dear little buddy

i love you. you are perhaps the best baby in the world. we just can't believe that you are barely 9 months old, and already so advanced in your social and motor skills! (even the doctor was surprised!)

there are a few things i would like to share with you.

"no" does not mean "turn around and grin at mommy, then go back to what you are doing." "no," in fact, means, "stop what you are doing, right now please."

the cat runs away from you because she doesn't like her tail being pulled. she is wary of your adorable giggles when she comes near you. chasing her, no matter how fast you can crawl, is fruitless, although entertaining.

that food in a bowl on the floor? right next to the intriguing bowl of water? those belong to the dog honey, not to you. mommy doesn't enjoy mopping up water off of the kitchen floor.

we are just so glad we have a basket full of fun toys for you! these toys mean that the bookcase full of DVDs (which are not included in the basket) do not belong to you. throwing them across the room doesn't count as "playing with your toys."

you should be really careful about shoving things in your mouth--even things you're supposed to eat. it's pretty scary for mommy and daddy when you gag yourself.

mommy's hair is not a toy. neither is daddy's. (although it can be funny for mommy to see daddy's reaction when you use his chest hair to pull yourself into a standing position, it really isn't funny.)

the way you "sing" yourself to sleep is just adorable.

speaking of the sleep thing. i love that you take naps in your crib. but when you cry for 15 minutes, then nap for 10, then cry for 15, then nap for 10, it's not very good for you. you should cry for 15 minutes then nap for two hours. you are so much happier after a long nap.

you are such a genius. you know when mommy and daddy are eating, and make a beeline straight for us. then open your mouth expectantly, like a baby bird. and 99% of the time you get fed.

it's great that you're so cute, even when strange old women say funny things to mommy and daddy then touch you. we cringe but you love it (i think).

even though you just love the price is right, drew carey just doesn't do as well as bob barker. sad you'll never know that.

i know you think that the keyboard on the laptop is just for you, but when mommy has to retype something three times, it's not so cute anymore. and when daddy ends up three screens back because you hit the backspace button so much, i think he gets kind of frustrated. along those same lines--power cords, vcrs, tvs, playstations, the power converter box for the computer, etc. aren't toys. neither are outlets. (good thing we have those plastic covers, huh!)

playing with mommy's cell phone is just fine, as long as you don't eat it. blackberries are food. mommy's blackberry is not.

i love you, little buddy. i am so proud of how much you have grown. you keep mommy and daddy running, and i'm sure that the older you get the more running we will do. it has been fun watching you go from grabbing fingers to grabbing eyelids. from playing with your hands to playing with everything you can get your hands on.

love,

mommy

a few things i love most about being a mommy

the way little buddy giggles when i tickle him (and how giggly he gets at night when he's tired---you look at him and he laughs hysterically!)

how big he grins at me!

the compliments we get from people about what a good baby he is and how adorable he is (because he is the cutest, most well-behaved baby i've ever seen!)

the way he watches me when i'm moving around

baby toes...baby fingers...baby hair (like cornsilk)...his BIG blue eyes...soft baby skin...his cute little baby bum...baby fat rolls on his thighs....tiny little teeth...

how he will crawl after me if i go into another room

the way he reaches out for me to hold him

when i pick him up he (usually) stops crying--even if someone else was already holding him

getting to cuddle with him when he eats. he used to be so cuddly--he wouldn't sleep at all unless he was being held. now he won't sleep at all if he is held. he has so much energy, the only time he will sit still and let me cuddle him is when he's eating.

getting up with him at night, when it's quiet and dark, and nursing him. i love to just hold him and watch him eat. (even though getting up a lot at night isn't so fun.)

watching him grow and learn new things. i can't believe how big he is, and how fast he is learning. i bet he will be walking very soon, and he's only 9 months old.

listening to the way he "sings" himself to sleep

watching him with my husband. he sure loves his daddy.

listening to him talk. he loves to hear himself make noise!

seeing him sleep at night, with his legs curled under him and his butt stuck up in the air.

getting to dress him in fun clothes, and watch as he grows out of them (so fast!)

having a reason to walk down the toy aisle at wal-mart :)

how he will reach out and touch my face when i'm holding him

seeing his personality emerge as he gets older

knowing (usually!) why he is upset, and what he needs, and how to take care of it

the way he climbs all over everything

how he puts a toy in his mouth and crawls around with it dangling

the sound of him panting like a dog--he loves to do that!

being so proud of him, and feeling more love for him than i ever thought was possible

learning more about myself, who i am and what kind of person i can be, just by being a mother
-----------------------------------------------
what are your favorite things about being a mommy (or daddy)? and if you don't have kids yet, what do you look forward to the most?

because i apparently need a co-blogger

hnu ujbujgliug akwj;oihnasdf
fao;jh;owienfr

little buddy helping me post. until he found my cell phone.
the kid has piles of toys and he'd rather play with the computer, a cell phone, a remote, or scoot his cute little self across the carpet to daddy's playstation.

he's going to be an expensive kid, i can tell.