. You invited all of your friends from school (for the first time!).

The day of the party, a Sunday, we came home from church and you just... melted down. Epically. You were screaming, hitting, pinching, punching, completely out of control. By the time I got you calmed down, you just fell asleep. It was 12:30. Your party was scheduled for 3:00. We couldn't very well have you wake up from your nap, after that epic situation, and be "rewarded" by an afternoon full of friends and cake and presents, so we made a very difficult decision. We cancelled your party. Gut wrenching and frustrating and sad as it was, we had to call and email everyone on the guest list and tell them there would be no party. And then we had to tell you. You took it better than we expected, but the three additional meltdowns in the next 6 hours told us we'd made the right choice, as terribly difficult as it was. It still brings tears to my eyes to think that you'll never have a fourth birthday party (even as I also know that I have no clue what my own fourth birthday party was!).

You've unfortunately spent a lot of time in the last year in tears, in tantrums, in screaming fits. One day in October you refused to get dressed and I had to take you to preschool stark naked. You screamed at the top of your lungs the whole way there, and I carried you in, barely covered in a blanket, no clue what to do. The teachers (mortified, I'm sure) immediately asked if I needed help, I squeaked out a yes, and as soon as they asked if you'd like to get dressed, you complied.

Yes, it's been a difficult year.

BUT.

It's also been a time of incredible growth and development. And I'm happy to say (tentatively) that I think we're looking backward on that year. I continue to constantly be amazed at the little lady you've become on the other side.

In preparation for your birthday party, you helped me make invitations. You love being creative, and jump at the chance to do something crafty or help bake; last weekend we made a cake. You sit at the bar and help stir, help crack eggs, help measure flour, and it's very sweet how concentrated and careful you are.

You are starting to use your imagination (which you are happy to announce you're doing - "I'm using my imagination, Mommy!") and play alone or with us (or your friends at school). Right now your favorite things to do are to play princesses (which almost always involves a wedding) and "MommyDaddyBaby" (which often involves babysitting). Objects are never what they appear to be; they always stand for something else, which drives your concrete father a bit nuts but makes me so excited.

(Proudly showing off your "car")

You've also started playing board games, which is very fun for Daddy and me - we love that we can all three sit together and play Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. (Incidentally, you have crazy luck - you almost ALWAYS win, which is so odd, because they're games of chance, with no skill involved!)

(Cootie!)

We are constantly amazed at what you're learning right now, in a more academic manner. You know all your letters (just tonight I noticed that you can start in the middle of the alphabet and recite from there, without singing the song) and their sounds, and you're starting to put words together a bit. You know all of your numbers too, and recently you've started doing basic addition and subtraction.

(Family walk around the neighborhood)

You are a little bit timid, taking time to warm up to every situation, even the preschool you attend five days a week. But once you warm up, you're right in the mix, excited and chattering away.

(Rock on, girlfriend!)

You are an incredible big sister. That is one thing that, even in your hardest, most difficult moments, never goes away. You LOVE Leah. You don't always want her up in your business, true, but you are (usually) kind about it. And if she's upset, you're the first to try to fix it. And she loves you, too. One of my favorite moments of the day is when we wake Leah up and get her out of her crib, and she immediately heads to your room, lifts up your covers (you sleep completely under them) and gives you a big hug. You will squint open one eye, then throw your arm around her, and she'll climb into your bed for a snuggle. I stand in the doorway and watch it unfold, thankful for two sweet little girls.

(Educating Leah about the giraffes at the zoo)

Today, Eden, was a great day. You were so good. You cleaned your room all by yourself, we played two games of Hi Ho Cherry-O, you transitioned from activity to activity without protest. We went for a walk, you skinned your knee (galloping in Crocs - not a good idea) and were so brave when I cleaned it. You kissed Leah goodnight and rubbed her head. You sat still while I braided your hair (because you wanted it "curly" tomorrow). And I thought, Three is gone. Four is here. And I am so glad. I know this year won't be perfect, and it will have its ups and downs, but you're in SUCH a better place.

(Ice cream date with Mommy)

I love you so incredibly much, girlie. I know that things are not always going to be easy, and I embrace that, because it shows that you're a strong individual. You know what you want, and I know that will serve you very well later in life. And I love that about you.

(Checking out the swings at the church!)

You're awesome, kid, and I can't wait for tomorrow.

Love,
Mommy

Three. Years. Old.

Sweet Eden,

You've been blessing our lives in amazing ways for three whole years (plus nine months in my belly...). I can't believe what a big girl you are. You're a little person - with opinions, ideas, problem solving capabilities, an imagination (oh, an imagination!), and the sweetest little voice I've ever heard (even when you're saying things like "thay-at" - as I tell you daily, "that" is only one syllable, and I have no idea how you've gotten a southern twang when you've spent your entire life in New England!)

You love life. You bring such joy and laughter to our home! You love to run and play, kick your soccer ball with your Daddy, jump as high as you can, ride on your tricycle and scooter, and DANCE. Oh, how you love to DANCE. Just last week Daddy downloaded "Jump in the Line" by Harry Belafonte (which Daddy and I know as the song from the end of Beetlejuice) for you, and you go crazy when that is on. You love Pete Yorn and Jack Johnson, too. You jump and spin and wave your arms, and smile so big it's completely infectious. Before you know it we are all jumping and spinning and acting crazy. And loving every minute!

You also love art. You love to sit at your little table and do a "project" (aka a "pwojack") together. Paper, crayons, glue, scissors, paint - you love it all (and you're a girl after my own heart). One thing you and I do together a lot is sit and make cards for friends or family. You get a big kick out of it. You also recently got an easel with a chalkboard, white board, and place for paper to paint, and you've been going to town on that. You've made some pretty pieces of art we are thinking of framing. :) You can draw a very good circle, and a nearly-recognizable face (the mouth always ends up being a straight line across the chin, but hey, whatever). You can trace things really well, and you're learning to cut with scissors.

You talk like a grownup. I'm always amazed at how big you sound. You say things like "I don't think that's a very good idea" and "We have to be careful with paint, Mommy." You understand that there are degrees to things - you get that "a little bit" means something different that "a lot." Two words you are still working on understanding are "because" and "otherwise"; right now, sometimes you get them right, but more often you use them both to mean "but" or "and". Your running stream-of-consciousness commentary is often strung together with these words: "We have to be quiet because Leah is sleeping; otherwise the tree is really tall." Um, what?

You're becoming very independent too, and it would be sad except it is so sweet. You are 100% potty trained, and are getting to the point where you can almost go all by yourself. You can dress yourself a little bit, and you're pretty good at undressing. You get yourself in and out of bed, though at night you still want us to tuck you in after you wake up. You feel secure though; you understand that if you need us we're close by (we have a new video monitor and you say "If I need you I have to talk to the camera" ("cram-a")).


You are an amazing big sister. You LOVE Leah. You want to hug her and kiss her all the time, and often ask to burp her or hold her. You always cover her with a blanket when she is lying down, you let us know when she's upset and you try to comfort her. This week she had to go to the doctor's office and you kept telling her the doctor was nice, and when they had to put in a cathider to get a urine sample you gently rubbed her head and told her "it's ok." You still mostly call her "Weah" but you can get out "Leah" - though when you think too hard about it, it comes out "Wa-Leah". That's my favorite. :)

You're very sweet a lot of the time, but you are also three, and all that comes with being three. You have a major meltdown probably once a day, which involves going to time out and staying there (usually for at least 15-20 minutes, which seems WAY longer to EVERYONE) until you can calm down and stop crying and apologize for whatever it was that sent you there.

Your favorite things right now:
1. Color: ORANGE
2. Song (to sing): Jesus Loves Me (or any other words to that tune; you make up songs every day)
3. Breakfast: cereal. usually Special K Red Berries ("pwakes [flakes] with strawberries")
4. Food: crackers. (Triscuts)
5. TV show: Oswald and Yo Gabba Gabba. Probably Yo Gabba Gabba wins a head-to-head, but it would be close. (Daddy puts his thumb on the side of Yo Gabba Gabba because of the music...)
6. Game: Hide and Seek (though you still tell us where you are if we say, "Eeeeedennnn, where aaaaaarrrrre yoooooooouuuu?"). We are thankful you appear to be over the "It's raining on our heads" game, in which we constantly had to very quickly hide underneath covers or toys or in the closet, or otherwise cover our hair. It was fun while it lasted. :)

I love you sweet girl. Someone once told me that at 3 all of a sudden our babies become little people, and he was right - I can't believe what a little lady you're becoming, so quickly. I look at your sister and remember you being that little and it seems like yesterday. But I don't want to go back - I want you just as you are. Maybe sans a tantrum here or there, admittedly, but definitely who you are. I honestly wish I could record every little thing you do, so I can forever remember this moment in your life, because it is so, so, so precious.

Stay sweet my love, and keep growing so big and strong. Hugs and kisses and love all around you! Know you are deeply treasured by your Mama.

Love,
Mommy

Sweet Eden

Eden,

Tonight I started going through your old clothes to see what we could use for your baby sister ("We-wah"). After spending half an hour digging though 0-3 and 3-6 sized clothes, I took a good long look at you, and I swear if I didn't witness the transformation one day at a time I could hardly believe you're the same person as that tiny baby. I remember holding you with one arm, and now when we cuddle in the rocking chair at night your head is on my chest, your bottom is in my lap, and your legs hang off the side.

Tonight as I sang "You Are My Sunshine" to you, stroking your forehead above your nose in that way I've done a thousand times, you started to fall asleep and I almost lost it staring at your sweet, almost-baby face. I love who you are, right now. And I desperately want to hold onto it, before it slips away. I know the next phase will be amazing too, but I honestly can't imagine that any stage is better than this.

You talk in sentences, and the (most of) things that come out of your little mouth are hilarious and sweet at the same time, if for no other reason than that they come out in that tiny voice like music. You play independently for stretches of time, speaking in a surprisingly understandable narrative as you go. You run and jump and love your rain boots (you put them on yourself!). You're about 98% potty trained (you still have accidents when we don't pay attention to how long it's been since you've been to the potty, or when you get really distracted). You sit in a booster seat at the table and sleep (yes! Thank God, you sleep! Most nights, all night long!) in a big girl bed. (Oh, but we shouldn't call you a big girl - "I not a big girl I EDEN!"). You still love to cuddle sometimes, but you also want to "do it MYSELF" a lot. You have a routine, you know the routine, and you let us know if we've deviated from the routine.

You're full of joy - your eyes light up at the simplest things and I adore that about you. Last weekend we went to a church retreat and you discovered acorns, and when Brennan showed you that the tops come off you thought that was the best thing ever. You learned that Jesus made the acorns, that squirrels ("squaaarts") eat the acorns, and Jesus made the squirrels, and squirrels live in trees, and Jesus made the trees (I didn't even have to tell you that last part - you got it all on your own)! It is so sweet to hear you say "Jesus make acorns"!

One of my favorite looks from you is this quizzical look you get when you're asking a question or something doesn't quite make sense. The other day you noticed a bruise on my leg and you said, "Mommy, you have a boo-boo? You want me clean it?" with that little look. (When I said OK, you ran to your room and came back with your little broom, and proceeded to sweep my leg.)

You are amazed by airplanes. Every time you hear one, your eyebrows go up and your mouth forms a little "o" and you have to stop what you're doing to try to find it. And if we ask where it's going, the answer is always the same (it's also where the squaaarts go when they run away) - Oklahoma ("Hama").

You've grown up so much, and I just can't believe what a beautiful little girl you've become. Sweet Eden, I absolutely love being your mommy. I thank God for you, for the opportunity to be your mother, and I pray for wisdom about how to do that.

I just wanted to let you know I love you, and I think you're pretty amazing.

Love,

Mommy

You're Two!!

Sweet Eden,

I can't believe how quickly the last two years have gone. But at the same time, it almost seems like you've been this fun and independent since the very beginning.

You have grown into a full-fledged toddler. You are constantly exploring, figuring things out (most recently, how to get your head (but not your arms) out of your night shirt) and learning new words! We really understand most of what you say now, even if some of your "words" are your own special language. You call any smallish, roundish fruit a "boobay" (blueberry) and - maybe my favorite - you call the vacuum cleaner a "back-a-roon". Other times, though, it is very clear what you're saying, like a couple of Sundays ago on the way to church when you very excitedly said, "Mama! Look! A bicycle!" You're also talking in simple sentences much of the time now, like a few days ago when you woke up and said "I want to ride bus", or yesterday in the midst of potty training when you said "Mama I pee couch".

You're learning the polite little phrases we say - you are surprisingly good at saying "thank you" (we very rarely have to prompt you) and pretty good at "please." Occasionally we will hear "'cuse me", but my favorite is "bless you" after someone sneezes (we didn't even teach you that - you picked it up on your own!).

You love to read books, and your current favorite is "Mr. Brown can Moo - Can You?" - you know every sound and point at all the pictures and name the objects. Recently when you get to the last page you say "How about you?"

You are obsessed with babies. You love to put your dolls to sleep. You will pick a doll up and pat its back, make a "shhhh" sound, and then cradle it, sing "Sunshine.... Happy.... Gray.... Yuh You.... A-WAY" and then lay it in its bed, cover with a blanket, and say "night-night."

You also love Nino, our cat. You ask at least three times a day to give him a "treat" and you have to give it to him in the same spot on the corner of the living room rug every time. He thinks it's a pretty good deal, except he has to wait forever to get the treat until the circumstances are just so.

You have your favorite people, who all we have to do is mention and you start going crazy. Of course, one is "Bubba", who has been a favorite for a LONG time. I love seeing you see him - your eyes light up and you never run faster than when you're running into his arms! He is six years older than you, and calls you his little princess. It's adorable how much you love each other! You also adore his older sister Hannah, and we can't talk about one of them without the other. Our new downstairs neighbors have a little boy you call "Baby" and you love his daddy "Dim" (Jimmy). You also find literally hours of enjoyment each day in standing at the window, looking out, and yelling at Bob, our next door neighbor - "Hi Bob! Hi Bob! Hi Bob!" (Also favorite - but not real: Caillou ("I want watch Caillou") and Elmo).

We gave you my old iPod Touch with a bunch of toddler apps on it, and you have that thing figured out. You can turn it on and off, start and stop apps, and play pretty much all the games without help (this is really great when you wake up at 5:30 am ready to play and Daddy and I are still sleepy - we can put you in our bed, give you your "phone" and you're good to go for another 30-45 minutes).

There are so many amazing things you do, so many things you love, I could sit here all day and not even list them all. Suffice it to say, you are incredibly fun and it just keeps getting better and better. We love just watching you interact with the world, and, as I always say, we can't wait to see what is next.

Love you Little Missy!

Mommy


P.S. This morning you went diaper-free for 6 hours. With ZERO accidents. Way to go, big girl!

18 months!

Sweet Eden,

You’re a year and a half old now and you are definitely a toddler! You’re an expert walker and runner; you can even walk backwards now! My favorite mobility-related move is when you get a book, bring it to me, and back up to sit in my lap, your bottom all stuck out and leading your way!

You love to dance; any time there is music going, you will stop what you’re doing, bend over, and shake your arms and head to the beat. You’ve got rhythm, baby girl! It’s adorable!
You have really started talking a lot. You’ve added a bunch of words to your vocabulary (including “dance” of course). I love listening to your little voice! You’ve started replacing some signs with words (like “more” and “eat”) and you’re putting words together. Yesterday you saw Daddy’s hat and you said, “Hat. Daddy. Bye-bye.” It’s so amazing to see your little mind make connections!!

You are expressing your (STRONG) will more and more, especially during diaper changes. For some reason you really, really hate having your diaper changed. I think it’s because you don’t like to sit still. Last weekend we started trying to potty train you. Daddy brought a potty home on Christmas Eve and we let you go diaper-free periodically over the next few days. You love your potty; if we ask you to sit on it you’ll happily sit, and you even go in there by yourself to have a seat sometimes! On Saturday you finally used the potty and I got VERY excited. You didn’t think it was such a big deal. And about 2 hours later I was cleaning up a puddle. Oh well. It’s a process!

You are so much fun, sweet girl. There is so much I would like to tell you about yourself but I couldn’t even express half of the things I enjoy about being around you. You’re so happy and excited and giggly most of the time, it is impossible not to smile. You explore everything and it is really refreshing to see things through your little eighteen-month-old eyes, to watch you figure things out.

Your hands and arms are healing beautifully - my, you're fearfully and wonderfully made! You will always be able to tell you were burned, but you won't notice right away and the scars will not interfere with daily function. You are dealing pretty well with the continued scar management issues. We're doing massage on your scars at least twice a day, and you're becoming slightly more tolerant; in fact you know getting a massage comes with watching a little TV (a REAL treat) so you sometimes willingly grab the Eucerin cream, take it to the couch, climb up, and point to the TV!

I love you, Miss Eden. Keep learning and growing, but don’t grow up too fast! We love you just how you are!

Love,

Mommy

15 1/2 months

Sweet Eden,

This is not a milestone post, you're not at any particular age necessitating an update on yourself, you're just amazing and I wanted to let you know. This past almost-month has been difficult, to say the least. You've been through a lot; we all have. But you are such a trooper. Instead of being frustrated about all the things you can't do, you're figuring out new ways to do them (like eating Cheerios - you lick your unbandaged thumb and stick it to a Cheerio to pick it up). Instead of being weirded out by your bandages, you're falling in love with your reflection.

And you're taking the opportunity to take huge strides in language development. You've learned so many new words over the past month! You can now say no; duck ("duh"); mama; dada; mommy (my favorite!); daddy; uh-oh; hi; bye; eye; night-night ("nigh-nigh"); "this" (which, accompanied by a point, means you want something); hot (when you spit out your food); balloon ("ba-oon"); ball ("bah"); woah; whee; and most recently, "daaaaisy" (for whoops-a-daisy - Angela gets credit for that one!). I also think you can say Nino but I'm not certain because you've only done it once and it might have been an accident.

You have learned that food coming out of the microwave is hot, and if you see us blow on it to cool it off before we give it to you, you blow on it before taking a bite. Then you spit it out and say "hot." If I tell you it's not hot and offer it again, you smile and eat it. This is what happens with every bite.

Also, though it's been somewhat overshadowed by all the drama of the last month, you had your first camping trip over Labor Day weekend. I am so glad we had that trip, that we made those memories. You loved camping. You got incredibly dirty, you walked all over the campsite, pushed the stroller around, and made piles of pinecones. We went to the lake nearby and you got in with me and splashed like crazy. Then we saw a real duck - you LOVE ducks, and you were chasing it and saying "duh! duh! duh!" and trying to catch it. It was faster than you, though, and ran away. I love that moment.

You amaze me, Little One, and I hope you know how loved you are - by your Mommy and Daddy, by the people around you (and around the world!), and most of all by your Father in Heaven.

Keep surprising us, Love, and keep getting better.

Love,

Mommy

One Whole Year

Sweet Eden,

I can distinctly remember the very first time I kissed your tiny, pink, puffy cheek. You felt so little and so big at the same time, and I felt incredibly excited and very anxious when they handed you to me. I remember staring at your little face and trying to take it in, to memorize it as quickly as I could. I remember thinking that just a few moments before, when you were still inside me, you were familiar, and now you were completely new and unknown.

One year later I kiss that sweet cheek every day. And even better than that, I know you. I can close my eyes and see your face, hear your infectious giggle. I can feel your beautiful little marshmallow cheeks on my lips. You know me, too. One of my favorite parts of the day is coming up the stairs and hearing your palms slap the hardwood as you thunder to the gate, squealing with excitement, to meet me.

You have changed so much in a year! And though I was sure that when we reached this place I would be sad, mourning the loss of your babyhood, the truth is I'm not, really. I loved the cuddily bundle of milky sleep you were a year ago, but it just keeps getting better! How can I be sad when you're so much fun?

Your first birthday party was so much fun. You were surrounded by many, many people who love you very much, and I am assured that there were many, many more wishing they could be there, from all over the country. I made a strawberry layer cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting and I made you a mini version of the same thing. You did so great! You picked off the strawberries first, and then started to shove the cake in your mouth just like you were supposed to! You were a little freaked out by having thirty pairs of eyes watch you, I think, but you seemed to like the cake! You made a big mess on your hands and face and high chair tray, but not a drop got in your hair, on your dress, or on the floor! That's my girl!!


The list of things you can do keeps getting longer and longer, and I'm often awestruck that every one of them was learned. From holding your head up to re-arranging furniture, you figured it out one step at a time. And now you can give kisses to your stuffed animals, give high fives (thanks to Aunt Kelli), clap, point, attempt to put on shoes, brush your hair, and pick out the toy duck, among other things.

You say "No," "duck," and "da-da," and Daddy told me the other day you said "mama" but I haven't had the benefit of hearing that one yet (even though it is the one word I've been longing to hear from those sweet little lips since forever).

You aren't yet walking on your own, but we know it is coming very soon. Daddy and I take you for "walks" around the apartment every day, your little fists clenched around our fingers.

You have always transitioned effortlessly, requiring at most mere suggestion on the part of your parents. You have transitioned completely to whole cow's milk, without complaint. And last week we put away your bottles - you're all sippy cup now. The latest change was to one nap - now you sleep from 8-8:30pm to at least 7:30 (sometimes as late as 9!) am, and then you nap at 1:00 for a couple of hours. Daddy loves the new schedule but I admit I miss our morning cuddles when I don't get them!!

It seems like at one, maybe more noticably than at other stages, you're full of rapid, very visible change. You are truly leaving your babyhood behind you. Daddy and I love you just how you are, and we can't wait to see what's next!!

Love,

Mommy

Eleven Months!

Sweet Eden,

You're eleven months old, and you're really growing up. You're becoming a toddler, and I can't believe how quickly it happened!!

This month you learned to mimic, and it has been really fun teaching you things! You learned to put your little red phone rattle up to your ear and say "AHHH?" which is your way of saying "hello." Once you figured that out you extended it to all of your other toys. Other rattles, keys, stuffed animals... everything gets put put to that adorable little ear and gets a sweet little greeting.

You've also learned what some things are for. You'll try to brush your hair with your hairbrush (usually with the handle instead of the bristles, but whatever...) and just the other day you figured out how to put your sunglasses on your head like Mommy! So fun!

You've also expanded the "drop" game. You now drop things on the ground and wait for me to say "Uh-oh" and then say "uuuuuooooooh." When I had it back to you we do it all over again. If we count "uuuuoooh" as an actual word, you're up to two.

You are such a social baby. You really love other kids. You're sometimes a little bit skiddish around other adults, but when you see a kid you get this really serious "GIVE ME THAT" look and squeal like crazy.

You had your first international trip this month! We went to London via Iceland, and you had a great time. Admittedly you slept through much of the trip, but when you were awake you were a hoot! You LOVED B&P's little boy Michael, and I think he was a little afraid of you because you went at him full-bore upon your first meeting, and had him pinned on the floor in seconds. You grinned like crazy from the backpack Daddy had you in. And you ate your first banana like a big girl - straight from the peel, no cutting it up!

You got a new, big girl car seat on your eleventh month birthday. You LOVE it! It has all sorts of cubby holes for all of your "phones" and sunglasses! And you look like such a big girl in it. When we came home from running around the day we got it and installed it, we walked in and your infant seat was sitting in the entryway. I had a moment of sadness, realizing that you're getting so big and that you're never going back in that little seat. It was a pang, and then it was gone, because we've been there already and we're here now and I can't wait to see what's next. You bring such joy into our lives at every stage. I can't imagine it any other way. I love you so much, Precious.

Love,

Mommy

Double Digits!

Eden,

Double-digits are upon us once again. I remember clearly when you were double digit days old. And now we're in double-digit months!! Crazy! Just don't get to double digit years too soon, OK?

You're really becoming such a little person. Your personality is starting to shine through. You're incredibly social - especially with babies, and especially with boys. Ever since Zek kissed you, you're in love with him. You see him in the church nursery and you crawl to him so fast you'd think he was Nino. And then if we don't stop you, you tackle him. And kiss him. You know what you want and you go for it. I like that about you. You are starting to get a little more skiddish around adults, though. If someone new starts talking to you, you lean in and cling to me or your Daddy. Eventually you warm up, though, if they keep trying. And soon you're talking up a storm.

You said your first real word this month. It started out because you were shaking your head a lot, and we kept saying "no" when you did it. Then we started telling you "no" when you'd start heading for a cord (to chew) or toward Nino's food (also, to chew). (When we told you no, you'd throw yourself onto the floor, face down, and cry. I have a feeling we're in for colossal tantrums in about a year or so - you're already acting like a toddler!) Eventually you put it together and now you can say "no" and shake your head. Usually you say it in context, but sometimes you just want to practice.

You've also learned "bye-bye"/"hi." You're not quite saying it yet, but you can wave like a pro. Sometimes you're a little late (like today when Daddy left and was down the stairs and out the door before you started waving at him) but you get so excited when someone waves back at you! Today I took you into the bathroom and let you wave at the baby in the mirror. It totally cracked you up!!

You're almost standing up by yourself. You just need a little confidence, and you'll be off. We're not rushing you though. :) You're an expert crawler, and you've got stairs down pat (well, going up anyway).

This month you really got into Angela, who watches you on Tuesdays. She is the only one you'll go to from me (except Daddy, sometimes). That makes me feel good - I know you're having fun with her while Daddy and I are at work.

Daddy taught you this month how to put the rings back on the stacker. He spent a loooong time on that one, very patiently showing you how to do it and lavishing you with praise when you did it. Now you'll put a ring on and look up and smile, as if to say, "Hey! Look at what I did! Yay!"

Finally, this month we cut back on nursing significantly. We're still nursing first thing in the morning, but that's it. It was a very easy transition for you, and physically it was fine for me, but it was a hard thing for me emotionally. I loved having that connection, and that feeling of knowing I'm the one who provides so much of your nutrition. But it was getting to be a lot of work for little output, and we were supplementing with formula already anyway. I'm glad we're still nursing in the mornings, because it's a great time for us to snuggle and connect in our special way, but I think that it won't be long until that nursing session is replaced as well. I wish we could've kept going for another couple of months, but I'm glad we got off to such a great start, and you're so healthy and happy in part because of that.

Beautiful Girl, I love you more that you know. Keep growing, but not too fast. Keep surprising us like you do. And keep being your sweet, loving, adorable self.

Love,

Mommy

Nine Months

Sweet Little Eden,

You're three quarters of a year old, and the time has flown by. I pick you up from your crib, smiley and happy in the morning, and I can barely remember that tiny little burrito baby we brought home from the hospital. You've changed so much since then, and I can hardly remember how it was back then. Daddy and I have changed too. The three of us have become a little family... we're integrated.

You are becoming much more independent. You love to feed yourself - if we can't get you to eat baby food we can definitely win with bits of well-cooked grown-up food. You're an expert pincer grasper. You get lots of practice with Cheerios and little Gerber stars. You also pick up any tiny thing on the floor. And try to eat it. We had to purge Nino's toys of all the small stuff. He didn't really seem to mind.

You are getting pretty good at pulling up and walking along furniture. You've learned to sit down, too, which is an important part of it. You like to walk by holding our fingers in your hands. The funny thing is, you don't bend your knees. You walk totally straight-legged. It's sort of cute.

We went to the doctor yesterday. You weigh 18 pounds, 14 oz, and you're 27.5 inches long. That puts you right at average. (Come on, we all knew you couldn't possibly have the genes to sustain 95th percentile for height...). You're doing great. The doctor was impressed. She asked if you were babbling in multiple syllables yet, and it was as if you understood - you started demonstrating away! The only worrisome thing is that your hemoglobin levels were low. We have to start watching your iron intake. I think we can handle that.

You're such a happy girl, and I love it. Sometimes you get really silly, and everything makes you laugh. Those are my favorite times - that laugh kills me. And now that you've got your four front teeth it's even cuter. You're probably the only person in the world who honestly thinks I'm hilarious. It's awesome.

Right now your favorite things are your tall toy, which you can stand up and play with (and do karaoke on), and your Mommy and Daddy. You always want to be near us - you don't like it if we leave the room. You love to just talk to us and touch our faces (or grab my glasses, which we're trying to teach you not to do). You also LOVE baths. You see the bathtub and you start going crazy, kicking your legs and rocking back and forth. And then once you're naked you REALLY freak out, making the "happy noise" and everything!

Teething hasn't been the easiest thing for any of us. When your mouth hurts you have a hard time going to sleep, because you fall asleep with your pacifier and it hurts to suck. But we're making it through, one at a time (or sometimes two at a time). And once that little pearly white pokes through, you're back to yourself.

There's this commercial where a little girl packs a monkey in her dad's briefcase when he leaves for a business trip, and I always get close to tears when I hear the song in the background because it's just how I feel about you (except I'm also always excited to come home to Daddy... but you get the point)...

Sweet Pea
Apple of My Eye
Don't know when and I don't know why
You're the only reason I keep on coming home

I love you, Precious Little Sweet Pea.

Mommy

(You LOVE riding in a laundry basket...)

Eight Months

Sweet Eden,

This month, maybe more than any other, you've changed incredibly. This time last month you'd just begun to crawl. Now you are crawling like crazy, you've learned how to pull yourself to standing, you can "cruise" around on furniture and tall toys, and you have two teeth!! What happened?!? You're such a big girl!!

You are so much fun. I think I've said it, at least to myself, every month, but this is my favorite age so far. You're hilarious. You babble like crazy - DahDahDahDah or GuhGuhGuhGuh or BaBaBaBa or YaYaYaYa. Sometimes I talk back and we have a full-on "conversation."

You love Nino. When he comes into your line of sight, you make a big "happy noise" and immediately start crawling toward him. He's learning to be OK with you pawing all over him - and you're still (usually) pretty gentle.

You also love music. We spent a lot of time dancing and singing together this weekend. My favorite is when you make what we call your "Stevie Wonder" face - you open your mouth really wide and "sing," and shake your head back and forth. It's absolutely adorable.

You are a very social baby. You love to make people smile. You want to interact with other babies and play together. You're content to play by yourself for awhile, but you have to come over and get some love periodically. I'm happy to oblige!

Maybe the funniest thing you've done this month is smile for the camera. It's hard to get a good picture of you lately because you're constantly in motion. But sometimes, when you see the red light come on, you turn to it, give the most adorable little gummy smile, and after the click or the flash you go right back to what you were doing. It is hilarious!!

I can't believe how big you are - I can't believe you're eight months old. That seems so old. It really doesn't seem possible! I know I will be feeling this way forever, because you'll never stop growing, but I somehow am still shocked at how true what everyone says is.

Our relationship has become really fun lately. You are always excited to see me - you give me a big smile and happy noise when I pick you up from your crib in the morning (where you're standing up - what??). I nurse you, and then we snuggle and play for a little while. It's really hard to go to work and leave you and Daddy - it always has been, but it's harder now that you're so interactive. But I know that when I come home you're going to give me that big gummy smile and that beautiful happy noise again, and all will be right with the world.

I love you, little precious. You've changed our lives in a million ways, and they're all amazing. I can't imagine life without your little light. Keep being amazing.

Love,

Mommy

P.S. Here's that gummy smile for the camera I was talking about (and those teeth on the bottom!):

Seven Months

Dear Precious Baby Girl,

We are on the downward slope of the first year and it hardly seems possible. It seems like yesterday you were a tiny newborn who stared at everything but interacted with nothing. And now you're always busy, always moving (unless you're sleeping). Maybe the more surprising thing is that I love it. I love watching you discover new things, like how to pick up little bits of food with your thumb and forefinger. You concentrate so hard while you're doing it - I can almost see the wheels turning!!

This month we celebrated your first Christmas. It was really amazing. We had a very low-key day, and we talked a lot about what Christmas really is all about. It was great for all three of us. We also rang in 2009 together. We were all here at home, and you even woke up about ten minutes before 2009 began, so I got you up and you celebrated with us. There were kisses all around - it was great.

After the new year began we went back to Oklahoma to visit family. And you were awesome. Despite the fact that you've begun to get a bit of stranger anxiety, you let everyone hold you and pass you around. You did tend to get a little upset if you couldn't see Mommy and Daddy, but that was OK because we were with you the whole time. You got upset when Daddy held your cousin Noah - that made Daddy feel pretty good.

While we were in Oklahoma, at Uncle Jason & Aunt Gena's house, you finally figured out how to sit up by yourself. You were on your tummy one minute, and the next you were sitting up! We were so proud of you!!! You showed everyone how you could roll around on the floor and get anywhere you wanted to go, and then when we got home you started to really crawl. You'll take a few normal "steps" and then it's on your belly for the army crawl.

I can't believe you're mobile. I knew this day would come but I still can't believe that you're the same baby who didn't know how to grasp a toy. And now you're crawling everywhere. Baby proofing began in full force as soon as we returned from Oklahoma.

Your laugh is so contagious. And it is so easy to make you laugh, too; we love it when you really get going. All it takes is a little tickling your belly with my nose and you're off. Add a little snorting and you're practically rolling. I love it.

You've started really loving your little lamb blanket, Lucy. Yesterday you were upset because you woke up prematurely from your nap (you don't like anything getting in the way of your sleep...) because you were congested. I cleaned out your nose (which you hate) and then started rocking you to calm you down. You calmed down most of the way, but when I handed Lucy to you, you immediately relaxed completely. I laid you in your crib and by the time I got out the door you were asleep. Amazing.

Well, Little Missy Moo, I could fill volumes trying to explain how amazing you are, describing all of the little adorable things you do. I really do think you are the most amazing thing I have ever seen, and I can't believe I have the good fortune to be your mother. I love you more than words can ever say, more than I ever thought I could. I hope you keep growing big and strong, but I hope you keep coming back to me for kisses. I love you baby girl.

Love,

Mommy

Half A Year

Dear Eden,

You are half a year old today. For six whole months you've been blessing our lives, and I can't remember what life was like before you started doing it. You are really such a joy.

You've grown so much over the past six months! You're sitting up now, and you're happy to entertain yourself in the middle of the living room. You can reach for your toys, and they pretty much always end up in your mouth, covered in drool. You're starting to lean forward and we can tell you're trying to figure out how to move forward. We're starting to face reality that our house will need to be babyproofed soon! You can already roll over and over to get where you want to go. It's weird when we sit you up on the rug and turn away for a second and you're five feet away!

You're eating vegetables now. You love sweet potatoes and carrots, you tolerate squash and peas, and you still make funny faces with green beans. You get so excited when it's time to eat solids. We put you in your Bumbo seat, and you start squealing with delight and flapping your arms up and down, banging your hands on the tray! Next stop: fruits. We can't wait!!

Perhaps the best development over the last month is your interactivity. You respond so well when we try to make you laugh. Your giggle is quite possibly the most perfect sound in the entire world. You make a very particular "happy noise" when you get excited - you squeal on the inhale - and give us that beautiful gummy smile! You babble all the time now. Sometimes your babbles almost sound like words, but we're pretty sure it's accidental. Your kisses are amazing - you grab onto our faces, pull us in forcefully and open-mouth our cheeks, our noses, whatever is closest. And I love it. Even when you lick my makeup off and I am covered in drool, I love it.

I should note that last week you kissed a boy for the first time. You and baby Zek were talking to each other at church, squealing and smiling, and then you both reached for each other's arms and you both went in, for the kiss, open mouth and drool and all. It was so adorable. I wish I'd caught it on video...

Another thing I love is that lately, more than ever, you know your Mommy and Daddy. You recognize us across the room, you know our voices. You are starting to get a little more shy around strangers, especially strange men - last weekend you cried when a new man held you, and then he couldn't look at you without upsetting you! It makes me feel so good that you find comfort in me, that you reach for me, that you reserve some smiles just for when you catch my eye across the room.

It's still really hard leaving you every day, my precious one. I wish I could just put you in my pocket and take you out periodically to hug and kiss. But you and your Daddy are great friends. He loves his time with you, and you love him too. Honestly, I am a little jealous of the time Daddy gets with you, but I also love seeing you two together. It melts my heart when you grab his beard with both hands and pull him in for a big sloppy kiss, or when you turn to look at him and give him a secret smile. I love that my two favorite people love each other so much.

Well, sweet baby, all I can say is keep being awesome. Like I tell you every night, you're precious. Every day I'm amazed by you, and every day I know you and love you more. I can't wait to see what is next.

Love,

Mommy

5 Months

Dear Eden,

Beautiful baby girl, you're growing up so fast. You shared your 5-month birthday with your Daddy's 26th-year birthday on Saturday. He loves sharing days with you - first Father's Day and now this!

You're getting so strong. You've started sitting up much better now! You can sit for several seconds before falling over, and you look like such a big kid doing it! You're making amazing progress on your tummy too. You push your whole chest off the ground, and you've started getting you little tush up in the air. Saturday you decided to get up on your hands and knees for a good 5 seconds. One day very soon you'll be scooting across the floor! We ordered a living room rug today so that'll be easier.

We started you on solids this month, and you're loving your morning oatmeal and your evening rice. If we mix it with water instead of milk you make funny faces, and if it's too thick you have a hard time swallowing. But usually we get it right and you do pretty great. Next we're going to try vegetables, and we can't wait!

You are so adorable. Your cheeks are such kissable little marshmallows, and your thighs are tootsie rolls of sweetness. I love to make snorting noises and kiss them, and you think it's hilarious. Your giggle is infectious. When you were a month old and just starting to smile I ran into a friend of mine with an older daughter. He said smiling is great, but just wait till she laughs. He was right. It's a million times better to get a giggle out of that happy little face.

You still look like Daddy, but I think sometimes you look a little bit like me now too. Mostly you're just Eden, a perfect mixture of the best of both of us. Your eyes are starting to turn brown. I know they're going to be beautiful and perfect, but part of me is sad that you didn't keep my blue eyes. Oh, well - I know you're mine. I have the stretch marks to prove it!

I've been working almost a whole month, and I miss you like crazy when I'm gone all day. But you and Daddy are having so much fun together during the day, and you and Angela love your Tuesdays. And when I get home in the evening you are so happy to see me, it makes my day walking in that door. And weekends it's Mommy time. I get to hold you as much as I want, and cuddle you like crazy. This weekend we took naps together both days! I love those times. I could snuggle next to you for hours.

You are such an amazing child, and I can't wait to see what is next for you. I love you so much I can't even express it, and it doesn't seem possible but I do love you more every single day. Like I sing you every night, you are my Sunshine, baby girl. Stay just how you are.

Love,
Mommy

Four Months!

Dear Eden,

One year ago we'd just found out you were on your way. I was bursting with the news, but it was still a precious secret. I'd just begun to be sick - at the Passion Conference I had to keep eating crackers (and I swear if I never see a Wheat Thin again in my life I will be totally happy!). But I was already falling in love with you. And here we are, a whole year later, and you are four months old. I can hardly fathom how much life has changed since then. I never could have imagined how awesome it was going to be.

I love this age. You're getting more independent, playing by yourself some, but you still want Mommy and Daddy a lot too. You really know us. You catch our eyes in a crowded room and reward us with a huge smile. You're sturdy and strong, but you still like to cuddle too. Mommy's "Kissy Monster" routine is hilarious, and you're starting to "kiss" back - which looks oddly like you're trying to eat our faces. But we love it!

You're doing such amazing things lately. You started rolling over from your tummy to your back last week, and a few weeks ago you started laughing. You've discovered Nino, and you are totally content to stare at him. He wants nothing to do with you, but you love to pet him - and get a fistful of hair and try to eat him. Don't worry, one day he'll come around and you two will be great friends. You also love John and Kelli's dog, Bella. Monday night you told Bella a long, apparently exciting, story about your day. She was very patient and listened very carefully, and occasionally gave you some big, wet kisses to thank you for the attention.

You're learning to sit up! You can sit for a few seconds unassisted, but when you get distracted at all you topple over and smile. Today you, Daddy, and I went for a walk, then went out to lunch. And you sat in a high chair for the very first time! You did great! And we had you strapped in so you couldn't eat it. But you gave it your best shot anyway.

We've finally settled into an eating routine, and napping is coming along, though it's still a bit unpredictable. You're still sleeping through the night - last night you slept from about 7:15pm to 7:00am! And then again from 8:30 - 11! You're like your Dad - you like your sleep. If you've gotten enough, you wake up happy, but if you get startled awake or jolted out of sleep, you're Little Miss Cranky Pants for awhile.

I'm starting work on Monday. I'm so sad to be leaving you, but I know it's going to be great for you to be at home with Daddy. And someone's got to make some money so you can have diapers and stuff. :)

I love you baby girl. Keep growing big and strong!! And keep being the sweet, loving, fun, adorable girl you are.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Aren't we a cute happy family?

Happy Birthday, Little one!

Dear Eden,

Monday was your three-month birthday. I can't believe that the time has passed so quickly, and at the same time I can't remember life without you. Your smile is the most exciting, most motivating thing I've ever seen. The way you sometimes look at me sideways, out of the corner of your eye, and smirk, makes me giggle (and reminds me of your Uncle Tyler, who used to do the exact same thing).

You've grown so much. You're sitting up, when I prop you with pillows. You prop yourself up in your exersaucer, and you play for half an hour at a time! You love to sit up and stand - you're not so much into being cradled like a newborn anymore. You have learned to grasp things, and you're already an expert at getting things into your mouth. Your favorite toys, though, are your hands. You watch them, you chew away on them, you suck on them. Right now you suck your index finger and thumb together. Odd choice, but it works for you!

You're sleeping through the night (usually) and you have been for a few weeks. When we got home from our whirlwind Oklahoma/Texas visit, you were ready, and you just did it, pretty much on your own. And you usually go to sleep pretty well. You do it on your own now. It's a rare occasion when I get that super-sleepy Eden in my arms. Sometimes when I feed you late at night right before I got to bed, you sleep through it, and when you're finished eating I just hold you a few extra minutes, and stare at your peaceful face. I treasure those times.

Youre also so much fun when you're awake! You've got such a personality. You talk to us, you have this great gasp-y laugh, and when you get really excited you open your mouth really wide and squat, fists clenched at your chest, eyes smiling. You found a new best friend. You were in your exersaucer and I had my back to you. I heard you squealing with delight and talking up a storm, and I turned around to see what was so enchanting - it was the mirror. You love that baby in the mirror. We visit the baby in the bathroom when you're cranky and you're instantly all smiles.

I'm so glad you're so big and strong, and I'm so amazed at the little person you're becoming. It still blows my mind that you're here. I am not at all exaggerating when I say I love you more every single day. And I never think it's possible that I could love you more than I do now, and then I wake up in the morning and it's happened. I love our time together right now. I know it is going to be incredibly hard for me to leave you with Daddy all day in one short month when I start working. I'm going to be so jealous of the time that you two get together. But I know you'll be in good hands. He's a great dad. I knew he'd be awesome, and he really is. The two of you are best buddies, and you're going to have a great time.

I love you baby girl. Keep growing strong. I'm hiding snapshots in my heart for now, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next stage brings.

Love,
Mommy

Little Rock Star.


P.S. When you're really tired, you snore!! (Turn up the volume to hear it).