Dear Evan-Seven Months Old

Dearest Evan-
I shake my head to think of you being seven months old. I have said it before and I will say it again, time is going too fast. This month has been so fun. We are really starting to get to know your personality. You have such a mellow disposition. It is wonderful. Daddy and I love to hang out with you talking on the bed or sitting on the stoop. We take you everywhere but once you walk into our home you look so happy to be home!

You have been eating solids for a month. It was a slow journey but you are really starting to show more interest. Your favorites are peas with brown rice and sweet potatoes. Fruit really hasn't been a favorite with you. I hope you grow to love it. You didn't even like bananas. You are learning to drink out of a cup. You get so excited when I bring it out for you after dinner. You have a sippy cup that you like to gnaw on as it seems to soothe your teething woes. You have been having some serious teething issues this past week. You are chewing and biting on everything. I think your pearlies are going to be showing themselves sometime soon. I will miss that toothless grin of yours. It is so endearing.

You and I walk 2-3 times a day. We have different carriers to get us around town. You love to sit facing out and will turn your head to each stranger as we pass hoping to receive a reaction of a smile. You beam ear-to-ear as we make friends with people along our journey. We make a friend and walk a few blocks with them. It happens every time we are out! I think you are showing some extroverted qualities?

You are getting more and more hair. You are almost sitting up by yourself but not quite yet. You love tummy time now and even move onto your tummy by yourself. You roll tummy to back now. I think it is still by accident but you seem so proud when you do it. I will leave you on the floor on your belly and return two minutes later to see you on your back smiling up at me. You are learning to move your body to get where you want to go. You can turn your body 360 degrees using your arms and legs. You don't go forward yet in a crawl but I see that happening very soon. One thing that you have been doing lately (that makes me laugh) is anytime you have your legs dangling over the side of my lap you swing your legs in and out like you are sitting on a pier. It is adorable. You just look so comfortable. I love that this is just coming from who you are as no one has taught you to swing your legs. You just like it!

You love stuffed animals. You laugh at them and talk to them. Your favorites are Milo the monkey, Gordy the monkey and a teddy bear we haven't named yet. Oh! I can't forget Enya the Giraffe. You love her and named he yourself. I asked you what we should call her and you said "En-ya!" right away so that is her name.

It is amazing what a month will do. A month ago you were happy just sitting on my lap and you still are but you sure do like to move around now. You love it when Daddy or I swing you in the air or prop you up to stand or sit. Even when we lay you down you pull your chin up as to say, "I want to sit up!".

We went swimming this month for the first time. You loved it. We started a music class that seems to be agreeing with you too. You love the musical instruments. You get excited when the big box comes out and we select the instrument we plan to use for the class. I sing to you everyday. You look at me with such joy. You love music. We still go to our playgroup on Mondays. We carpool with Brandie and Sofia. You two are hilarious together in the back seat. We like to stand you up next to each other. You both get so excited. One of you will touch the other or scream. It is good for you to be around so many other babies. I think it is helping you to be more social around them. We were sitting next to another little boy in music class and all you wanted to do is talk to him. You kept turning your head and talking to him and he wasn't responding. He wasn't like your friends in playgroup!

You do not like me to put you down for a minute. I think you are just so much happier being upright and able to look around. I also think you are staring to show some separation anxiety. I will leave the room and disappear for a minute and you will cry wondering where I have gone. I will talk to you from the other room and it seems to soothe you. But-not for long because you want me back in the room!

Yesterday you started sitting independently! You suprised the whole paygroup and did it in the middle of a speaker talking about baby development. I looked at you sitting down between my legs and noticed that you weren't balancing on me at all! I moved away and there you were sitting!

Toys are becoming more and more important to you! You are now even taking them away from other babies at playgroup. It use to be other babies would take them from you. Now you are holding your own! You cry when you drop a toy and want it back. If I have to move a favorite toy our of your hand you let out a wail! Your favorite toys right now are: a small beach ball; a small blue, wood snail/car; a yellow, grenade teething toy, your Whoozit Philip! and jack-in-a-box. You still love your giant mobile.

It is so fun sharing life with you. I am so proud to be your Mom.

I love you,
Mommie