Dear Max (8.5 months)

Dear Max, 

I stopped counting your age by weeks somewhere around month 2, but Instagram tells me that you are 37 weeks old. This is the type of completely ridiculous milestone that only a mom would care about but since you were born at 36.5 weeks, you have officially been out in the world as long as you were in my "tummy." I have liked these 37 weeks much better than those 36.5 and judging by your desire to get out early, I'm guessing you feel the same. 

At 37 weeks, you are a busy little guy. You got your first cold this weekend. You were super cranky and kept looking at us like "why are you two not fixing this?" You know how when adults get a cold you can tell in their voice? Well, when babies get a cold, you can tell by their cry. You also had a to miss swimming lessons, and stay home most of the weekend. You don't understand the concept of resting, so when we try to get you to relax and cuddle with us, you decided instead to use us as a climbing wall and grab everything in sight.

You are getting even faster with your special one knee down "Max crawling." You can pretty much get anywhere these days. I just ordered our first baby gate yesterday and more will need to follow. 

You can even crawl up the stairs, if you feel like it. Sure, it involves me putting something you really want just out of reach and then slowly moving it up the stairs as you crawl. But you can do it. 

We have implemented "family story time" every night, where the 3 of us get into our bed and read you a story. It sounds good in theory but you have no patience for books at night. You either try to eat the book, or ignore the book jump on the bed instead. You love jumping on the bed. 

You eat a lot more now and you love feeding yourself. You always open your mouth before you have even fully picked up the food you are going to put in, which I find hilarious. I give you bites of whatever I am eating. In some ways you are just like us: you have a sweet tooth and you love bread with olive oil. But tonight, you didn't like anything about mashed potatoes, so maybe you aren't related to us after all. 

The other night, you and Dad wore matching sweatshirts on our walk, but ironically the first unprompted stranger said that you look just like me. Yay! 

Speaking of walks, you are getting pretty heavy to wear on the front in the Ergo. You must be over 20 pounds by now. But it's worth the effort because whenever I walk with you, you grab on to my finger and we hold hands. 

You are finally less of a screaming nightmare in the car. When I pick you up from Nonna and Pops house, you pull on your toys and babble to yourself for the ten minute car ride home. This would've been unfathomable during the summer. I still don't think you enjoy being restrained in the car, but at least you tolerate it better in the right conditions (short periods of time, not at night). Thank you for that. 

You still love music. I now use it as a bargaining tool when I am trying to change your diaper which is your latest hatred. You started music class with Nonna last week and I am so excited I get to take you on Monday. I love watching you rock back and forth when music comes on. 

I think you may be really starting to recognize people. You give smiles to people you know, and stare in shock at people who are unfamiliar to you. They eventually get smiles too. You have always loved seeing people- you are a very social little guy. You basically make everyone's day with your smiles. 

Thanks for being the best baby. 

Love, Mom (or Mama, or Mommy, or whatever you want to say… unless you just plan to say Dada only forever ha ha)