Nine Months (...five days ago)

Dear Miles,

Last Saturday you reached the nine-month mark. I had been thinking about it in the days before, and then on the actual day I almost missed it! Daddy was out of town with the students, and you and I were headed to the park for a walk since the weather was unusually warm. As I was driving I said, "Miles -- you're nine months old today!" Of course I didn't get a clear response, just some jabbering and singing from the back seat. I was so proud.

And I continue to be a proud mama. You have added three top teeth to the bottom two, your hair (still with a red tint, we think) has grown in more lately, and the crawling! Oh my, I knew that once you got going there would be no stopping you, and I was so right. You are just speeding along, and I don't know if my heart can keep up with how fast you are growing.

Your interaction with me and Daddy becomes more heartwarming and amusing all the time. The other day Daddy was on the phone with 'Pops' (your name for one of your grandfathers), and you were sitting with me watching him and you cocked your head to one side and grinned at him. It was such a funny thing to see, and now you do it every once in a while as if you know just how charming it is to those watching.

Everyone will say that their child is the cutest and the smartest and all of that, but in this case it is so true! I notice that when I try to teach you something one day, for just a few minutes, you will remember it the next day. For example, we have been working on clapping. I clapped three times and said, "Clap-clap-clap!" and then I took your hands and did the same thing. Then you tried it on your own, and the very next day, all I said was "Clap-clap-clap!" and up came your little hands, trying again to make the connection. You're still working on it, but I'm sure that very soon we'll hear you clapping those hands together. And it seems that when I say, "Hey!" you seem to answer back, "Hey!" It is a little bizarre, but you've done it so much that it really seems like you are talking to me. And I think your new word "Gah-gee" is the word for your favorite person -- your Daddy.

I've also noticed that you are a little more attached to me these days. Before, if someone else was holding you, it was no big deal. But now you have started to realize that Mommy is over there and so that means that she is not holding me...and so you reach out your hands to come back to that safe place. I can't say I'm not loving it, knowing that I am the one you look for and need to comfort you. I know it won't be that way forever and ever, and so I will treasure it for as long as I can. I adore being your safe place, Miles. I will store in my heart every hug and kiss and smile that you offer, and I will always be so proud of you.

Love,

Mama

 

Friday's Feast

Thought I'd get back to Friday's Feast again...plus it's an easy way to post something when you can't think of anything else. Click on the post title or the link in the sidebar to have a feast of your own!

Friday, January 12, 2007 - Feast One Hundred & Twenty Six

Appetizer

What comes to mind when you see the color orange?

Sunsets, the fruit, autumn, fire, pumpkins

Soup

Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for?

Sadly, I did get in trouble a few times, but one of the funniest things was that I got in trouble for reading during class when I was in the sixth grade. Honestly, I just devoured books constantly and didn't want to put them down, so I would read while the teacher was giving instructions and then I wouldn't hear what the assignment was. I remember Mrs. Jones talking with my dad one day about it. I didn't ever get punished for it because, really, how can you punish a kid for reading?

Salad

Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza?

I'm a crust girl. For me it's all about the crust. I stick with your basic cheese and pepperoni or cheese and hamburger, but if the crust is not super-crispy (almost burnt is best!) then I'm not all that interested.

Main Course

Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not?

I never really have believed in them. I suppose I can't rule out the possibility, but I wonder why God would create other life and not let us know about it. Hmm...maybe we will find other life someday, but honestly I just don't see it happening.

Dessert

What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt?

Sage. It's called 'The Big Blanket' and we got it at JCPenney and I just love it! I came up with a new color scheme for our bedroom a few months ago and Casey let me run with it. And really, I've come full-circle with this post, because one of the colors I wanted to incorporate was orange, but Casey just didn't see it working with the other colors. I'll break him down eventually.

Reading, Writing, and Reliving

Before the new year began, I was asked if I'd like to review a book here on Trace Talks. It was really, really cool to get that email, partly because I am a huge bookworm and partly because it was just neat that I was asked. Anyway, in the sidebar there you'll see the cover of the book, titled Confessions of an Amateur Believer. I was taken both by the title and by the snippets I read of an excerpt from the book. I have always wanted to write my own book, or books, and after last year's events a lot of people told me I should write something. I haven't told many people this, but I have been 'writing' a book of my life in my head since I was very young, probably since I was about eight or nine years old. I don't know how many people do this, but to me it's always been a given. I either 'write' as things are happening, or I 'write' when I'm trying to go to sleep. I don't do it every day, but it's just one of my many, many unusual...habits, I guess you'd call it.

There's not much of a point to this particular post, just kind of letting you know that I'll be reviewing Confessions of an Amateur Believer at some point in the near future. I don't know how well I'll do, and I am haunted by Ms. Moore's AP English IV class I took my senior year of high school -- for only the first semester, mind you. All we did was read and analyze, read and analyze. I just wanted to read, and the analyzing really bogged me down. But I'm trying not to let that get to me. I'm just going to read this book, say what I thought of it, the end. That shouldn't be so hard...right?