Allegro

You are the sweetest thing I have ever seen, Natalie. The last eight months you've been in our lives has brought us immeasurable joy. I will never understand how people can abandon, hurt, or neglect their children. Every time I look at your beautiful face my heart smiles. I could never leave you or do anything to jeopardize your well being. I find myself wanting to scream at parents in stores who seem to have forgotten the miracle that lives within their child's laugh. They have forgotten how sacred the gift of being a parent is. How amazing it is to watch a child grown, learn, explore, and become independent......

I found a boy wandering around in Wal-mart recently....
He couldn't have been older than three. He was so vulnerable looking isle to isle saying, "Mommy....mommy..."
I spent the next twenty minutes wandering the store with him, you strapped as tightly as I could get you to my chest....thinking that I would be a wreck if I lost you somewhere.

We finally found the boys mother. She was reading cards in the card isle. She looked up at me holding her sons hand, and looked back down to what she was reading. I assumed it must not have been his mother by her reaction, or lack there of.
He smiled and said, "Mommy!"
I asked,"Does this little boy belong to you?"
She looked up briefly and said, "Yeah."
And, that was it..... I left that little boy there smiling up at his mother, who was completely oblivious to the fact that he had been wandering the store with a complete stranger for 20 minutes. 

I plan on shopping at Target more - I feel, unreasonably I know, that this wouldn't happen in Target.

I know that one day, probably soon at the rate you're growing and moving, you will try to wander away in public....but, I'm letting you know right now Daddy and I plan on buying one of those child leashes and we are strapping you up!! When you're too big to be strapped on me, you will be tied to me!
Some people don't agree with either...baby wearing or, extreme vigilance...but, I would lose my mind if I lost you for even a second.
I'm already considering how we will talk to you about talking to strangers, what to do if you get lost, and where to jab (go straight for the eyes and when you're big enough to do damage kicking, kick like hell) someone if they try to grab you.

How someone can not have the natural inclination to be fervently preoccupied with their child's safety day and night is strange to me.....

Luckily, mommy's good friends are all the same with their children, so I don't feel crazy.
Aunt Sarah likes to say we are like Mamma Bears....
I know as you grow, this will change, my fears will change, the ways in which I will want and need to protect you will change.....and, I'm hoping I won't need medication to do so :)

You are growing so fast. You're now crawling on your knees everywhere and pulling up on everything. Every day I find you in a new place doing something new.....
Yesterday it was the couch, this morning you crawled right into the kitchen and pulled yourself up next to me while I did dishes.

You are so big already. Growing so much and so proud of your accomplishments.....it makes Mommy and Daddy so proud.
We have become sissies.
I prefer to say tender hearted but, the truth of the matter is we are weak when it comes to you, you've made us emotional nut cases....we cry at commercials, and tear up talking about your achievements....it's almost disturbing how much we love you......and, somehow, we love you more every day. I don't understand how it's possible but, we do.

You like to pull up on Mommy and Daddy --- our knees, our legs, our torsos - you are a crazy little climber....

The crib. You've been doing this for months. We dropped the mattress so you would flip over the side and land on your perfect little head....but, you can still stand up....and, you pretty much think it's the most fun thing in the world right now. You literally squeal with delight continuously while in your crib.

The doctor's office....

Thank you Natalie, for making every day special for us by the little sweet things you do. I promise never to lose you in Wal-mart.
And, if by chance I do you can believe I would not be reading a card at my leisure.