August Mamas

our little indie girl is already 9 MONTHS (+1 day) + i don’t know where the time has gone!
at her 9 month checkup, indie jumped from 7th to 27th percentile for weight, up to about 17 lbs now - we have worked hard since birth for these rolls 😂
indie loves riding in the cart while i shop, playing with the pom poms on my pillows (or really anything that isn’t a toy), drinking water out of a straw, eating our food over her purées, + feeling the breeze outside. she knows “more please” in baby sign language, but her version is clapping for food + it is the cutest thing ever!
she does not like to be kept waiting for the next bite of food, hates going back in her car seat after being outside, + would rather be in our arms carried around the house than playing by herself on the floor. stranger danger is realllll over here; indie cries when anyone but mama + dada try to hold her
david + i agree that this age is a favorite. we love watching her reactions when she tries new foods, hearing new sounds she makes, + seeing how curious she is about EVERYTHING. following every move from huckleberry + dorota the robovac are the current faves.

one more sleep until indie girl’s first christmas + this year i have a better understanding of the HUMILITY of Christ.
God descended from His throne in heaven + took on the most vulnerable form as a baby who could do nothing on His own. our infinite, omnipotent, almighty God humbled Himself, becoming reliant on others so that the people He came to rescue could one day rely on Him.
having a baby who is completely dependent on me has really put into perspective what Christ did. He did not charge in on horseback wielding a sword + demanding redemption. He became fully human in order to conquer every temptation + make that full sacrifice on the cross.
i have stared at + kissed my baby more times than i can count the last six months. could you imagine being mary, + the face you are smothering with kisses be the Son of God? could you imagine holding the Messiah in your arms, the baby who would one day sacrifice Himself for mankind, conquer death, destroy satan + restore the earth to its intended peace + perfection?
an unlikely king. a savior wrapped in swaddling clothes. awestruck wonder. this is the magic of christmas. 🌟

SIX MONTHS of loving our little indie girl 💛 how is it possible that half a year has gone by since we met?
indie’s go-to noise is still growling + if she doesn’t get what she wants immediately she will make it known (very loudly) that she isn’t pleased. jury’s still out if she’s gonna be a redhead like her mama, but she is most definitely a little firecracker!
so far she has tasted gravy (it was thanksgiving 🤷‍♀️) + two purées but she hasn’t been thrilled yet about the baby food. i guess she’s a southern girl through + through if gravy was her favorite 😂
indie likes: bath time, running her hands through daddy’s beard, dancing in the mirror with mama, her night-time bottle with daddy, being held allll the time, touching the christmas decor, feeling new textures, opening presents, + when we sing songs to her (her faves are salt n’ pepa’s “ooh baby baby” + joe crocker’s “you are so beautiful” —girl is into a range of genres haha).
she still dislikes the car seat, stroller, being put down, + the new nap attempts in her crib. now that we are in the “object permanence” leap, she is understanding that when we walk away, there is more distance between us + it has made it even harder to put her down. it makes for some trying days but i know soon she will be toddling all over the house exploring all the things.
my mama heart is divided between sadness at how quickly she’s growing + joy watching her learn new things in this world. the fastest + best 6 months of my life!

two years ago i was grieving from the loss of our first baby the week before thanksgiving. i woke up this morning listening to this little girl’s babbling + blowing bubbles. i snuggled her in my arms as she fell asleep nursing. these are the days + the moments i am eternally thankful for, the moments i have been anticipating for years.
but i am also thankful for her fussy baby dinosaur squeals. i am thankful for the endless days we don’t leave the house, when i have spit-up dribbling between my b***s + indie has blowouts up her back. for the evenings she won’t let me put her down to make dinner + the neighborhood walks she cries nearly the entire time. i am thankful for the good things + the hard things of motherhood, + i am writing this as a reminder for the days when the hard can be overwhelming.
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happy thanksgiving from this little turkey who lights up our world! 🦃