Six Months.

Dear Toph,
Today you are six months old. For the first time in my life, I know what it feels like for time to speed up and slow down at the same time; for six months feels like a long time ago but I know it was just yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital.

Half a year, bud. That's how old you are today. Your smile lights up our day, your laugh melts our heart and your easy-going nature is such a joy.

You have turned us into this really awesome trio; a new family unit. I won't lie, at times it was hard for our duo to adjust to being a trio, but you make it all worth it. We think you are amazing, and you became our center of gravity the minute you were born. Rest assured, everything we do is for you. You are never far from our thoughts and you drive every action and decision we make.

You are a busy guy these days; you love to jump in your bouncer.

And you equally love your doorway jumper.

You are trying like crazy to crawl:

You have the most kissable cheeks in the world.

You grab at everything.

You sit up so well.  You rarely cry.  You love to look at books.  Your favorite foods are squash, peas and breastmilk.  You hate rice cereal.  You wear size three diapers and have about a month before you outgrow your 6-9 month clothes.  You nurse like a champ, except when your non-existent teeth hurt you.  You only take a pacifier in your crib and we think we can talk you out of that pretty soon.  You are popular at day care.  You can hold your own bottle.  You are trying to pull up on the ottoman.  You think the cat is fascinating and want him so badly.  The cat does not share the sentiment.  You light up when your daddy comes home.  You don't like it when daddy makes scary faces in an attempt to be funny.  You just learned to sleep on your tummy and at times have a hard time adjusting to the new position.  You hair sticks straight up and you have the sweetest cowlick on the top of your forehead.  Your eyes are brown like your daddy's.  In fact, almost everything about you, right down to your personality, is just like your daddy.  We got lucky because if you were anything like your mama when she was a baby, I'd have to delete the "rarely cries" part.  You can be put on a pallet on the floor with a few toys and be fine there for an extended period.  You love your rattles and you love your bear Uncle Kris gave you.  You love to practice standing on mama's lap.  You are in a great mood when you wake up in the morning.  You look precious in footie pajamas.  At night when you wake from teething I'll rock you back to sleep and I try to memorize exactly the way you feel in my arms.  You fit perfectly against my chest and in my arms.  No matter how big you get (and your pedi predicts you'll be a big boy) you will always fit perfectly in my arms.  They were made for you, my boy.

You are my baby, my six month old baby. You've brought so much joy to our lives.  I love you so fiercely.
Love
mama