Letters to Solace: 12 months

My dear Solace,

Happy 12 months! I can't believe you are a whole year old. You are 17 lbs and 28" long with an average sized head. You wear 9 month clothing, size 3 diapers, and a bib always for your perpetual drool. You stand confidently while holding onto furniture. You slide stools and little chairs across the floor to take steps throughout the house. You are fastest when you crawl. You possess an endearing blank stare reminiscent of your daddy's, especially with your bottom two teeth in view. Your gums are swollen but you haven't sprouted any other teeth yet. You prefer sticking close to your family, specifically your mama. You'll start your day by nursing in the early morning while I admire how your little feet curl against one another. Then you'll roll over to grin at your daddy and receive cuddles, and then wait for your siblings to tote you off to play. You love food and want to try everything. You eat plenty of Os cereal, eggs with spinach or other veggies, ground turkey, bananas and other fruit, salmon, and more. You enjoy playing in the little toy kitchen, with magnetic blocks and legos, and want to be a part of the fun in our house where it is never dull with five older siblings. You love bathtime with the littles. You babble, giggle, and are a cuddly ball of delight. We delight in you profusely, Solly Pie. We love you so much and thank the Lord deeply for the gift of your life, which has been all cheer and comfort. We can't wait to see how the Lord grows you, Lord willing in the knowledge of Him and His ways. May you grow into a man after God's own heart.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 11 months

My dear Solace,

11 months so soon! You're standing and cruising on furniture with finesse and the widest, drooly two-tooth grin. You love food with a passion, letting us know with constant repetitions of "muh." If you're not uttering that, you're crying for mama. You prefer to be within sight of me at all times. If you don't notice I'm not present, you're the most content baby. Thankful you are such a sweet baby with others. You nurse four times a day for up to ten minutes each. You are wearing 9 month clothing and size 3 diapers. You are not a fan of shoes but you'll tolerate socks. You cling onto us like a koala, which we find exceedingly endearing. We all love you so much, Solly Pie! As we reflect on this past year, we are so thankful to the Lord for your birth, for your life has truly been a solace. I can't believe you're turning a year old next month. Time passes too quickly; we cherish all the moments in the present with you, my littlest babe!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 10 months

My dear Solace,

Happy 10 months! You are such a ball of joy. You've sprouted two bottom front teeth, which helps you eat like a little king. You love everything you've tried: egg, tofu, broccoli, zucchini spinach, beef, chicken, steak, sweet potato, carrots, cauliflower, strawberries, blueberries, almond butter toast, avocado, and more. You drink water through a straw. You nurse about 4 times a day and sleep consistently through the night. What grace! You began crawling on fours towards the end of the month. You sit and transition from tummy to sitting position adeptly. You reach up to be held, most often for your mama, for whom you often call. You adore exploring and playing near your siblings. They love you so much that they argue over who gets to hold you, and they lament when you're asleep because then they can't cuddle with you. You're so used to having someone in your family around that you protest when you're alone. You'll let any of your older siblings or daddy put you down for a nap or to sleep, except your mama. You transitioned to 6-9 month clothing this month, and wear size 3 diapers. You are at such a fun age, and we just regard you fondly always!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 9 months

My dear Solace,

We have loved month 9! This past month, you have found great joy in sitting with your siblings at the piano, plunking on the keys on whim. In fact, you express your happiness by accompanying your gummy grin with flapping hands. Your mode of getting around is scooting on your tummy. You scoot through the house to find me. Though you army crawl, you also push into crawling position often and into sitting position from your tummy. You love crawling over us, chewing on toys, and being the center of attention among your siblings. You adore food, grabbing at handheld bites with your fists. You now nurse about every 3-4 hours. You're sleeping a consistent 6-8 hours at night, praise God. You weigh 16 lbs 7 oz and  measure 27 inches long. You are growing out of 3-6 month clothing. You wear size 3 diapers. You started murmuring "mama" at the end of the month. Your mama and entire family absolutely adore you!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 8 months

My dear Solace,

Happy 8 months! We've all been a bit happier this month because you started sleeping through the night. Praise God! You've been doing 6-7 hour stretches at night except for when we traveled up to the Central Coast for family camp. The longer stretches of sleep at night at home have been making a world of difference. You've also been squealing, pushing into crawling position though you scoot on your tummy to get around. You're growing up a little, nursing efficiently about 10-12 minutes per session, about 4 hours apart since you are enjoying solids. You love cucumber, bell pepper, scrambled egg, apples dipped in almond butter, and more. You know who your family is, for you've developed separation anxiety, whining when you see your mama. You wear 3-6 month clothing, size 3 diapers, and are the cuddliest, squishiest ball of cuteness. We love you so!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 7 months

My dear Solace,

This past month, you've accomplished sitting up to everyone's surprise and your delight. You're also scooting about and we can't believe how mobile you are already. You started solids and have tried zucchini, carrots, butternut squash, avocado, banana, tofu, and eggs. You're a fan of them all, except perhaps for carrots. Your siblings love the chance to feed you. Not to mention to hold you and just be with you always. You particularly love storytime with your siblings. Being read to is one of your favorite pastimes. You have sensitive, heat rash prone skin, so we are constantly trying to keep you simultaneously dry and moisturized. You've worn nothing but 3-6 month onesies and drool bibs this summer. You like to rub the muslin leaf blanket in your face to fall asleep. We started putting you in the boys' room at night this past month in hopes of longer stretches of sleep for everyone. In the meantime, we can't resist your gummy, open-mouthed grins, your giggles when tickled, and your squishy cuddles. We love you so very much, Solly Pie!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 6 months

My dear Solace,

You are a rolly Solly! You're rolling, squealing, reaching for things, kicking for joy, and sitting up (though wobbling while doing so). You love being read to, sung to, and held close, especially in the sling. You just hit 14 lbs in weight and the nurse commented at your 6-month appointment that you are a little guy, which we thought was funny and the opposite of how we perceive you. You wear 3-6 month clothing and size 3 diapers. Your hair is thinning to our chagrin, but you are wide-eyed, curious, and smiley, and we love you and your half-year milestones.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 4 months

My dear Solace,

I adore your giant grins that take over your entire body so that you lurch backward in joy. This happens when we smile at you and fawn over you. You were all about your little hands this month. Clasped hands, clutching hands, hands in your mouth, hands that hug as you nursed. Your hair sticks straight up as ever and delights all who behold you. You are rolling from tummy to back, and are almost rolling from back to tummy. You are 12 lbs, almost 13 months, wearing size 2 diapers, and transitioning to 3-6 month clothing. You sleep a consistent 6 hour stretch at night, though you woke more often towards the end of this month. You are happiest when I wear or hold you, and I just love how your little body conforms to mine. What a joy to watch you grow.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 3 months

My dear Solace,

This past month was full of grace! You learned to take the pacifier after your 2 month doctor's appointment at the beginning of the month, which has been such a blessing. It has helped you sleep not only in longer stretches (the most being seven hours) but also in places like your lounger or bouncer or car seat, which is so helpful. You like to burrow your face into a blanket or your mama. You are consistently most content in our arms, my wrap, or sling as you are held close and tight as if you are still in the womb. You delight us with your little smiles that spread into giant grins. You discovered your voice and coo to interact with us all. You suck your fists as if your life depended on it. You practice tummy time, most often on your older siblings. You probably accidentally rolled over later this month as well. You just transitioned to size 2 diapers towards the end of the month and are wearing 0-3 month clothing. We are rejoicing over these sweet milestones and are so excited to get to watch you grow and learn and become the little person God designed you to be.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 2 months

My dear Solace,

You’re two months old! You currently weigh 11 lbs and measure 23” long. You started wearing size 1 diapers at 5 weeks and now wear 0-3 month clothing. What a haze this past month has been, marked by tons of cluster feeding particularly in the evening, which contributed to your rapid growth this month. During the day, you nurse every 2-3 hours. We spend a lot of time in the green armchair nursing while your older siblings homeschool. We are in awe of and adore your squishiness combined with your puffy hair, which makes for the sweetest snuggles. Your siblings clamor for their turn to hold you every day. They’ve dedicated the lullaby “Solla Sollew” to you, tenderly crooning the song when you cry. You practice tummy time on Serene, love being held dolly way by Reverie so you can stare outward, and gaze up at Valor, Verity, and Candor when they hold you. 

In fact, you are most content when worn in the wrap, and prefer to spend your days in it when you’re not nursing. You stare up at me with wide eyes before drifting off into deep slumber within the wrap’s womblike warmth. Your longest stretch of sleep at night has been three hours, which we wish were more frequent and longer. It has been more common to have one and half to two hour stretches at night. The sleepless nights are spent snoozing only in your daddy’s or my arms, burrowing your face into our sides for closeness and comfort. In our arms or the wrap are what you prefer as you cry within a few minutes of being put in the bouncer or lounger.

I don't mind the cuddles one bit. You have the silkiest, fair skin. We love how your feet flex and your hands curl into fists. You give impressive burps after feeding. You’ve taken the bottle twice, and refuse the pacifier. You attended your first Sunday service at 4 weeks. You went on your first getaway to San Diego for an elopement at 6 weeks. You started gifting us little smiles around 7 weeks, along with coos. Those, along with the newborn stretches and endearing newborn scrunches, are the best. We are loving watching you grow, my littlest love. We cherish your littleness and know this time with you is a sweet gift from our gracious God. What a memorable milestone that you turned two months on your daddy's and my 13th anniversary! God is so kind!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1 month, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 1 month

My dear Solace,

It has been the sweetest first month with you. You arrived in the same week as your Yeh Yeh's passing and other difficult circumstances, a testament to God's kindness in bringing healing balm and comfort in the midst of trials. We can't believe we've been gifted the opportunity to enjoy new life and joy in you, my littlest baby. We have all been anxiously waiting to meet you. Your daddy and I often said "In January" to anticipate your arrival, especially with your older siblings who had all been waiting with great excitement to meet you. They had been praying for a new sibling for about two years, and you are an answer to their prayers. Praise God! 

We love everything about you. We love your littleness, your newborn rolls, your delicate lips, your long feet and fingers, your silky soft skin, your froggy legs, and most noticeable and surprising of all, your puffy head of hair (which hopefully will not shed as the months go by). You have a fan club of five older siblings who vie for your attention, crowding around you constantly. They eagerly take turns holding you everyday, exclaiming over how little and precious you are. Reverie kisses your head often and exclaims that you are so little she can't believe you're even a human. Valor coos over his littlest baby brother. Verity proclaims that you are her very own baby Solly. Candor loves to nuzzle you affectionately with his head. Serene murmurs "aww" whenever she gazes at you lovingly. We adore you to the utmost!

Your first month of life has been full of cuddles. I cherish our bond, nurtured by nursing, contact napping, skin-to-skin snuggles, and babywearing. My heart swells when holding you close and showering feathery kisses on your cheeks and forehead. After you turned two weeks, you preferred to sleep only in our arms or in my wrap, reminiscent of being in the womb. You tolerate the lounger and bouncer for just a few minutes before realizing they're not the warmth of our arms or the wrap. We are enjoying holding you closely, knowing fully how time goes by too quickly.

You had no jaundice at birth, but proceeded to visit the doctor four times in one week for raised bilirubin levels. Thankfully, it peaked at day 6 of life and lowered by day 7 of life to breastmilk jaundice, which is thankfully decreasing over time. You feed and pee/poop well. I love rubbing your back as you nurse, to which you respond with the cutest high-pitched grunts. You've been more alert since 3 weeks, beholding your surroundings for a few minutes at a time. You try holding your wobbly head up when held against my chest. You weren't sure about your first sponge bath at 4 days once your umbilical cord stump fell off, but now calmly enjoy the warm sink baths your daddy gives you, the first of which occurred around 1 week. You began taking the pacifier right before 3 weeks of age. You hiccup about once a day as well, which reminds me of that daily rhythm of yours in utero. Your first outing outside of the doctor's office was your Yeh Yeh's funeral at 4 weeks, followed by Sunday service with our church family two days later.

You've probably gained a pound since birth and are about 8 pounds now. You wear newborn diapers and newborn clothing. Though I cherish your littleness, I also know it is a gift to watch you grow, my sweet Solly baby.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0 months and his birth story.

Solace Just at 0 months

Here we go for the 6th time! Hoping to photograph Solace every month for the first year of his life. This photo was taken when he was 2 days old on his first day home from the hospital. Hoping I'll be diligent to document his monthly milestones as he grows, just as I did with Serene, Valor, Reverie, Verity, and Candor.