Dear Cooper,
The other night you were napping on my chest and belly.
I found myself studying your hair, which is growing wildly.
You have the most perfect and adorable hair, as you can tell from the above picture with Uncle Loshe.
I ran my hand over your back, rubbing my hands from side to side.
I leaned down and kissed your forehead.
You took a deep breath and I was afraid my fast-beating heart and millions of kisses would wake you.
Tears filled my eyes.
Happy tears.
But then sad tears.
Sad that everyone was right about the days being long and the years being short.
Sad that time moves too quickly.
Sad that I often feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day for us to spend together.
How are you seven months old already, baby boy?
Your daddy caught me with tears in my eyes and I said, “I just can’t get over him. He’s perfect. And growing so quickly. I just can’t believe it…”
I came across a quote on Facebook from Baby Rabies that said:
“There is a small window of time when babies fit with their head under your chin and their heart is perfectly aligned with yours.”
As we snuggled together that night (and most nights), I remembered those words. I am so incredibly thankful and lucky to have you as my son. Lucky that we’ve spent another month growing, learning, and experiencing life together.
When we went to the doctor for you six month check-up, the title on the paper said, “Emerging Personality.”
Your daddy and I laughed. You’ve had a big personality and kind heart for as long as I can remember.
You’ve always been so curious, alert, and engaged. While we believe your personality “emerged” long before six months, I’m happy to share that your personality and development has definitely grown over the past month.
Your laugh is louder. In fact, you are starting to form a variety of different laughs just like me! I wish I could find a way to make my alarm clock your laugh.
You make funny noises. I honestly can’t even explain how adorable and hilarious your little growl is that you make from time to time. I’m trying to capture it on film, but I often find myself laughing so hard or encouraging you to keep going…that I forget to start recording. I suppose that’s a good thing, though. I’m trying really hard to just BE in the moment with you.
You make this HILARIOUS smirk when you know you’ve done something extra adorable.
Your daddy said it’s the same smirk that I give him when I spend too much money on clothes. But you also seem to make this smirk when you know I’m needing an extra dose of love.
When we lost puppy brother the other night, I had a search crew looking for him. I found myself crying and carrying you around while we searched for him. You remained so calm and never made a fuss.
With tears in my eyes, I looked at you and said, “What will we do if I can’t find puppy brother?”
I knew you wouldn’t respond, but you gave me that little smirk. My heart melted and I squeezed you tight as we continued our search for puppy brother. Turns out, he was locked in the food pantry! I honestly don’t know how he got in there…I blame one of the ghosts that you smile at in the kitchen during dinner time.
In other developmental l news, you are sitting up like a boss! I have to admit, I was terribly afraid to leave you alone or walk away from you while you were sitting up. But your strength amazes me. I love watching you pull yourself up, roll around, and entertain yourself with toys. I know it seems so silly and maybe a bit stalker, but I love just sitting back and watching you figure out how your toys work together.
I love your curiosity and bright eyes.
You’re also getting teeth! Two little teeth on your bottom, middle. You had a few CRAZY days where you were very fussy and upset. I didn’t even know what to do and thought something was severely wrong with you because you’re usually so happy and smiley. Teething is NOT fun.
You are finding ways to test me already. When we are eating dinner, you think it’s super funny to make eye contact with me, give me that irresistible smirk, and then toss EVERY single toy you own on the ground. I, being your obsessive servant and biggest fan, waste no time picking the toys up for you again. Of course, you waste no time throwing everything on the ground again. It’s a fun game we play.
I know one day I’ll look back and miss having you in your high chair while I do dishes and other chores.
In fact, I know one day I’ll look back and miss a lot of these moments.
I try incredibly hard to live in the moment and never forget how blessed and lucky I am to experience motherhood. Sure, there are things to complain about. But complaining is such a draining and negative experience for EVERYONE involved.
So instead, I always try to find a way to see the positive and funny when going through these moments. Let’s take blowouts for example. You’ve had a handful of MAJOR poop explosions lately.
One time, you had a turd – like a grownup person turd – in your diaper. The turd flipped through the air and landed on your leg because you were kicking and moving around while I changed you.
“Don’t move,” I warned. “Remain completely still….you have a giant turd on you.”
You laughed and that made me laugh.
The very next day, you had a turd that was shaped in a circle – like a cakeball. That little turd rolled straight out of your diaper and onto the changing pad!
I had to tell Bandit not to eat the runaway turd and I had to keep you from rolling off the changing table while I cleaned everything up.
When I put you down for your afternoon nap that day, I realized just how gross, hilarious, and memorable being a parent truly is….
Speaking of memorable, here are a few big memories and moments from our last month together:
You had a wonderful six month check-up! You’re healthy and happy. You weighed 18 lbs and 5 ozs and reached 28 inches long!
You had a GREAT check-up at Riley Hospital.
You had to get a skull X-ray, which was incredibly sad because you cried harder than ever before. When I could finally pick you up off the X-ray table, I saw puddles of tears on the table. My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces and I didn’t ever want to let you go. But the doctor was impressed with your progress and the X-ray showed promising results – your ridges are NOT overlapping (which means no skull surgery)!!!!!!!!
You still have ONE more appointment left and then you should be cleared. Fingers crossed, baby boy.
You got fitted for your FIRST pair of shoes at the family-owned shore store, Esmond’s.
We signed you up for your FIRST swim class! Obviously that required an adorable new swimsuit.
You got really excited and into the March Madness games with dad.
You continue to fall in love with the new foods we are trying. Your favorite is Spinach and Potato. Summer Vegetable Melody and Sweet Potatoes are a close second though.
We started giving you a sippy cup (with water only). But you would rather just chew on it instead of learning how to drink from the cup.
You’ve continued to love reading time at the end of every night.
You realized one way to get me from taking your picture is to vomit mid-selfie.
You continue to make EVERY Thursday my favorite day: Coop Day.
GREAT NEWS! You are sleeping WORLDS better at night now. You aren’t sleep “through the night” yet. But you also aren’t waking up every 45 minutes anymore. I’ll take it!! You continue to sleep with at least 2-3 pacifiers each night because you kick the majority of them out of the crib (or kick them across the crib) in your sleep.
You have TWO TINY TEETH already! Oh yeah, I already said that…but seriously, I can’t believe it….
You didn’t recognize your dad when he had a “shaving accident” and shaved off his entire beard!
You looked a baby pictures of yourself the day you turned seven months old. I think it’s safe to say we both cried. You wanted to eat the picture (and I wouldn’t let you) so that made you mad. And I just cried because I can’t believe it’s been seven months since we welcomed you into this world.
We took some pictures to celebrate you turn seven months old.
I love you baby boy. You have me wrapped around your tiny fingers and big heart.
Keep growing.
Keep smiling.
Keep laughing.
Keep being healthy.
Keep reminding me what life is all about, little one.
I’m looking forward to celebrating my first Mother’s Day with you the day before you turn 8 months old. We shall celebrate with a fun dance party in the living room, making up hilarious songs all throughout the day, going on a walk with puppy brother, playing in the grass, and sleeping in until 9 am.
Hey, a mom can wish, right? 😉
Love you to the moon and back, pumpkin.
Much love,
Mom
Ashley Sieb 