Our Sweet Kayleigh Grace,
I looked at the clock today at 1:22, and ran over to where you were playing happily on the carpet to swoop you up and cover you with kisses.
Six months ago, right at that minute, you came into this world and made our hearts overflow with love.
As much as I loved you that moment, with your blotchy pink-blue skin and sticky hair, how could I have imagined how much that love would change--deepen--in the next six months?
The first time I saw you, I loved you because you were mine.
I loved that you were a physical representation of the love between your daddy and me.
I loved you for the potential of what we could have together.
I loved you because for nine months, I had countered every wave of nausea and every pain with the reminder that a baby would come from all of this.
And here you are.
Now, when I look at you, I love you because you are you.
I love every giggle, every squeal, and every belly laugh.
I love every crease and roll you have.
I love your curiosity, your excitement to try things out yourself.
I love that expression which tells me that you're so gosh-darn proud of yourself.
I love the way you smile at passersby, that you're just as social and friendly as your daddy.
This month, you have changed the most out of any month.
It wasn't even a month ago that you rolled over for the very first time,
and now you're on a blanket next to me, singing to yourself as you rock back and forth on all fours.
Crawling is just days away, Sweet Girl.
And you're so excited about it!
It seems like overnight, you went from toppling over when anyone tried to sit you on your bottom, to being able to sit as long as we let you. And now, you wave your hands and kick your feet if we leave you sitting somewhere and move away. Like you're offended that you can't follow us on your own yet.
It's not far away...
You have been exclusively breastfed up to this point, but in the last week, we've let you sample (more like suck on) a carrot, broccoli stem, banana, and apple. You've also tried rice cereal twice now, and we were amazed with how you knew just how to open your mouth for the spoon and slurp it right up! Now you feel entitled to eat whatever we're eating, and we just have to smile and shake our heads. No cheeseburgers for you, yet!
You started reaching for people this month, and you have completely melted some hearts! I'm glad that you're so happy to visit with other people now (too much interaction with people other than Mom and Dad used to leave you overwhelmed and frazzled). All of the sweet grandma ladies at church have adopted you, and you're completely happy being passed from loving arm to loving arm.
What a fun age this is, Baby Girl. We are loving every minute of watching you grow, grow, grow. You're not just a helpless infant anymore. You have a will of your own. It's so much fun to see you sitting up and playing with toys, laughing at Daddy and the funny games he plays with you, and hearing your squeals of joy. And yet, I'm just as happy and thankful that one of your favorite things to do is still cuddle up in our arms.
Daddy and I look at each other all the time and ask, "How did we receive such a wonderful, happy baby?"
We didn't do anything to deserve you, Kayleigh Grace, but our God is good, and He has blessed us far beyond what we could have imagined.
Stay as sweet as you are!
We love you!
Love, Mom
