Spring Forward

Dear Abby,

Tomorrow you will be 11 months old (?!?!?!!!) and today is the first day of Spring (nevermind that it snowed all day!). I have been wanting to write you another letter for a while now. I keep starting it over and over in my head but it never seems to make it on to this blog. There's just too many dishes to do, too many loads of laundry and too many middle-of-the-night nursing sessions to stay on top of it all (but with daddy's help we are making some progress on this last issue aren't we?). 

Your hair...is getting thicker. And "is it red? Where does that red come from?" If I had a penny for every time someone asked me this we'd be off to a great start for your college fund. We brush your hair every night after your bath and sometimes I have even been able to spike it into a wimpy mohawk! It is still pretty sparse but I am in no rush for your (sure-to-be-unruly) mane to come in. I can barely do my own hair so the thought of doing someone else's isn't all that appealing anyway...no rush! 

Your eyes...are so blue. Out of the entire world only 17% of people have blue eyes are you are one of them...how cool is that? You can thank your mother's Irish heritage for that one for sure. Your shining, smiling, crystal blue eyes get you compliments all day long. No matter where we go at least one stranger has to stop and comment on what beautiful eyes you have. They are not only beautiful but extremely sharp. You can spot birds and planes so high in the sky...you will point and go "eh, eh" as if to ask us what it is and won't be satisfied until we give a proper answer...

Your smile....simply lights up the room. It is usually accompanied by a "heh" sound on your part that Grandma refers to as your sarcastic "Sheldon laugh". So far you only really have 2 lower teeth (that you "brush" every night after your bath)...but Oma just noticed that your 2 top teeth are threatening to break out any day now. I am thankful that you use your teeth mostly to chew up food and not for biting; and am hopeful that this trend will continue. I can barely remember a day when you didn't have your 2 little teeth and I can barely fathom a day when you will have a full mouth of teeth. Right now I only want you to ever have these 2 because I just can't imagine your smile any other way! Last night I realized you have your dad's smile...

Your laugh...is contagious. Daddy and I started squawking like chickens the other day (don't ask why...sleep deprivation does crazy things) but you thought it hilarious which just further encouraged us to keep going! Daddy even threw in some pretty impressive arm motions and "pecked" at your arms and your belly sending you into hysterics. I have to say that I have only recently discovered your father's talent for imitating animal sounds and it has certainly come in handy at entertaining you :) His owl sound is pretty spot on. Speaking of noises...you farted in the tub yesterday (I'm sorry future embarrassed teenage Abigail but this is too good not to share) and you were so surprised by the bubbles you made and the noise that you just kept trying to do it again and again (farting that is) and laughing hysterically all the while. I think you are going to be a jokester, just like your dad. 

Your hands...are oh so busy. Whether they are climbing up an imaginary water spout playing itsy bitsy spider, swishing back and forth as the wipers on the bus, or thumping your chest excitedly signing for doggy...they are always moving and exploring the world (and all its germs) around you. No one would ever know what a germaphobe I am...that is until you start "washing your hands" mocking me many times a day. You are learning sign language and have started signing confidently for "more," "milk" and "all done". You are certainly not being shy when you want more of something...especially "swinging" at the park! Oma told me that every time she tried to get you out of the swing you would sign more until she gave you another big push! One recent morning after I sent out invitations for your first birthday party I told you while changing your diaper that you were going to be "1" next month...I showed you how to hold up your finger to say you are one and ever since then you are sharing this exciting news with everyone! It is adorable and I cannot believe how fast you picked it up. 

Your feet...are these cute little chubs that I can barely squeeze into your miniature sneakers...which you actually need because you are walking (practically running) everywhere. You even "walk" up steps (with help) and alternate legs. It is so cute watching you throw your one leg up to the next step (which is practically as high as your knee). You will still hold at least one of my hands, especially when we are walking outside or in daddy's favorite store (Costco) but I am sure the day is growing near when you will simply take off on your own full speed ahead. Maybe a baby leash would be a good present for you on your first birthday?

Your belly...is so round that we have to press it in some so you can see around to your belly button - a newfound body part that you seem to be enthralled with. As soon as we mention belly button not only do you want to see yours but everyone elses' too...this makes for potentially awkward situations.  

Your cheeks...are so rosy. Maybe you are getting some sunburn from all this recent outdoor activity? I am so happy that the weather is warming up a little and we've been able to get out of the house. Now when I say we are going "out" instead of screaming the entire time while I try to dress you and get you ready you are actually excited at the wondrous possibility of what we might be doing that day...the park? the aquarium? the grocery store??? You will even start heading for the door to get your coat and your shoes! You will make a pretty good attempt at getting your own shoes and socks on but so far you are only successful in taking those things off without help :)

Your ears...are so sensitive to every single tiny creaking sound in our house (and our house is old and noisy). You hear everything. When a sound is particularly annoying (the vacuum, coffee grinder, unloading the dishwasher, the Caulfield's incessant banter...) you will cover your ears in protest (we can thank your Grandma for showing you this). You understand lots too. I am tempted to list all of the words you understand but this could make for an excessively long blog entry...maybe I'll just list a few: downstairs, doggy (insert bilateral chest thumping here), music, dance, giraffe/pony (which will prompt almost immediate head bobbing), breakfast/lunch/dinner (immediate lip smacking), cheerios (flailing of all extremities- what do they put in those things??), outside (gee- where are my shoes and my coat?), fish (swimming hand gestures), Abby's flying fairy school (pure elation), etc etc etc. You are starting to mimic even if it is nonsensical. Last week Grandma came over and you spotted a bright red cardinal on the tree just outside your playroom. That prompted us to all go outside and look for birds. Grandma chanted "birds! where are you?" to which you almost seemed to yell in a similar tone of voice. We then went knocking on the 2 birdhouses out back...which you now want to do every day. 

So but basically what I wanted to tell you is that you are becoming a lovely little lady :)  There was one day (geez is it already about 2 months ago now?) that I came home from work in the morning and Pop Pop was watching you...you were so excited to see me and I scooped you up and you just suddenly felt so big to me! It was as if overnight you have morphed into a child instead of a cuddly little baby...just the way you helped me lift you up by supporting your body weight and then just wrapped yourself around me like a little monkey. You probably won't understand what I mean by this until you have a child of your own someday (in the extremely far off distant future) but it was one of those milestone feelings that will most likely stick with me forever...

Love you sweet girl, 
Mommy