My love, my sweet boy, my Harr Bear. Hi, and happy 8-month birthday!
The past month has been craaaaazy. Crazy. You’ve been such a busy boy. Are you ready for a rundown?
In the last month, you took your first trip to NYC, witnessed your first snow, had a few play dates, took a few hikes, had your first sleepover when Charlie came over, hit up the Long Island vineyards, had your first Halloween, popped your very first tooth, pulled yourself up for the very first time, contracted and kicked your first cold, and pulled yourself up on your knees a bunch. Phew. I’m exhausted just writing that out. You’re a rock star for sure, but we knew that already.
You loooved NYC. We stopped in the Bronx first, followed by Brooklyn. The wind was whipping down by the water and we couldn’t get over how it flipped your hair all over the place.
Daddy and Mommy’s friends took turns holding you but eventually, we had to get our own hands on you. You’re too cute to pass on for more than a few minutes. We miss you too much.
You weren’t impressed when you woke up one morning to a dusting of snow covering the yard. A few months from now, I bet that will be a different story.
Our road trip to Long Island proved uneventful, as you showcased once again what a stellar travel partner you are. You continue to impress us in every situation. I know every parent feels that way about their child but seriously, you’ve had close to six road trips now and it’s the same story every time. You’re a bubbly, happy travel companion and a good sleeper in your new environment.
We meet Daddy for lunch a few times a week. Sometimes we drop lunch off at his office while we’re out and about and sometimes we eat out. My favorite lunches with Daddy are the picnic lunches in the park, but those are going to come to an end soon with the cold weather approaching. You don’t care where we eat, as long as you get to see Daddy.
I’m with you. Daddy’s my favorite grown-up in the whole world and I could spend hours watching you and him interact. When he gets home from work, he finds us in the house and sneaks up on you. Your little body can’t take the excitement. You do the “straight arm shake” compulsively, where you stretch your arms out wide and shake your whole body with excitement. You coo and squeal and smile and I know exactly how you feel.
Halloween was really fun this year.
You didn’t care about the candy and you didn’t know what was going on, but we had fun dressing you up regardless.
We chose to dress you up as a Harrilion and I think you played the part beautifully, growling and chewing giraffes all day.
You still really love the bath. We still really love taking your picture in the bath.
Before I knew you were coming down with your first cold, you were not sleeping well at all. You were up a few times a night and naps during the day were so hard to come by. I got frustrated with you and I hate getting frustrated with you because when you don’t nap, it’s normally my fault for missing your tired cues. Regardless, when you don’t nap Momma gets no down time and thus Momma goes a bit crazy. After I realized you were coming down with a cold at the same time you were popping your first tooth, I took pity and I let you nap outside of your crib, which rarely happens nowadays.
Besides napping in the stroller, you napped in our bed for the first time in months.
I slept along side you and I loved every minute of it. One morning while you were still fighting the cold, Daddy went up to get you from bed at 5:30am. You were still tired and when Daddy laid down on your rug, you immediately fell asleep on his chest. He was in H E A V E N, because you haven’t fallen asleep on Daddy’s chest since you were just a few months old, and it’s his favorite thing in the world.
I have no pictures of your new tooth because you won’t open your mouth wide enough for a picture. Next month’s letter should have some pictures of you with teeth. Should. We’re so happy that you’re over the cold and ready to focus on crawling.
You get up on your knees multiple times a day and rock back and forth, plopping in a sprawled out position when you get too tired. You shake your head a lot each day, and most of it seems deliberate. When you’ve had enough on your knees and you roll to your back and I put you back on your knees, you look at me and shake your head vehemently. It cracks me up.
We’re so excited to see what your next milestones will be in the coming weeks. You’re mimicking people more and more, and you’re working hard on your tricks… high-fiving, fist-bumping, waving, blowing kisses… Crawling is still a ways off, but you’re getting closer - I can feel it.
We have a minimum of 20 minutes of reading a day and sometimes, we look at books for closer to an hour. You’re an active boy, but I love that you take those quiet moments to read with me each day. It’s so important.
You continue to love food and among your favorites are yogurt, sweet potatoes and anything with apple in it. New foods this month included kale, spinach, plums and kiwi. Every time you go in your high chair, you know what’s coming and you smile.
We’re now four months away from your first birthday, which seems simply impossible.
We’re enjoying every single moment with you, no matter how fast time is flying.
Hugs and kisses and infinite love from Mommy and Daddy to you, Harrison Mark. You’re our dream. Our love. Our light.
P.S. Catch up with all of Harrison’s letters. 6-weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months.