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.