Ironically, Mira is currently crying/whining/yelling in her crib right now because she doesn't want to take a nap, which has left me exhausted. Granted, it's because she's teething, but she has me completely tired out, more than when she was a newborn. Putting her down for naps and bedtime is almost impossible, and she's been waking up every 2 hours (if not more) in the night just wanting to comfort nurse. I can't imagine having to go to work, which is why I'm the one getting up with her instead of taking turns with Adam. People can try and give all the advice they want, but no combination of tylenol, ibuprofen, teething tablets, cold compresses, or teething toys can really put her pain to rest. The only thing that does is nursing. This is partly why I'm exhausted; I have a baby who wants to nurse 24/7, which means she rarely leaves my side. This is fine and dandy, but I just don't get things done on my to-do list and feel overwhelmed/defeated. I normally bring her to daycare for 2-3 hours today so I can work out and get some work done, but I figured she would probably cry and whine the whole time and let's face it; they won't be able to cater to her every second like I do. So, we'll save ourselves the stress and just keep each other busy at home.
Anyways.... I wanted to make a list of things I love about Mira in lieu of thanksgiving coming up.
Dear Mira,
1. I love how you are so determined, persistent, and never give up. I have watched you attempt to get a stuck book out of your book crate about 18 times after you finally got it out. It makes me so happy to see that you will try and try until no end. I realize that this will sometimes pose as a bad thing, but I'll take it.
2. I love watching you explore. It's so fun to see your expressions, which usually is just a concentrated look, and you always amaze us with what you are able to explore. Every day it seems like you start reaching a little further or standing on your tip toes a little taller or squeezing yourself in a space a little smaller. I always tell daddy, "never underestimate what she can get into". One day you are too short to reach something, but the next day is a whole new story.
3. I love when you grab an object and have to twist and flip it so you can see what it looks like from every angle. This shows me that you don't just want to see something for what it is, you want to understand it. You want to see all the colors, the shape, try to figure out how you can interact with it, what you can make it do, etc. Then you either decide if this object has value to you or if it doesn't. You then ditch it when it doesn't and you're on to the next thing :).
4. Now when an object does deem valuable to you, it's usually something you're not supposed to have. I don't even have to physically see you to know when you have something like this in your possession, I just have to hear you. You will be yelling/screaming and babbling up a storm in excitement, much louder and more intense than normal. This is when I should probably come running and save my iphone headphones or nail polish that I swore was out of your reach.
5. The way you dive like a slip-n-slide onto a newly washed floor. Since you've started crawling, I've become obsessed with having a clean floor, so I get on my hands and knees and wash it every other day, if not every day. The second I'm done with an area, you take your window of opportunity and slide on the slippery wet floor and basque in it until it's dry. It's quite funny to watch.
6. The way you speed crawl towards something that I catch you heading for. It goes like this: I see you about to head for something you're not supposed to (like the massive amount of cords in our bedroom that we usually keep closed), I say "Mira, no no..." or something related, you stop, look back, smile at me, then giggle and speed crawl over to it thinking that you'll quickly get to it before me. Well, you're actually close to beating me, but not close enough. This is why you are our troublemaker, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
7. The way you can hit your head 3 times in a row on something metal, wood, etc. and still not do as much as flinch. Daddy and I will just look at each other and laugh in amazement at how much of a beating you can take from things. Dad calls you the hulk. I'm pretty sure everything you've touched in this house has been hurt more than you have. You are kind of violent ;).
8. The way that you need me. I know this doesn't last, but I'm really taking in the ways that you are needy with me, like when I've been gone for one hour and you crawl over and reach up to me the second I walk in the door, or when I've been cooking in the kitchen for a while and you tug at my pant leg wanting me to pick you up, or when I pick you up from daycare after you've only been there for 2.5 hours and cry out of happiness because you missed me so much, and when you're extremely tired or not feeling well and nuzzle your head into my chest and eventually fall asleep- it's something that I don't get as often anymore since you are such an active active active girl.
We love your personality and seeing you learn. Every day you explore a new area in the house, figure out how to make a new sound (or word, whatever you want to call it), and get into a new shenanigan with an object or area that you are already familiar with. This is such a fun age, and it's not possible for you to be ANY cuter. We loved you just as much as when you were a newborn, but it's a different kind of love now that you are actually giving back and loving us back. We love our smart, determined, energetic baby so much!