Camping...

lake mead

9 month old baby

boat

16 hours spent outdoors (mercifully shortened from an intended 48)

60 mile an hour winds...

as much fun as you can imagine in those conditions

definitely a memory made

A Letter to Will

Dear Will,

You will be nine months old tomorrow. The time could not have gone any faster.

You are adorable, but could you please sleep more? Getting up at midnight, 1:40 am, 5:00 am and then for the day at 6:30 just doesn't work for me. And napping, you could be A LOT better at it. Just so you know, thirty minutes does not constitute a morning nap. I know you want to play and unload every basket and bookshelf in the house, but I could use a break from following you around and picking up your messes.

Thank you for your happy personality. Thank you for your cheerful response when your Dad and I come to get you out of your bed at all hours of the day and night. It makes it somewhat bearable.

I love your growl and that you do it on command, I growl, you growl, etc. I would love it if you would say MaMa a little more often and not always DaDa. But I understand, he is pretty great. You are no longer an army man. Full on crawling is your style now. And I have to say I am glad. It's much easier to wipe dirty knees, then change your clothes multiple times a day. Thank you for that. You don't know how to manipulate stairs yet, so please stop going up them and falling off backwards. Too soon, you will be big and be able to do it, so just hold on for now and stay small a little bit longer. THANK YOU for taking the bottle and being happy about it. And I'm so glad you like food. Getting a few teeth might help with eating, but that's okay, you gum things pretty well. Your favorites are bananas, graham crackers, apple slices, oatmeal and noodles. I must warn you to be nicer to Captain. He won't always put up with you climbing over him, pulling his beard and legs and pinching his skin. You have a little bit longer that you can get away with it, but he will put you in your place at some point. And please don't play with Captain's toys or chewing bone. It drives him crazy and it's pretty disgusting.

I could kiss your cheeks incessantly. They are the best. Other people notice as well. A couple of weeks ago we were in the Target parking lot and a lady stopped her car behind ours. She rolled down the passenger side window to yell to me how cute you are. It's nice to know that it's not just my biased opinion that you are one of the cutest babies around.

I'm lucky to be your mom. I love your sweet little content spirit.

Love,

Mom