Five

Dear Tadpole,

You are officially five months old. I can't even believe it. You're getting to be so big, but are simultaneously so small still. I wish I could freeze time and do a better job of capturing the magic that is your everyday life, but I can't. So...I struggle each day to simply drink up every moment I can.

This month finds you more engaged that ever. You officially seem to like school now. You watch your friends and flirt with your teachers. You refuse to engage in any particular routine there, but they do not seem to mind. In fact, Daddy and I had our first 'Parent-Teacher Conference' this month. During that meeting, we were told you are a delight. Daddy cracked a cheesy joke about the fact that you're likely behind in calculus. You slept through the meeting. Ms. P essentially said that you seem to be on track from a developmental standpoint and confirmed that you do like school as much as we thought. As a group, we established some goals for you to work towards over the next few months. The experience was odd, but cool, all at the same time. Speaking of school: You have your first class picture slated for this week. Weird.

You are starting to finally tolerate tummy time and are *so close* to rolling over. I actually think that you can likely roll, but simply do not feel like it. I suspect your lack of action will make its way into one of my future lectures about motivation and latent learning. Your favorite activity, it seems, is to stand up on Mama's thighs (or Daddy's). When you do so, we say, "So big" and you just break into a fit of giggles. You also like to do a groovy dance in that position. You have recently decided that you think it might be fun to play with the kitty, but he is not having it. As long as he is mobile and you are not, he wins. Over the past week or so, you discovered toys beyond those that are connected to your activity mat. You love toys that make noises and seem amazed that you can use your hands to manipulate objects. Of course, your favorite activities remain singing and reading. Unfortunately, the frequency of our walks decreased a bit over the past few weeks due to the weather and the chaos of life.

You've had the opportunity to spend a bit more time with family this month as well, which has been a treat. Aunt P and Uncle D came for brunch earlier in the month. Aunt P made sweet rolls and brought you a nice holiday outfit. A few days later, Mama and Daddy got a nasty case of food poisoning. With that, they couldn't care for you. Therefore, you got to spend the day with Nana and Grandpa. They had a blast. Uncle B stepped in and hung out with you during a couple of afternoons when Mama and Daddy had conflicting work schedules. He likes to snuggle with you and you seem to think that he is a good nap partner. A few days later, Uncle D came to visit from San Francisco. He was only at our house for a few hours. Unfortunately, you slept through it, but he did take time to watch you. He also brought you a SF Giants hat and a fleece. Both are awesome. In addition to seeing Uncle D, you also got to spend some quality time with Aunt K. Mama had to go in for a second surgery so Aunt K took time off from work to just hang out with you for a couple of days. You got to skip school and everything. Aunt K doted on you every second she was here. I think she might like you. Right after Aunt K left, you got to go visit Aunt B, Aunt T, and Uncle J, D, and M. Again, you were showered with attention. You even got to play with your cousin, A. The two of you decided that the best toy ever could perhaps be a package of diaper wipes -- the crinkly noise it makes is apparently amazing. Finally, this Sunday we had dinner with cousins A, R, and P. While P is only two years old, she was very eager to show you the ways of the world. I can already tell you two will be great friends. She has a lot to teach you. Of course, you continue to maintain your busy social schedule in which you visit with your girlfriends, the old men down the street, as well as Pop Pop. Mama and Daddy tend to spend a lot of time vying for your attention too.

A few other things worth noting:

• Daddy decided it would be a good idea for him to give you a haircut. While it wasn't the most horrible experience, we all agreed we should leave such a task to a professional.
• Speaking of your hair, you are now an honest-to-goodness blond. The dark you were born with is long gone and your hair is now incredibly light.
• You have had a cold for a few weeks. Due to your congestion, you snore. You also have a serious drooling situation. We suspect teeth are coming soon.
• You typically sleep with your arms up next to your head.
• You now sleep in your own room in your crib. We discovered that you like to be warm, or at least have some weight on you. With that, you now sleep under a quilt made by Aunt P. Several times per night you like to take attendance to see who is home. As long as we check-in, you tend to settle right back into sleep.
• Tomorrow marks your first Halloween. When you lived in Mama's tummy, we used to call you 'Tadpole'. It is with this in mind that we found it only fitting that you should be Kermit the Frog this year. You look pretty darn cute in your costume.

Every day Daddy and I are amazed that you are a part of our lives. We cannot believe how lucky we are to have such a sweet baby in our lives. Your temperament is amazing. Your curiosity is to be treasured. Your laughter is infectious. Thank you for being you. Thank you for joining us in this adventure we call life. Thank you for completing our family.

Love,
Mama