Friday, July 6, 2012

Very Professional

Genevieve turned six months old this week. It's amazing how much a life changes in six months. I can honestly say that I have never loved anyone as much or as fiercely as I love her.

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This is the face that faked a thousand sneezes.
Recently, there have been a lot of huge developmental leaps for her, including reaching for me (!!!), teething, crawling/inchworming, growing, sitting, and uttering her first, clear, intentional word: Mama. (Mom heard it, too. Apparently, first words don't count unless you have a witness. And possibly a notary.)

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Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good luck.

As we all know, change isn't easy, and developing neural pathways is flat-out exhausting. Genevieve has needed me more than she has before, in what I refer to as the "MOMMYMOMMYMOMMY" way. Meaning, nobody can make it better but me (and Andrew, but it's a hard sell, evidently).

She wants to physically be touching me almost all the time, which is a little challenging. She's close to 20 lbs already, and there have been a few days in the last few weeks where my lower back - and occasionally, knees - just *ache* with fatigue. And pain.

My core strength disappeared while I was pregnant, and I am slowly working on rebuilding it, partly by putting Genevieve in the Ergo carrier and bouncing on my pilates/birth/bounce-your-baby-to-sleep ball.

And it works! I do what I can while I wear her (which isn't much) and she sleeps soundly. I remind myself that housework will wait, and a well-rested baby is a happy baby. Happy babies usually have happy Mommies, and we all pay that love forward.

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You can hear her snoring lightly in the background, if you listen for it.

Despite our challenges and growing pains, I love everything about her. I love sewing for her.

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Dandelion nighties

I love that she has found her voice.

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All of the things, they go in my mouth.

(Even though that voice is occasionally providing the dialog to - what sounds like - a very complicated and dramatic original telenovela, featuring the dastardly wooden bird on her play gym. From what I have observed, he is *quite* the villain.)

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"¡Ay, no! ¡Tu eres muy mal, Pajaro!"

She still has a fantastic smirk, which I believe is courtesy of Unkie Sam, an Olympic a champion smirker.

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How YOU doin'?
But really, I love all of the faces she makes. Especially her excited face, which usually is accompanied by a full-body wiggle. Because, to quote the Pointer Sisters, she's so excited, and she just can't hide it.

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Wigglewigglewigglewigglewiggle, yeah!
She also learned about kisses, and she LOVES them. They only count if they're noisy and you say, "MWAH!" while you give her kisses. And the best part? She loves giving us kisses, too. (They're more like puppy kisses, but it's all about the intention, which is completely heartwarming.)

I love that she still laughs in her sleep- full, belly laughs. I also think it's charming that she will do the Ernie laugh.

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You will do anything to make me smile.
Best of all, if you look closely when she laughs, you can see two Very Professional Teeth.

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Mouse teeth!

12 comments:

  1. Jasmin, she is gorgeous!!! It is wonderful to see the photos and watch her develop, thank you for sharing. I am so glad that you are enjoying having your little one around and spending time with her - as you say the housework will wait. C x

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  2. She's SO *CUTE*! And so are you--it's fun to see you having so much fun being a mom.

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  3. OMG that baby is soo wonderful. Reading about all the changes makes me giggle! Enjoy her.

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  4. I remember carrying my daughter around everywhere for her first year. My mom said to me, "Are you EVER going to put that baby down?" I ignored her.

    She is 19 now. I miss that time. Thanks for your awesome post!

    Don't "put her down" until you are both ready- that would be my advice.

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  5. Michwelle/MichelleJuly 6, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    The love is almost undescribable, isn't it? That little girl is ADORABLE and as I look at her pictures, I find myself just wanting to sing to her-maybe that old ditty..."A" you're adorable, "B" you're so beautiful

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  6. Genevieve is just gorgeous and I love her smiley eyes! I am sure you would be spending all your time entertaining her and ignoring the housework. I used to do exactly the same thing when mine were little!

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  7. She´s so cute. Thanks for shareing.

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  8. Jasmine,

    She is beyond cute, I can just hear her laughing. My Catherine had the cutest laugh. They grow up fast, so enjoy the time. You are doing the most important job in the world, being a Mother.

    Enjoy

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  9. You won't believe this but it just keeps getting better. My son's about to turn 5 and amazes me every day. My heart hurts when I think how much I love him. And how much I love my husband for giving him to me!

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  10. Charming, loving, and fun post. You are well and truly smitten - and it sounds like it's very mutual.
    Have been enjoying the happy baby noises in addition to the dog door (ambiance!!!) and wind chime sounds in the podcast. (Ok, the baby sounds are my fav.)
    And I always smile when I hear
    "Excellent Lovey. How are you?"

    Your joy is showing. It runs in your family.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  11. My daughter is two weeks younger than Genevieve and we are going through the same milestones! Sitting up, teething, talking..... I'm so jealous she has said Mommy!! And my little one has the same dress as her in the first pic (except hers is white and brown). I adore hearing her in the background when I listen to the podcast. It's amazing how much you really can love them, isn't it?

    I'm still not quite sure how you can find time for sewing!

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