Dear Isaiah,

I can't believe you are 8 months old! You have learned so much in the last few months, it is simply amazing. You are still the sweet natured, smiley, happy, chubby baby who stole our hearts, but now, you are on the go! The only time you sit still is to watch your videos.

Busy, so busy. All the time. You are busy crawling at lightning speed, pulling up, standing and investigating, playing with your toys, pointing, pointing at everything and eating- you are such a good eater! We love feeding you- when you like something you say MMMMM MMMMM the whole time you are eating it.

Teeth. You have 7 teeth. You are an early teether. You have two more coming in soon. They are all so crooked and absolutely adorable. You have a gap in the middle of your two front teeth, and I don't know if it will fill in when your teeth fully come in, or if you will be like Madonna.

You are learning to pick little things up. You love the little baby crackers we give you. You love picking them up and putting them in your mouth. It is the cutest thing to watch. You have a look of sheer concentration on your face when you are doing it. Sometimes you make sounds when you are concentrating. It makes us laugh until it hurts. Your fingers work ever so carefully together and you bring them to your mouth. Sometimes you miss. It is so cute. Sometimes you get the cracker to your mouth but your hand doesn't know how to let go of it. So you just bite whatever you can off of it. Sometimes I find 3 crackers stuck inside of your tiny hand. After eating crackers, you often have them all over your face, on the floor, on your clothes. I love it.

Your sign language skills. You sign MILK when it's time to nurse. You sign MILK while you are nursing. You sign MILK anytime you are thirsty. You sign MILK sometimes when you want more. And you sign MILK when other women hold you (especially well endowed women). You have that sign down. Sometimes you do it with both hands. You understand these signs EAT, MORE, MILK, DRINK, MAMA, DADDY. I am certain you understand those signs. You also sign MORE and EAT. You are starting to do them more consistently. When I sign to you I LOVE YOU, you smile, every time. So I am pretty certain you understand I LOVE YOU too. Sometimes you point upwards when I sign I LOVE YOU after I do it, and I am wondering if this is your attempt to sign it back. We are learning new signs all the time and trying to teach you new things everyday. It is amazing that we can communicate at such a young age. You are so smart!

You are on the verge of your first words. You are making the DA, GA and our favorite the LA sound a lot. I try and get you to say MAMA at least a hundred times a day. You said DA-DA today for the first time. Your dad couldn't stop smiling. Your sounds are music to our ears. I love hearing you squeal with delight when you are amused. I love hearing you pant when you are excited. Your emotions are so pure. When you are happy you laugh-not just a laugh, a giddy gleeful laugh. When you are scared or sad you cry, truly upset- like the world just might end right now. You don't hold anything back. I love it- it's so honest and innocent- unlike this crazy world today.

I have mixed emotions about you getting bigger. I want you to be my baby forever! But I love discovering new things with you. Seeing you grow and learn. I love seeing the world through your ever changing eyes. Yet, it makes me so sad that you are so close to toddlerhood. Soon you will be taking your first steps. Soon you will be blowing out one candle on your first birthday cake. So many things are to come and so many will never be again!

Thank you for these incredible 8 months. Thank you for being my first baby. Thank you for teaching me how to be a mama. Thank you for giving me new eyes, new ears and a new heart. You have forever changed me, evolved me somehow. I will always be your mama. You will always be my baby.

I love you.

Mama