My dear boy,
This was meant to be a year-end letter, looking back at the amazing 2012 since you graced our lives. But like so many of my projects these days, it was delayed. Now, it is my Valentine's love letter to you.
You are my sweet, my cuddly, my warmth. I love how you perk up at the sight of me and reach out to me. I love how you grab tightly onto my shirt or my hair (even though it hurts) as if to make sure I will never let you go (I would not). The way your whole body exude joy, your face aglow and your wobbly steps (with the help of a bigger person to balance and stay upright ) hastes when you sees me within reach. It always amazes me how my simple presence comforts you. As if by burrowing into my neck, everything will right itself. The trust you bestow me humbles and terrifies me. I am just another human being with all the standard flaws, still feeling a little wobbly on my own feet. Who am I to have such effect on another wondrous human being? What do I have to have such profound effect on you? Regardless, the sight of you staring into my face as I nurse you, or the feel of your fingers grasping mine is enough to make me want to be there. There, no matter where you'll be.
I love how you snuggle into me to hide, or to rest, and how you flash smiles at others in the safety of my arms. You never hesitate to reach out towards people you love; your daddy, your sisters, me. You love to feel our faces, grab our hair. The sight of us always elicits excited bounces and smiles, even squeals from you. You'd stretch and lean in order to get a peak at your sisters, smiling at them, anticipating to be made laugh. When I give you kisses, you'd lean into me and ask for more. When you feel like it, you'd "hold" my face, lean forward, and give me a open-mouthed kiss that is oh-so-sweet and just so wet.
You are also a curious baby, always fighting to see, feel, try new things. You would open cabinets, pull out drawers, bang toys together, shake things, wave things, taste things, explore them in all manners a 8 month old baby is capable of. The shiny towel rod, the microwave, and the faucet are all things that make you leap out of my arms to reach for. Especially the microwave. Every time I activate it, you take a joyful gasp and puts a hand on it to watch the dish inside magically spin itself.
You love baths. Starting your sister's bath is difficult nowadays because I also have to physically prevent you from head diving into the tub. You would stand by it and excitedly pat the tub, smiling and bouncing in expectation. When you do get to take a bath, you'd happily splash the water this way and that. While Lauren freaks out when water gets into her ears or eyes, you have no problem sticking your head right under the running faucet. I've taken to sloppily pour water all over you, hoping that this indifference toward water would remain and you will continue to be a water baby (a water dragon baby?).
You started teething at 3-months old and never stopped. It started with two bottom teeth. At seven months old, you have four bottom teeth and three top teeth. At eight months old, your eighth teeth has also come through. Teething has not be easy on you nor me, especially when the teeth were just coming. You've left bite marks on my shoulder through a heavy sweatshirt. I am the only person that was ever seriously bitten by you. I am not sure whether the bite is from discomfort or your way of showing your love.
You learned to sit around 5 months old, stalled, and finally got the hang of crawling two weeks or so ago. You don't have a "standard" crawl, though. It's more of a sitting scoot with your right leg remaining an upright position. Even though crawling is the best way to move yourself around, you prefer to stand and walk. Yes siree. You start to pull yourself up even before you can crawl. With the help of a friendly upright-able person, you gladly walk (or run) around the house, checking out corners, chasing after sisters. Can't wait to catch up, huh?
Dear child, since your arrival almost 9 months ago, you have grown so very much. All I can do is hold on to you tight, take in your body warmth, feel your weight in my arms, and savor every bit of it. You are my little boy. My wonder, my tender, my joy. I love you.
