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I forgot a couple of important things about you. The whole point of this scrapbook/journal is to remember you, and remember what it was like to be your Mom, and to provide you with a glimpse into your past when you’re older. And there are two really important stand-out things about little 14-Month-Old Adela that I didn’t mention last time.
I’ve mentioned before what a happy girl you are, but I don’t think I’ve stressed it enough – especially with all my talk about your smarty pants attitude. Even though you definitely know what you want and don’t want, you are pretty much smiles all the time, 24-7. You are a genuinely happy little person. I could literally count on one hand the number of times I have smiled at you where you haven’t smiled back. It literally NEVER happens. You always reciprocate. And trust me I initiate smiles about 1000 times per day, so we’re not talking occasionally here. It’s one of my very favorite things about you. Even when you’re grumpy, you can’t resist a little smile. Strangers are a little bit more hit or miss, but even with people you don’t know, if they smile first, you smile back. You are the always center stage at every grocery store outing. I can’t tell you how many elderly couples have offered to take you off my hands. If I wasn’t so incredibly proud of your sweet personality and adorable face, I would be sick of hearing it all by now. But it never gets old. I’m glad other people see what a little star you are.
The other thing I forgot to mention is my absolute favorite part of every day with you, putting you to bed. I know God has a sense of humor, and I think one of the ways he shows it is by irony. I was sooooo freaked out about bedtime battles and never ever getting to sleep peacefully ever again. I braced myself for war. I read 3 books on how to make sure you developed healthy sleep habits and stressed out about it to no end. And then, you haven’t given us one issue over sleep. You are my sleepy angel. You learned the sign for sleep recently, and you will instigate its use whenever you’re tired. You tell us to put you to bed! Haha. Anyway, that’s cute and all, but it’s not the favorite thing I’m talking about. The favorite thing is the actual putting you bed. It’s our cuddle time. And we have developed a sweet routine. After your bottle, then a book in the rocking chair, I turn on your nightlight and turn off the overhead light, throw your blanky over my shoulder and pick you up. And your head PLOPS on my shoulder. Ahhhhhh. Sweet baby. You lay your head there for a while and I sing you songs and rock you in my arms. If you’re feeling silly you’ll initiate a game of peek-a-boo with your blanky and giggle with me in the dark. For some reason you think it’s hilarious if I sing song through your blanket, I guess maybe because you can’t see me, but you can hear me and feel my breath? I don’t know, but you laugh and then of course I have to nibble your neck and really get you hysterical. I love that time of day. I cherish it. And no matter how wound up I get you laughing in the dark with me, you smile up at me when I lay you down in your crib and let you peek-a-boo with me for a couple more minutes while I stroke your hair and laugh with you. Then, I walk out of the room and come back 12 hours later.
Anyway, there’s always more to tell than I write. But those are 2 more things I adore about you and getting to be your Momma.