Dear Tate - 10 Months

Dear sweet bubba,

As I type this, we are in your room surrounded by a sea of books and toys you've been playing with all morning...but you're presently trying to hang from the end table next to me in an attempt to investigate what I'm doing. You're so curious and smart; you blow my mind every hour of every day. Beneath those expressive eyebrows (just like your mama's), behind your beautiful blue-blue eyes (just like your daddy's), I see you learning and understanding so much of the world already and it makes me so, so excited about what the future holds for you and us.

You are a very active little guy, never sitting still for long. You are kind of over crawling - something you perfected months ago - and are instead intent on walking around furniture and pulling yourself up on everything - even if it's a small toy on the floor. You constantly grab things off tables and open drawers to chew on the new things you find; you keep mama very busy! I'm sure you will be walking soon, so it might be time for me to shine up my running shoes!

You play well on your own -- chattering away the whole time -- and occasionally you will stop to take time to cuddle with me for a minute, which absolutely melts my heart. And although you are very independent for a little guy, if I leave you in a room by yourself for a minute, you holler in discontent or start spitting angrily like a camel (which is what you do when you're mad...it's quite hilarious, actually). The bond we have is so wonderful. And your dad? Well, he is the coolest, funniest person in the whole world as far as you're concerned, and I totally agree.

You are so easygoing and rarely cry, making it very easy for us to take you out and about. I find it almost embarrassing how far we can push you, be it past your bedtime or feeding schedule (not that we do this often - you eat and nurse on the go in the Ergo), before you will fuss. You also have a crazy high tolerance for pain; when you fall or bump your head on something, you just give a look like, "What was THAT all about?" and then get right back up with no tears. I hope these tendencies mean you are going to be a very adaptable person when you get older.

Oh, are you ever silly - we have so much fun! You love mimicking the things we do, putting toys on your head when daddy does, smacking your lips when I do, and playing chase & giggling with gusto when we catch you. You play peekaboo with blankets and stand on your head, and you recently started blowing kisses - a trick we didn't even teach you! When music comes on, you dance and wiggle your little behind in step with the beat. When I say "Cheeeeese!" you get the biggest cheesy grin on your face, showing all 6 of your cute teeth. You kiss yourself in the mirror with tongue, wave and high-five when prompted and also give zerberts/raspberries, after which point you will laugh and laugh over how clever you are.

I know I already said you are smart, but really... If you get your silly side from me, you get your smarts from your brilliant daddy. I'm almost afraid of the day you become smarter than me; what will I do then?  I recently took a baby sign-language class so we could better communicate with you. The other day as I was feeding you, you suddenly started doing the sign for 'milk' and I was blown away. How quickly you learn, my boy! You repeat words/sounds we say and are already up to five spoken words now: mama, dada, hi, bye and ball. When your daddy comes home from work at night you break out into a smile and breathlessly say, "Hi dada! Hi dada!" while waving at him. I think 'dog' might be your next word, because when you see Molly or Lucy, you excitedly say, "Deh! Deh!" 

Speaking of your pups, you love them so much and they love you in return, letting you crawl on and "pet" them (we are working on being gentle so you don't aggravate them too much). One rainy day about a month ago, I let the dogs in and you went over to Lucy and draped yourself over her. When I noticed you putting something in your mouth and then taking it out to look at, I went to investigate. What I found was a little shocking, my boy...it was a SLUG that my precious baby had just taken off the dog! Thank goodness bugs don't gross me out, because you are ALL BOY. I have a feeling this is just a sign of things to come.

We are in the midst of planning your first birthday party, something that took me a while to accept. How are you already over 10 months, TaterBug? I swear I was just dressing you in the long-sleeved kimono t-shirt we stole from the hospital (shhh...don't tell!), and now you are larger than life and well on your way to imprinting the world with your amazing gifts. The future is yours, Tate...I have no doubt you will shine.

I love you times a million and two,

xoxo Your proud mama

Touché!

I don't think we ever have to worry about whether or not Tate will have a good sense of esteem as an adult. If anything, we will have to reign it in lest he become an egomaniac. This conversation with Mark is a prime example as to why:

Me: Isn't it so great how every parent thinks their baby is the cutest, smartest and sweetest baby in the whole world?

Mark: Well yeah, but that's only because they haven't met Tate!

Me: Um, DUH!


Hehehe...we rock.

Snapshot

I sometimes feel a little panicky over how fast life seems to move these days. Will I remember how intoxicating Tate smells after his bath or the way he always begins talking and cooing - rarely crying - the second he wakes up? How he looks at me with love and plays with my key necklace while nursing?

I take what seems like a million pictures and have close to a hundred videos of our little man already. And still, I worry that someday I might forget something of this most perfect, happy, precious time, of how amazing my boy is.

This parenting gig is like a full exercise of the heart...I love every phase and can't wait to experience all of the fun phases ahead, yet I can barely believe he's no longer my tiny, brand new baby.

 I often tell Tate that no one will ever be loved more than him. Maybe the same, but never, ever more.

I'm MELTING over the cute, you guys.

Six Months!

Ok, HOW has it been six months since my gorgeous boy was born? My God...I swear all I did was *blink* and he went from this:

To this:

Ten pounds, 9 inches, two teeth, a million smiles and a gazillion pint-sized giggles later, and our Tate is a half year old and on his way to ruling the world.

I still tear up daily in amazement over how damn lucky I feel to be his mom, to be the one who is, at times, tired and sleepless as he battles teething and growth spurts and the ever-busy life of a baby learning and attempting to figure out all the new things around him.

At times, life feels a little polarizing as a stay-at-home-mom. I joke that some days feel like the movie 'Groundhog Day' with little changing and everything staying the same. Only that couldn't be farther from the truth. I have this ever-important job of bringing up this boy who has all the promise in the world, who brings me more joy than I thought possible or worthy of experiencing.

I don't post here as much as I thought I would or wish I could but that's because I'm too busy being present for that blue-eyed boy you see above. I'm his mama and he needs me. And you know what? I need him, too -- and it didn't take me six months to realize that...six seconds was more than enough for me.

Tate - 4.5 months

Look at this little buddy! While these were being taken, the photographer kept stopping to hold her stomach and laugh over how SMILEY he was being. She was practically busting a gut and it was hilarious! We bust our guts daily over the cute things he does, but that's our job, right? She said it was amazing how his whole face lights up when he smiles... It was cool to see someone who doesn't love Tate by default (like our family/friends) be so instantly smitten with him. It just reaffirmed how special our boy is. He is such a vivid light in this world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huggable, INDEED!

Valentine Heart

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to share with you an audio of Tate's prenatal heartbeat? This was recorded on July 1, 2010 during a doctor's visit before he was born. I love hearing this strong heartbeat today, knowing it belonged to the now vivacious, healthy, happy little boy who has brought so much love to my life.

Today - and every day - I wish you the kind of love that makes your heart go whoosh-whoosh-whoosh and bomp-bomp-bomp. xoxo


Chickpea/Tate Heartbeat - 7/1/10 from Amy B on Vimeo.

Tate's Birth Book

I have yet to write out my birth story (and really hope to soon!), but in the meantime this book we made for Tate to read someday does a nice job of outlining some of what occurred on that amazing day. I made this so that we could start the tradition of reading it to Tate on his birthday every year...I imagine him asking questions and adding his own thoughts as the years pass. It's just a little something to honor him so he knows how loved he is and was, from the day he was born!

Click here to view this photo book larger

If Life Were a Cartoon...

The other day, Tate and I visited Mark at work (with gramma, Aunt Alicia and cousins, too). We walked in and one of Mark's employees took one look at Tate and said, "He is sooooo Tommy Pickles!" I think she might be right*!

 *Tommy is known for being courageous, brave, and for compassionately sticking up for others. I hope Tate is one day known and respected for these same things!