Nine Months

Dear Camryn,

Tomorrow we'll celebrate your 9 month birthday!!

I've spent the last few days thinking about the 9 months that I was pregnant with you vs. the past 9 months of your life and how different they were. I wanted to share with you some of those thoughts....

Nine Months

As I stared down at my belly
Unable to see my feet from above
My mind raced with parenting fears
But my heart raced equally with love

Waiting on you was taking forever
And all my clothes were getting tighter
Daddy was afraid I might eat him
As my belly grew wider and wider

Who would my tiny human be?
Would I wrap you in pink or blue?
Our doc said "Your boy's missing parts"
And in that moment I knew....

Your clothes would all be frilly
And I would adorn you with ribbons and bows
Everything in shades of pink
From your head to tiny toes

I began dreaming of what you would look like
And who you would grow up to be
Would you be smart and kind like Daddy?
Or playful and funny like me?

We bought all the baby items
There wasn't a toy we lacked
We were awaiting your arrival
And our hospital bags were packed

I was so eager to see your precious face
I prayed the time would fly
I walked, and lunged, and ate spicy food
But still slowly the minutes ticked by

Finally the day had come
I had to push the extra mile
But it was worth the wait, pain, and tears
When Daddy saw you and he filled with smiles

You were absolutely perfect
We couldn't ask for anything more
Our love for you was overwhelming
And shook us to our core

Nine months had felt like eternity
Waiting on you, little one
But now you're here, and it's like they say
"Time flies when you're having fun!"

Month one with you was such a blur
Being parents was so new
But we smiled and faked it
And luckily, you survived to see month two

By month three we were pros
We even took you on a plane
Up to Washington we flew
And for the first time, you saw rain

I searched high & low during month four
For a costume for your first Halloween
I ordered a custom piggy hat and bloomers
That showed your baby belly in between

When you were five months old we visited Hey Cupcake
And you fought Aunt Reese & I  for some frosting
I caved and shared my carrot cake
Because "keep-away-from-Camryn" was too exhausting

Month six we celebrated your first Christmas
Watching you open your gifts made Mommy shed a tear
Days later, 44 floors above the Austin skyline
Daddy and I rang in the New Year

By month seven you'd been to Seattle and Napa
So you were ready to hit the City of Sin
Daddy & I lost your college fund gambling
But enjoyed our first baby-free date thanks to Aunt Molly & Uncle Bren

Month 8 I realized you were no longer a baby
Who was content sitting still and being sang the ABC's
You're a big girl who wants to stand and crawl
And run from Mommy on your chunky knees

I've asked, but you refuse to stop growing
And I don't know what month nine has in store
But whatever it is, I can promise you one thing
I'll continue to love you more, and more, and more

Nine months of pregnancy passed like molasses
but the past nine months passed in a whirl
I'm so grateful to be your Mommy
Happy 3/4 Birthday to you, my most beautiful girl!

Love,
Mommy

Girls just wanna have fun!

Dear Camryn,

You are such a goofball lately! You're really developing a silly, fun spirited personality. You love hide & seek, and you giggle whenever someone pops out from behind something and makes a funny face at you. You have always been quite the noise maker, and your opera singing has yet to bore you (even though it nearly makes me and Daddy's ears bleed). Auntie and Uncle encourage your high-pitch noise making and sing just about anything to you, and boy do you think that's fun!! You light up when we read to you (and let you chew on your books), and especially enjoy pop-up books and sensory books like the baby Einstein collection. Toys that squeak, crinkle, or can be easily banged against each other are your favorites.
Here's a few pictures of you playing over the last few days: