Month Nine

Where to begin? I was quite excited to mention in this monthly letter that you have begun sleeping through the night, but alas, I cannot. You have decided that sleeping more than 6 hours in a row is a big ole waste or your time. Sleep? Schmeep. What confuses me is that the first night that you slept through, we were visiting at Nana's house and you weren't at home in your comfy crib with your familiar smells and sounds. You were in a playpen. A PLAYPEN.  Then? Then you came home and slept right through the next night! And there was much rejoicing in the JuJu family household! Until the next night when you determined that sleeping all night was for the birds. You have done it maybe 2 nights since. You know what they say about babies...and steps...yes, baby steps. We'll get there, Kiddo. I've resigned myself to the realization that I will not have a good night's sleep again until you begin going to slumber parties. Oh yeah, isn't it about time you make some friends who will have slumber parties?

I'm teaching myself  that expecting you to grow and learn at the exact same rate as your brother is a mistake. Your brother reached each and every milestone as an alarmingly fast pace, and when you were not doing the same things at seven months, eight months and now nine months, I began to worry. Maybe "worry" isn't the right word, but I found myself getting nervous about it. Then reality and common sense return and I think...why in god's name would anyone want their baby to be walking at nine months? You are a brilliant baby and a wonder to your daddy and I. I grew up trying to escape the shadow that my older brother cast over me. I  eventually came to resent being compared to and held to a higher standard that he set and it blew up in everyone's face. I rebelled...I sincerely hope that we will always allow you to be your own person with your own strengths and weaknesses. I want you to challenge yourself but I also want you to reach your goals when it is the right time for you and when you are good and ready.  The only exception to this rule would be the sleeping issue that we seem to have. That one? I'm going to push on you.

The last nine months have gone by at mach speed. I don't know where the time has gone. I am fortunate to be able to experience each day with you and to be able to watch you grow and learn. We are trying to teach you some baby sign language and you are definitely picking up on the sign for more. Each time I say the word and forget to use the sign...you will stare intently at my hands as if to say, "Uhm, Mommy? I think you are forgetting something here?".

Right now you are sitting in your highchair to my left, banging your keys on the tray and saying Dadadadadadada. Your daddy might think that you know what you are saying, but I see when you call the cat Dada and you call the cup Dada and you scream DADA at the television. He's only fooling himself, but we will play along. He deserves that much.

Next month? Double digits, Little Girl! Holy Moly! I love you so much.

Love,

Mommy

Comments

[Chris]

Nine months already? Sheesh. Time flies. Insanely fast.

[Simon]

The second doesn't grow up at the exact same pace as the first?

Yes, I'd best keep that in mind.

(Oh, and I just read fact No. 30 on your ABOUT page. Freakish!)

[Abby]

My daughter didnt sleep through the night until she was almost 2...... and now at 2 1/2 she has decided she wants to wake up once in the night again. I wish I could tell you it ends, Im waiting for it too. Sounds like other than the sleeping, she is great though!

[Mom]

Ju, it seems like I read your 8th month installment just yesterday! We have to do something to keep this child in diapers at least 5 more years. We just let Little JuJu go and look at him now.
I love these posts :-)