Letter Month Ten

Dear Sena,



You've officially been on this planet as long as I was pregnant. A strange statistic, since I feel like you've been here forever, and can't really imagine life without you. Things have been pretty stressful lately as mama embarks on a new direction with the magazine (new owners),and papa starts his potentially last semester of school and a new internship. I know these things mean nothing to you, but really we do all of this work so that we can take care of you, and sometimes, unfortunately, we get caught up in it. For that, I'm sorry. You're so good at making us come back to the moment- your ever-enduring enthusiasm, gigantic smile, and screeches are a great reminder that there is nothing more important than being here for you.

You are officially "on the move" this month, although your "moves" aren't those one would expect of a 10-month-old. You still don't want to crawl, but are able to get onto your hands and knees, rock, rock, rock, and do a face plant. (We usually can catch you.) You've taken three steps by yourself, however! It seriously trips me out that you're walking. I look around at our house and realize this was not the house to purchase for a child. Two sets of stairs, three levels, and lots of "stuff" makes me want to pack up and move. Your adventure = my nervous breakdown.

This coming month is going to be a new adventure for all of us. Grandma and Grandpa are off to Asheville to be there for the birth of your new cousin! We can't wait to find out who Aunt Tanya & Uncle Charles will bring home. A boy? A girl? Meanwhile, papa and I will be taking care of you, and receiving help from our fabulous friends and aunt Carrie. This month you'll also be starting swim lessons! Much like your wardrobe, you have several very stylish swimsuits... will you wear the bikini, or the sporty two-piece?! Many decisions to be made. You'll also get to see mama's best friend, Lori, this month. Last time Lori saw you you made quite an impression with your smiling, laughing, and let's not forget the massive explosion you had in the carseat that required a hose down and pit-stop at grandpa and grandma's. Sorry. That is probably a moment you'd like to forget.

I'm behind in my picture taking, but have a new video of you walking. Once I figure out how to post it, I'll get it up here and share with our family and friends the joy of seeing you take your first steps. Three more steps toward independence. Can't you slow down?



love you,
mama

Four States- Five Days. We might be crazy.

We just returned from a very whirlwind trip on the East Coast, traveling from D.C. to Hoboken, New Jersey (just outside NYC) to meet the new owners of HL&S and to finally meet Mac- Brent & Erin's 1-year-old daughter. Sena was such a rock star on the plane. I almost didn't want to say anything, but she slept, played, and was in a great mood despite being confined for four hours. I'm sure the next time we travel it won't go as smoothly since she'll know that she can get down and run around.

After visiting with the new owners in Annapolis, we loaded Sena up into a rental car and drove to Hoboken- thereby driving through three more states. The trip went pretty smooth, but I have to say (and sorry to my East Coast friends), I feel spoiled living in Colorado. We have a city here, but I don't have to deal with traffic if I don't want to. And, if I ever feel stressed, I can usually just look west and see those terrific looming mountains and feel better. Again, I'm biased, but feel so thankful to live out west.

Anyway, seeing Sena and Mac together was quite a trip. Sena still isn't crawling, but will "walk" if you hold her hands. Mac is crawling, but in a very unique- lopsided sort of way. However, as soon as we returned, Sena has been trying to crawl. Getting up onto her hands and knees and rocking, rocking, rocking, splat! She hasn't figured out that she needs to pick up her hands in order to propel forward.

While we were there Erin & Brent through Mac her first birthday party. Kiddos galore! Poor Sena had her toys taken from her repeatedly, while other children were climbing around and over her as they moved around. She sat quietly, watching. It's hard not to put our emotions onto them, however. But I'm pretty sure that although I felt like she must be jealous, she seemed pretty chill. Yes, we have a pretty chill child. Anyway, here are some pics of the kiddos.

2008 through a child's eyes

For our New Year's Eve, Steven and me (along with Chad, Juli, and Will) went to our friends' Tara and Greg's home (parents of Tristan) for our first celebration with kiddos. Tara & Juli both went to great lengths preparing fabulous dishes (with more than five ingredients—nice job ladies!), and Tristan, Will, and Sena took center stage with their agility stunts.

At dinner, Tara & Greg set out placecards- each setting with a different word or theme, which was to be used for that individual's toast. As we each pondered what we'd talk about a common thread emerged. With such words as health, happiness, love, peace, and prosperity, you'd think the toasts would run the gamut from work to play to national security. And while one toast did deservingly go to Barack Obama, the other toasts were made to an entirely different generation—our kids.

As I look back on 2008, I'm overwhelmed with emotion. It was certainly filled with some of the most significant moments of my life. Becoming a mother and delivering my daughter into the world changed who I am and who I want to be. It changed my perspective on life, and how I spend my time. While my life is certainly less glamorous and tidy, it is more full of smiles, joys, and spontaneity. And, really, becoming a mother helped me reconnect with all of the myriad ways I once found happiness. Things that perhaps had been buried in the monotony of becoming an adult. Singing, dancing, laughing, giggling, wearing a funny duck hat just to make her laugh... I guess 2008 was the Year of the Child for me. Having my own- and reconnecting with my inner child, too.

Letter Month Nine

Dear Sena,
What a whirlwind the last week- and month- have been. You just celebrate your first holidays (both Hanukkah and Christmas) with both sets of grandparents, which didn't appear to be as overwhelming to you as it was to me. Thank goodness. Your favorites of the holidays appeared to be shiny bows, giant boxes, and the lights of the Menorah. Your least favorite? Your afternoon nap. Evidently, nine-months is when you can decide for yourself if your tired or not.

At the doctor's office this month, he told us you can eat what mama and papa are eating, specifically mentioning salsa to your father's delight. But your overly-cautious mama hasn't ventured that far yet. Since your doc's visit, I've added beans and cauliflower to your diet. (A recipe for gas? Sorry about that!) I promise that this week we'll try some pasta with tomato sauce and perhaps even salmon. I'm not sure why I'm so hesitant to break out of the pureed foods and give you more chewable foods. You've made it quite clear that you know how to cough- and in fact you think it is quite funny. (It wasn't that long ago that your papa's cough, however, would be a cause for some pretty big tears.)

Outings are even more fun these days. You love to go outside and see everything, whether it be on a walk, or standing in a long line shopping for last minute holiday gifts. Your patience must come from some distant relative that I've never met. Or, I suppose, your grandma Sheree. You love the weather- and for some reason- love the wind. It makes you kick and smile with glee. Again, I'm not sure where you get this from, as wind is the one weather phenomenon that your father and I both think is the major downfall of Colorado, which is otherwise a pretty perfect state.

You have NO interest in crawling. The books say babies crawl anytime between 6 and 10 months, but I'm pretty sure you're going to skip crawling (hey, its for babies, right?), and go straight to walking. You prefer walking and standing so much that we went and purchased your first pair of kicks. Stylish, huh?

Looking forward to all of the adventures we'll have in 2009. Here are some more pictures.




love you,
mama

Letter Month Eight

Dear Sena,
I promise that I will be less tardy in the future. I do realize that you officially turned eight months on Monday, which was a very exciting milestone.

In the last two weeks, you've cut a few more teeth, but because you won't let us really "see" in there we're not sure how many are coming through. We do know, however, that they are not in the center, so it appears you're going to have a nice toothy-gap for awhile. You enjoy placing your new favorite food, "O's", (aka cheerios without the sugar) in between your teeth and smiling. Yes, it is quite endearing.

Food is still an adventure for you and your repertoire is quickly growing. In fact, I'm certain on most days of the week you eat better than your parents combined. That's love.

One of your other favorites is seeing pictures (mostly of yourself) around the house. You squeal with delight whenever we pass one of these pictures, and kick as if you're about to do a jig. Speaking of dancing. You love it. I had said in my pregnancy journal, which I was reading back through the other day, that you were quite the dancer and apparently you were not just a dancer in utero. The other day I took you to Nordstrom Rack (to buy a johnny jumper that you don't seem to like but that's another story) and an old seventies tune came on and you started kicking like you were on stage. I guess you do have a little bit of your mother in you. The best part about you liking dance so much is that I can dance as funny as I want, and you think it is the best thing in the world. I wonder how long that will last.




Ahh... now for the embarrassing updates. You found a new noise this month- grunting. Yes, you sound like you're pooping, but you're not. You're just having fun. And you think this is an even more exciting thing to do in public. When one of us is holding you and can't do anything other than smile at the onlookers who think our daughter must be constipated. I told your papa that we should do this to you when you're a teenager... just follow you around the store, grunting. And he very quickly reminded me if we were to do such a thing that you would never speak to us again.

One last delight of the month. We took you to the toy store to look for holiday gifts for you and your friends. (I do realize this is probably the last year we can take you to a toy store without you throwing a fit over toys you can't have, so I figured we should enjoy this time.) Anyway, papa was carrying you around the store and every time you saw an interesting toy you'd shriek in delight. Yes, shriek. So, we decided we'd buy you the toy (within reason of course.. ) that you found to be the most interesting. And guess what? You picked out an Ugly Doll. I mean the UGLIEST DOLL in the store (aptly named ugly doll). It basically is a gray, stuffed animal without eyes. Yes, it is hideous. I was convinced we could at least persuade you to have a more colorful ugly doll, so I placed a few options, including purple in front of you, and you still wanted the gray one. So, we left the toy store with the ugliest stuffed animal and when everyone on Christmas morning wonders why we picked out such an ugly doll, we'll let them know that you actually chose it yourself. I guess that's what we get when we let an 8-month-old pick out her gifts. I can only imagine what outfit you'd put on if we let you choose.




It has been getting cold here, which means more layers for you. (Although as I write this it is 60 + outside.. got to love Colorado.) You don't like your mittens, but you seem to endure your winter coat. You look like such a ski bum. Your grandma Deborah would be proud.



Every month I'm amazed at how much you've grown, and how interested and aware you are of everything going on around you. You continue to captivate me, and fill my heart with such joy. I love you.

love,
mama

A few more pics

The Great Pumpkin

Sena celebrated her first Halloween as a pumpkin. While she didn't seem to think the costume was all that fun (especially since it was nearly 80 degrees on Halloween), we thought she filled the role quite well. Her buddy, Will, was a Monkey and came over for dinner with his parents.



Although Sena didn't get to go trick or' treating, or even see one trick or treater for that matter (she was in bed at 6), we think her first Halloween was a success. Hey, next year we might have to deal with the whole "I want to eat the candy" bit... or maybe that won't happen til she's 2. Who knows. With her mama and papa's genes, she could be asking for candy shortly after she learns to say mama and papa.