7 Months Old

Dear Eva Kate,

You turned 7 months old on your first Easter. 7 months just seems like it is getting too close to you being a full year old. I am so thankful to be home with you so that I can take in every moment of you being an infant because I know it won't last. I teared up a little bit after putting you to bed the night before because I know that you'll be a toddler before I know it (and before I'm ready). The best part is that you keep growing and you are healthy and you become more fun every day! (Well most days....) I took your 7 month photo in the chair like we've been doing every month and you were extra wiggly so we tried another pose.

Sitting up on the floor like a big girl! You are doing a great job of sitting up on your own so maybe we'll switch to this pose instead of the chair. I still have to be near you for when you inevitably topple over but you will sit up and play with toys now. I like to put your Boppy behind you to catch you so that I can sit in front of you and play toys with you. You've definitely developed a preference for certain toys and a disliking for having toys put away. You also know to look in your toy bin for the one you want. It's crazy seeing you become so smart.

You aren't talking yet, but based on your responses I think you are understanding some of what we say. You seem to understand a few words like milk, nap, cup, binky, more, and all done.

You love to eat all of the food I make you. So far you eat oatmeal, brown rice, avocado, sweet potatoes, peas, pears, yogurt, and your favorite food - BANANAS! You would probably eat bananas every day if I offered them to you. The other day I gave you a few tiny pieces of cut up avocado to see what you would do. You worked so hard to get the piece in your hand, you opened up your mouth wide, and then you accidentally smushed it up by your eye. It was very funny! Maybe we'll stick with purred foods for a bit longer.

Tummy time is getting much more fun, too! A few times I've seen you rock back into an almost crawl position but that's as far as you want to go. That's okay, crawling can wait. One day you rolled from your back to your tummy twice. Daddy saw it too so I'm not imagining it. But since then you can't quite make it all the way over. I let you play on the floor and put toys just slightly out of reach so that you would have to roll to get them. You have realized that you're going to have to move to get them and you try soooo hard. You'll get there soon!

One of our biggest challenges this month has been nursing. You will go through days at a time when you really don't want to nurse. You are so wiggly and just want to play. And you got teeth so occasionally you decide to bite me. Ouch. There was a moment when I thought we might have to stop but we worked through it and you're doing much better now. I will be sad when you stop nursing one day and I really hope to make it through your first year. My favorite time of day is when I nurse you late at night before I go to bed and you are a still, cuddly baby in my lap. I love to hold you and rock you and pray for you.

Sleeping this month has been pretty good. You are usually out right at 8:00 PM. We are still swaddling your lower half because you sleep so well. I tried letting you sleep unswaddled and it wasn't successful. I think you love feeling cozy :) The worse sleep time of this past month was when you had your first ear infection. We thought you were teething and spent many, many hours up with you at night before deciding to take you to the doctor. It was so sad to hear you cry for hours. I wish you could know that even when you're crying we are always trying so hard to take care of you and love you and make you feel better. Going through that long, sleepless week with you made me realize that God probably feels the same way with us when we take our fears to him. He knows we're sad. He knows how to make us whole again. Sometimes it just takes time and trust. I hope I can teach you this as you grow.

You absolutely love bath time! We recently had to move your baby tub from the counter into the big bath tub because you make such huge splashes. When those bath toys come out, Hurricane Eva is in full swing!

You have the best baby giggles in the world. I love to hear you laugh with Daddy. You help us start the day off well because you are usually smiling and laughing when we get you up from your crib in the morning. You may be serious with everybody else, but we are blessed to see your true joy. We love you forever.

love, Mama