twenty five

dear grace,

I know it sounds repetitive but you are growing too fast. I can hardly keep up with all you are learning and trying to do each day but I'll try hard to write some of your newest tricks.

You make a kissy face at everyone. you tilt your chin up and stick out those lips for a pucker and kind of make me die inside because you are adorable. i tell you to save your kisses but you are pretty persistent with your loving and free. you are learning all sorts of other fun things with your facial expressions like putting your eyebrows up, or just sticking your tongue out and blowing bubbles. you smile constantly and are a happy baby in general.

you are just an easy wonderful go lucky baby, and we feel very lucky to have you bless our lives every single day.

your laugh is so sweet and always sudden and random. i'm still standing on my head trying to get you to giggle and i'm surprised by what actually makes you laugh!

you are trying very hard to crawl, and i'm sorry i'm not giving you more opportunities, but i like to hold you.

you still stick your arms straight out and wave your hands around in the air whenever you are feeling strong emotions about something. usually when you are nervous or excited. i call them hummingbird hands, they move so fast.

merry first christmas and new years! you are seven months, and gaining independence fast. you will eat pretty much anything we let you, which is why you love grandpa francis because he really will sneak you anything...

it was special to see you meet my side of the family since they are farther away from where we live than brandon's side. you didn't fuss at all the people, i think you really enjoyed being surrounded by lots of loved ones. (i dont blame you, they are sort of awesome) (but i'm biased).

grandma francis put you to sleep almost everynight while we were there and you slept pretty good in your little pink and brown pack and play.

aunt sarah and uncle chris gave you a beautiful cream dress and tights and a hat and mittens.

grandpa and grandma spoiled you with lots of toys

and mom and dad got you a doctor's kit because they are awesome. and i'm afraid we are having as much fun with it as you are.

you've started to mimic sounds and if you are eating and i sing to you you try to sing back while eating.

it's the sweetest thing. ever.

your hair is still very curly on top and long only pretty much on the top. aunt lachelle says your hair is very hip in new york right now. i'm taking full credit.

uncle geoffrey and you bonded over the break, at first he was nervous around you because nobody has shown him how to hold a baby! so i showed him and then he would take you whenever he could. he kept asking you "why are you SO CUTE?!" the whole holiday.

dad kept saying "what child is this?!" in geoff's ron burgendy accent.

overall it was an awesome break.

advice for the future: don't ever be afraid to ask for help. and being afraid of things is usually worse than going out and doing what you're afraid of. and love really does conquer all, so don't take the easy way out. i'm not sure why that took me so long to really understand.

i love you.
out conquering all,
mom