June 1, 2011

Dear Lucia,

Wow... So you love to show off now. You are gaining weight like a rock star, finally developing chubby baby parts I've missed - cheeks, legs, arm dimples, belly. You had gotten so skinny your ribs were popping out. Glad to see you thriving and looking healthier. The Duocal has really helped you gain and your appetite has gotten stronger as well. You finally have two little teeth caps poking through on the bottom. Those teeth are taking their sweet time coming through, but you are working on them. You are a drool fountain. But despite the pain, you are so happy, smiling, laughing. You are exploring your new teeth with your tongue and often it's sticking out. When you eat you stick out your tongue, move it side to side, make such silly faces. You've tried so many new foods - your newest is watermelon. You like the mesh feeder, but you sometimes twirl it around in your fingers, hold the mushy food side and stick the handle in your mouth.

You love to show off how you can stand - you even pulled yourself up to your activity table to stand all by yourself!! You are tumbling sometimes, and it is scary for me to watch but it's normal. I try to catch you but I don't always. Luckily you recover very quickly. You are such a strong girl, you roll with it. You are so strong, so brave. You are not intimidated - you keep trying, and you know you will get the hang of it. You love to sit on your stool and reach for toys. You love rolling all over now. You love being on your tummy - I remember when this was a battle. I looked down from the dining room to where you were playing on the living room floor and I saw beginnings of crawling - saw you scooting around, spinning, trying to coordinate hands and feet together. You are almost there. We better work on babyproofing soon...

You love to talk, sing, vocalize, test the limits of your voice. And you love music. You are motivated by anything with music. I rocked you to sleep to Elvis the other night - his sweet voice is one of your favorites. Our new bedtime song is "Can't help falling in love with you". Caught Daddy dancing with you to "I only have eyes for you" also...You have truly captured our hearts and you are such a joy. You truly live up to your name. Life can be so hectic, especially these days with so much going on with work, home, etc. but you are the light of my life. At the end of a long day is always you, me, snuggling, music. Even if I only get that one solid hour of Lucia time, I savor it. It renews my spirit, calms me, centers me, reminds me why I have to work all day. I hate being apart from you, but I've accepted it now. It is what we have to do. You miss me too - you climb for me, reach for me when you see me after work. When Daddy comes to meet me at the bus stop and you are in the backseat, that first glance you get of me, your face lights up. That smile is the light I look forward to all day.

I love you, princess. You are such a blessing.

Love, Mama