Dear Livia,
Hey, big kid! Today you are ten months old—and I can’t believe this day is here already. It’s no big deal when adults get older, but every month in your life makes a huge difference. I see you growing and changing almost before my eyes. Yesterday, in fact, it seemed like you actually looked older than the day before!
This past month your personality has made its presence known. Your eyes are indeed windows to your soul—by them I can tell what kind of mood you’re in. They light up and squint a little when you’re mischievous; they go completely round and slightly dull when you’re overwhelmed; they wear heavy lids when you’re getting sleepy. You have beautiful eyes! You also vocalize your moods… Happy noises and giggles quickly give way to coughs (which you sometimes use as fake-y cries) and sad “da-das” when you’re frustrated or irritated. You’re talking up a storm these days with more vowels and consonants than ever.
You’ve developed an eye for detail, which means that zippers, buttons, earrings and eyeglasses enthrall you. Your “go go Gadget” arms can pull off Daddy’s glasses faster than a speeding bullet (wow, two pop culture references in one small sentence!) so Daddy has been working hard to teach you “no.” I am profoundly entertained by the way you grab at his face like it is putty… You’ll pinch at his eyebrows and attempt to grab his eyelids. You like to stick your little fingers up his nose and rake over his mustache. Potentially painful but also very funny! You love to smoosh your face up against ours and press your little open mouth upon our cheeks. We’d do anything for these sweet kisses! You’re also a champion hugger now, holding my neck tightly with one arm and patting my shoulder with the other.
A few weeks ago, after I put you down for a nap, I wrote this in your journal. It still rings true:
When I hold you, I hold the world in my arms. You are all potential, existence of a spirit bound by skin and bones. You can be anything. You are everything. You are the world in baby form. How proud I am of you.
Happy ten months, Livia Raine! May God bless you as you grow.
Love,
Mama
9 Comments
kara Mar 8, 2005 8:42 AM
again; bawling.
happy 10 months, livia!!!
john russnogle Mar 8, 2005 9:06 AM
Rebecca, Every time I read your letters to Livia, I think Adam (as in my son) really got gypped when it comes to parents. I trust you are saving each of these missives so you can share them with Livia when she’s old enough to understand how blessed she is.
JR
kerri Mar 8, 2005 9:36 AM
You think Adam got gypped; I still only have one baby book out of seven with anything in it, much less thoughtful, tear-inducing letters on the whatever-month-birthday….I have to go find some kleenex now.
Kerri
RT Mar 8, 2005 10:37 AM
John, my goal is to print off these letters and pictures and put them in Livia’s baby book… Has that happened yet? No. Will that happen by her 1st (or 18th) birthday? Stay tuned… Organization is not my forte!
Jeremy Mar 8, 2005 11:30 AM
“Organization is not my forte!”
Ironically, Rebecca is the stronger “J” (Myers-Briggs) in our marriage. Obviously, the Tredway household is less organized than normal. :)
dena Mar 8, 2005 12:07 PM
I am always so surprised every time one of livia’s birthdays comes around and your letters pop up. The first thing that comes to mind is: “wait a minute, didn’t she just celebrate her nine month?… what??? that was a whole month ago??? where has time gone?!?!?!?!”
The second thing that comes to mind is how completely adorable that girl is, and how blessed she is to have you and jeremy for parents!
happy birthday liv!
:)
Megan Mar 9, 2005 9:37 AM
Gypped – yes. I think that too every time I read these great written snapshots. I swore I’d be better too because my own baby book has about 3 pages filled out…
I have two baby books completely done (first year only) and this is because for baby #2 I made a lot of it up. I guessed when things happened and looked at #1’s book to kind of remind me.
Baby #3 got the same treatment and I’m still not done with hers. She’s 3 years old now.
Baby #4 I bought a calendar type thing thinking that would solve all my problems. I could probably regift the calendar because it’s still blank. She’s 17 months old.
I still have plans to go back and fill in the blanks by making it all up or guessing. I am just *that* bad. I do put in a LOT of pictures though, so that should make up for a multitude of lack in some area…
Sigh. Rebecca, I want to be just like you. ;)
RT Mar 9, 2005 10:07 AM
Ha! Livia will have a lovely blog to flip through as she ages, but there is great potential for her to have nothing more. Her journal is scattered in many locations, between my own personal journal, numerous emails surrounding her adoption, and a folder on my computer desktop — and don’t get me started on all the digital photographs. I’m seriously in need of a professional organizer’s help! Any takers? : )
Nana Mar 10, 2005 12:39 PM
Every mother’s heart is a scrapbook. Mom