Month Fifteen

Dear Bootsie Baby Boo,

I'm not sure where the name "Boots" came from. It most certainly did not originate from a monkey-type character you might find on D0ra The Expl0rer, mostly because your big brother wouldn't allow that show to be broadcast in our home. I think one day Mommy put some booties on your tiny newborn feet and Daddy called you "Bootsie Boo". Since then we have called you every form of the word ever since. You answer to all of them. More often than not we call you Boots or Bootsie in favor of the longer name "Madeline" because we are a lazy people. I'm beginning to think you might be a tad bit lazy as well. Evidence of this can be found while watching you move throughout the house. Mainly you move on your hands and knees. Sometimes, if the mood strikes you, you will use your feet. Walking is not something that you have much interest in, even now in your 15th month.

Yesterday you were making the rounds in the kitchen holding onto my hand. You will walk holding onto just one of my hands if I force you to and you look as though you could at any second just let go and run. I think you would if you hadn't inherited the Lazy McLazerson gene from both your father and I. Grandma thought we could just buy you a trusty pair of Stride Rite Frankenstein shoes for added ankle support and that would be that. One month later and you are still not having it. Honestly? I kinda like your immobility. I am in no hurry. The only thing I do ask is that you walk before the next baby comes along so that I am not forced to carry two of you around. I could do without that, so really...you've got a little time. You did stand for a moment all by yourself two days ago until you realized that I was not holding your hand and then you promptly put your butt on the floor and gave me a dirty "how dare you" look. I don't blame you. How dare I.

You've begun to learn and say and do so many things recently that I have to stop and pinch myself when I still try and imagine you as that tiny little helpless being. You are such a little girl lately, something that I thought might not happen. Where you used to squirm and act as though I was tearing your limbs from your body by attempting a hug, you now will give in and embrace me. Even if for only a minute or two, those are the best two minutes of my day. It fills my heart and soul with so much joy when you press your little lips to mine and make a kiss sound. I feel like you gave me all of the gold and diamonds and sunshine in the world when you put your head on my shoulder before I lay you in your crib each night. I love this new cuddly phase, as fleeting and stingy as it may be.

You are talking! Like a real actual little person! Your current favorite word, (replacing "light") is "Uh Oh". You say UH OH anytime you or anyone in a five mile radius drops anything or even looks like they might think about dropping anything. You say UH OH if you happen to wander into a room where something might be laying on the floor and you know damn well that it was not on the floor a few minutes ago...clearly it had been dropped and was in dire need of an UH OH. You say UH OH when the cat jumps from the chair to the floor. Sometimes you say just to hear yourself say it. It's the sweetest noise I have heard in a very long time.

You say "Thank you" anytime someone hands you something, especially food and you say "Bless you" when someone sneezes. The two sound exactly the same to the untrained ear. Thank god my ears are trained to you. You say lots of things that only you and I know about. They are our little secret and I promise I won't tell. As long as you keep talking to me. Never stop talking to me. Please.

You are working on tooth number TWELVE and so help me if that tooth doesn't break through soon I might jump from the highest building in town, which incidentally, I believe to be a tower within walking distance from our house, so keep that in mind. Stupid tooth!

You continue to amaze me each and every day and I love nothing more than when your Daddy comes home in the evening so that I have someone to share the miracle I know as YOU. I love having someone else be able to watch as you walk along the couch and grab the remote and point it at the TV and change your brother's channel. I love having someone else get to see your chubby dimpled thighs and fat little feet move across the floor chasing after the cat. Someone to understand that when I say that your hair is definitely growing, they can see it too. Even if it's just one hair...Daddy sees it too. He understands. He loves you as much as I do and that is a whole lotta love, Little Girl. You will never know any different.

Tomorrow we find out if you will be having a little brother or sister and that just floors me. YOU are going to be the BIG sister. I almost feel guilty that you had such a short time in the spotlight as our "baby". You will always be my first little girl, maybe my only little girl, and you will always mean so much to  me. I hope for you to never have to feel the "middle child" syndrome and we will do all that we can to make you feel special and loved. You are special and loved. You will be such a great big sister. You will also never have to be the one to wear the hand-me-down clothes!! Yay!

Happy Fifteen Months, Pumpkin. Now please go to sleep, it's way past your bedtime.

Comments

[NanaBoop]

Try giving Bootsie a clothspin in each hand to hold onto instead of your finger. It may help her feel a bit more confident about walking on her own.

[Mom]

You just made my day, Ju. I SO look forward to these posts, but I wish they were farther apart so the JuJuKids would slow down... This is my favorite one so far. You are doing such a great Mommy Job. Maddie is such a joy. You should post a 79-month post for LittleJu, just so everyone can see what a wild and crazy kid he really is...
Love to All,

[Amanda]

Wow she is 15 months already! Time files!

[Kate the Peon]

Yes, yes, this was a cute post. It did, however, make me gag with the 'diamonds and gold and sunshine' line.

:)