Month 7

Dear Corbin,

You were seven months old yesterday. Your father and I were looking at you a couple of weeks ago, and we realized that you just don't have your baby face any more. Your little kid face grew in, and you lost your baby face. Soon, your baby teeth will grow in, and then eventually you'll lose them. And then you'll lose your baby legs, and your adult legs will grow in.

You are a baby on the go these days. You love to crawl all over the house and the yard. When I come home from work, you give me a big smile and crawl right over to me. I know you really just want to play with my shoes, but it makes me feel loved anyway. You are also much better at sitting up, and it's fun to watch you crawl over to something and then sit and play with it. Yes, you do sit still sometimes. We've spent some weekend mornings sitting on the front steps watching the birds and the squirrels and the airplanes. It's a blessing, I think, because now that I don't nurse you at night, I just don't get to cuddle you much any more. So I'm thankful that you'll sit with me sometimes. I was telling your father that someday you'll figure out that to get what you want, all you have to do is snuggle up to me with a big hug and the next thing I know I'll be saying, "Of course I'll buy you [whatever you're asking for]!"

I'm glad that you're able to crawl now because you were getting very frustrated at not being able to go where you wanted to go. But you are not satisfied. You are already starting to pull yourself up to standing, and it makes me wonder just how soon you'll be walking. In some ways I hope it's sooner, because I want you to be able to practice out in the yard before it gets cold. But other times I hope you wait a little bit longer, until we've done a much better job of baby proofing the house. You know, by doing anything at all to baby proof the house.

You are also eating solid foods like a pro. At least, the ones that you think taste good. You have liked every fruit we've given you so far, except the avacado. That made your father kind of sad, but I've never liked avacado, either. You're not immediately keen on the vegetables, but you seem to have gotten used to all of them except potatoes. Your potato face is pretty darn funny, but we'll probably wait a while to try them again.

It's my intention to watch our baby sign language DVD and start using some signs with you. I figure I should teach you more than waving good-bye and rudely gesturing at other drivers. Those may end up being the signs that you use the most, but really, you should have other options. After all, flipping me the bird might make me laugh, but it won't get you more milk.

Love,
Mom