To My Little Linc

To my sweet baby boy as you are turning 9 months old:

Time has gone by so fast. I wish I could just live every step of your baby-ness over one more time. 

I never thought I would have a son. There isn't a valid reason for it. With all of the baby girls in my family, it seemed luck-wise like we just wouldn't have a boy. Now that I have you, I know that there is really no difference between girls and boys as babies, necessarily. Well, besides the obvious. You and your sister have very different personalities, but none of them seem tied to what sex you are. 

You have always been so relaxed and happy. I went through so many feelings when I was pregnant with you; feeling like I was losing a special bond with your sister and worrying my attention for her would be split too much. But we have all adapted beautifully. Your birth was so lovely. You were such a calm and easy newborn. You worried me with your torticollis and plagiocephaly, but your dad and I diligently repositioned you and we were overjoyed when we found out after months of work, you didn't need a baby helmet. But you still would have been killer cute with a baby helmet. 

I love your fluffy hair. It is so fine and soft, and now it has a little bit of curl. I love your little ears, and your little point on your left ear. I just want to nibble them all of the time. I love your wrist-less arms and your rolls. I love your neck and your belly and your baby butt. I love your sweet little voice. You're so adorable as you now crawl around the floor and follow your big sister. I love to watch her kiss you so hard that she smooshes your face. I've been overwhelmed with joy watching how much you naturally have always loved each other. It kills me when you make each other laugh. My heart melts at how you always smile so big at me when I smile at you. 

I'm sad you are almost over your baby phase and that you are quickly approaching toddler-hood. But I also very much look forward to watching how you grow. You are much more fearless than your sister was. You are also so quick and strong. Your dad and I are always on the lookout for things on the floor that you will inevitably put in your mouth. You're crawling all over the house now.

I love you, my precious baby boy.