My sweet baby,

You are eight months today and, no matter how much I want to slow these days down, they seem to be speeding up.

You’re at such a fun age right now. Crawling, climbing, talking, eating. It makes my insides burst when I see you do little human things. The other day, you took a sip of water from my water bottle and swallowed it like a real kid and I had to take a few seconds to process what just happened. Such a small thing, but it reminded me just how much you’ve grown. Same thing when you started to take bites of the banana while it was still in the peel. Seemingly small things, but they feel so colossal to me.

You started crawling on your Nani’s birthday and, naturally, you were slow to start. But you’re determined to get places and now we can’t seem to slow you down. You make laps around the living room and kitchen. Your toys are spread out all over the living room, but you’re more interested in discovering how you could use the couch or the cabinets or your baby gate to stand up.

Barely crawling and now you already want to start walking. SLOW DOWN PLEASE. Your mama can’t handle it.

This month, you’ve started to eat real people food. And, as always, we can’t get it to you fast enough. Your mouth is full and you’re already reaching for the next bite.

Your love for books has only grown and your favorite is, hands down, Llama Llama Red Pajama. I’ve had to hide it on occasion because six consecutive reads of the same book seem a bit much, y’know?

This morning, we showed you Ludacris rapping Llama Llama and you had a smile on your face the whole time. I used to think you were calling out for me when you said, “Mama,” but I now know you were probably trying to say “Llama.”

Still, even if you are calling out for “llama,” it’s your mama you want when you sleep at night. Papa is your favorite person and he makes you giggle so hard and smile so big. You shriek in excitement when he gets home from work. But mama is the one you feel cozy with and the one who you want to fall asleep with most. I’m a-okay with that.

I threatened to keep you in your mama-facing stroller until you were 18 years old but gave in and started facing you out. You’re a much happier walking companion this way when you can see the world around you.

This month, we got to visit both sets of grandparents and both homes have Christmas trees all because of you. You like to sit and stare as the lights changed colors. But not for too long because, hello, there are things to climb and stuff to put in your mouth.

This month was also the month you got your COVID test done and cried big, big tears. (More on that in another post, I’m sure). You can’t stand things being put up your nose and you’re excellent at swatting away everyone’s hands when they even try.

Other things that I’m loving right now are the way you hold on to me as you’re falling asleep. The way you’ll sing with me as I hum lullabies in bed. The fact that, no matter how upset or distraught you are, I can pull out a book and it’ll instantly calm you down.

I love that when I say, “Give Mama a kiss,” you open up your slobbery mouth and plant a big one on my lips. Sometimes on my nose.

Or when I say, “I. Love. You.” so slowly, you smile after I say “I.” As if you already know what I’m going to say. As if you already know what it means.

I love how you are adventurous and, no matter how many times you fall down – even right on your face – you just get back up and try to climb again. I can barely keep up with you but I feel such an intense amount of joy as I watch you take in the world around you.

You are everything in the world to us. Like your Nani always says, “you are our jaan, our praan.” Our whole entire life.

Thank you for letting me be your Mama Llama.