Leifs and Bounds

 

Leify, the last week of December 2011 was a HUGE week for you. Here's a quick recap of your many firsts:

~At 8 and a half months, you finally cut your first tooth! And your second tooth. And your third tooth. And your fourth tooth! You now have four front teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. You have been endlessly nursing to try to stay comfortable. I alternately think, I want to keep nursing Leify for a long time (in terms of months), because he is my last baby. And, I cannot nurse this kid for one more minute. Done, done, done.

~You said Mama. I swear it! I heard it distinctly. Of course, you didn't know what you were saying, but you have started experimenting with a variety of vowel sounds. Until this week, you only had endless variations of "ahhhh" and "haaaa." Now, you are babbling continually and you've figured out that your mouth can make more sounds. In addition to the one time you said "Mama," you also gave me a kiss (okay, open-mouthed lunge at the back of my shoulder) while making the "muh" sound for a kiss!

~But, what I most want to capture, which isn't really a first, is that you are a little social butterfly. You love flirting, smiling, talking. You try your hardest to engage anyone you set your eyes on and make them smile. On the airplane ride back from Boston, you were standing on Ben's carseat looking at the guy in the row behind us and smiling, laughing, just generally carrying on for at least 15 minutes as we waited to get off the plane. On Saturday night at Blind Faith Cafe with Grandma and Grandpa, you kept the entire wait staff and most of the patrons entertained throughout dinner.

You were seated in a high chair at the head of our table, right near the host station and entrance of the restaurant. You were turned around in your chair, one arm thrown back and resting on the back of your high chair, smiling, laughing and chatting up everyone in the place. Several waiters and the manager came over and told us you had kept them entertained all evening. And an 18 year old bus boy came over to the table and held out his arms to take you (so of course I handed you over) because he was so taken with you.

Sure, you look like a Weisman. But your gregarious personality and command of a room have Manny Brown written all over them.

Love you, Sweetheart.

Mama