It has been a while since I've written a Dear Zoe - we have had such a busy summer. It was so much fun to take you to Michigan. It is such a huge part of who I am, and it will grow to be a large part of who you are, too. We're lucky that we get to spend some time each summer in such a magical place.
You started crawling backwards when we were there and you developed a hobby of backing into and under things. Under the table, under the bed, into the couch, into the wall. It was all fun and games until you realized you couldn't get out from under the table or that you weren't going to be able to push that wall back no matter how hard you tried. I tried to tell you, but it's like you don't understand English. What gives?
You also started eating solids with some success when you were in Michigan. This is due to your Grammy P trying just about everything with you. You loved chicken noodle soup, watermelon, nectarine, cheerios, etc. You were a little iffy on the ice cream. We'll work on that. No child of mine is going to dislike ice cream.
And now that we're home, you've settled back in nicely. You're crawling now and are trying desperately to keep up with your siblings. You are having so much fun with them and they fight over who gets to take a bath with you and who gets to sit next to you at dinner.
You got your first bad cold when we were in Michigan and were having horrible nights. You couldn't breathe through your nose and that was causing all kinds of trouble for you. I hate to see you in any kind of discomfort, so we were nursing and nursing and nursing all night because you found it so comforting. If you are reading this as a teenager you might throw up a little bit in your mouth, but there is nothing quite like being able to comfort your baby with your body. (I know, I know. At least "body" and not "breast" - your Grammy P would have totally said "breast") The only problem with the night nursing thing we were doing so much of is that we got stuck on that schedule. I think you LOVE it because it frees you up during the day to chew on cords, try and pull the stools over on yourself, dump the basket of blocks over, and throw cheerios all over the freakin' place. Now that you're nursing ALL NIGHT, you're just not that interested during the day. I'll take you in to the bedroom to nurse before a nap and you'll nurse a bit, then roll over, push up and start crawling backwards off the bed. "That was a nice snack, but I'm packing it up. Lots to do. Cheerio, then." (That's what you say. In a British accent.)
So...anyway. Mama's tired. I'm working on NOT letting you nurse every time you wake up at night, which, by the way, is every hour or two. You hate it and scream as loud as you can in my ear. You are able to eventually just settle back in and go to sleep. We'll see if this works. It's no surprise that you're not such a great sleeper. Neither am I. So...whatever. I'm having too much fun with you to let this bother me too much. You're the sweetest little thing ever to walk the earth, Zoe B. I love you, my little Bean.
