21 Months!!! Here are some pics and moments from the past few weeks

Just some random pics and moments from the past few days and weeks as we celebrate Naomi hitting 21 months.

Here Naomi is mirroring some of our bedtime routine with the dolls. She reads books to them, dresses them, feeds them and tucks them in. It's so precious to watch her. 

I love this picture.  What a big girl she is now.  Only likes to brush her teeth by herself.

After watching all the big kids, she just couldn't resist.  It's now part of her playground routine

New park, new swings :)

My beautiful family enjoying the afternoon in the backyard

She discovered the flashlight.  Courtesy of Mike :)

She loves to wear Papa's beanie

My little sunshine.

love,

Papa

Happy 11 Months!

Dear Naomi,

I can't believe that in 1 months time, we will celebrating your first trip around the sun.  The past eleven months have given me joy beyond what I can fully explain.  You Naomi, have been a constant joy in all of our lives.  There is so much I want to say.  Being your Papa has been the most humbling and rewarding act that I have ever experience in my life.  Humbling because you have just when I thought I knew how strong love can be, by the love I feel for your Mom, you have proven to me that there is no limit to how powerful an emotion love truly is.  I have never loved your Mom more than I do now, and I was not prepared for just how transcending my love for you would be.  Thank you baby Naomi for giving me such a precious gift.  Thank you for reminding me every day of what really matters in life.  Happy 11 months Naomi.  

love,

Papa

happy 10 Months!

Dear Naomi,

You are officially out of single digit months.  It's a tremendously happy moment for us, but also a bit sad to see how fast everything is moving.  Our little baby is almost no more, as it seems everyday that you become more and more this wonderful little girl that is running wild with her imagination.  And although every stage of this journey is cherished by us, we also can't help but feel sad to see the days of yesterday pass us.  Our memories are already filled with so many magical days from the past 10 months.

Month 10 has been quite the landmark.  You are on the brink of walking!  The excitement that you show when you are bracing yourself to step forward on your own is beyond inspiring.  To be more exact, it melts our hearts with so much love for you.  You even now say 'Mama' and 'Papa'.  Sometimes it might be more of an exercise in your vocals, but I swear sometimes you are calling for us with those exact words.  

To celebrate your 10 months we decided to take you to the zoo for the very first time where you also had your first carousel ride.  It's never too early to have you experience the beauty of all life and it's different shapes and sizes and even though we wish we were visiting all these animals in the wild, we are thankful that they are here for us to learn more about them.  I think it's safe to say you made a couple of furry friends today.  We don't know what the next couple months have in store for us, but we will soak in every shining moment that you have to offer us.  Even though you are coasting into toddlerhood, for the moment you are still our baby Naomi.

love,

Papa

9 Months! Happy 12.12.12!

Dear Naomi,

Today we celebrate your 9 months of life.  It's a unique day in that the date is 12.12.12.  You have opened up like a blossoming flower, showing us more of you personality each and every day.  You are so amazing Naomi.  The way we laugh together, play together and spend time together are things that I used to dream about back when you were still in Mama's belly.  Nothing brings me more joy than to see you smiling and laughing.   We've hit a great stride Naomi :).

One of the challenges we knew would come at some point, just not this soon, is keeping up with you.  You are all over the place like a little adventurer.  On the one hand, I make sure to always be close so that I know you are out of harms way, but on the other hand, it brings me so much pride and joy to know that your Mom and I must have done something right for you to be so comfortable and confident to explore.  And they really should think about renaming the neighborhood park to Naomi Park because you have pretty much claimed it as your own.

In 3 months time, you will be celebrating your very first birthday!  Man how fast this year has been passing.  I have a little something special planned for that one Naomi :).  Thank you for another wonderful month full of joy and laughter and morning strolls.  I couldn't have asked for a better partner in helping me walk Olive and Mr. Q. 

Happy 12.12.12 baby, we'll only see this once in our lifetime!

love,

Papa

 

8 Months!

Dear Naomi,

I can't pinpoint when exactly, but at some point this past month you decided to start flapping your wings.  We've seen you stand, and heard all your new baby talk.  You love roaming the house and I can honestly say that it is getting harder to keep up with your little crawl.  It's sad to see you not able to fit in some of your older clothes, but also exciting to see you growing so quickly into new ones.  You grunt.  You laugh.  You show excitement for things and you absolutely love Olive and Q.  You are a champ at the park and you've made the playground yours, not afraid to climb over or through anything in your path.

There is so much more.  So many small intangible details that I could write about for hours.  But the gist of it all is that we are so immensely in love with you and all of your new beginnings.  And I know that you love us too.  I think my most favorite happening from this past month is for the first time, you leaned in to give me and Mama a kiss.  It was quite literally a melting moment for us.  My other favorite thing, walking in the door and seeing you greet me or your Mom with so much happiness and unfiltered joy.    We've learned so much about who you are, but you've also helped us learn so much about ourselves.  And just when we thought we had this whole love thing figured out, you taught us to never put a boundary on it, because it grows with each passing day, if that's even possible.  

Thank you Naomi.  Thank you for another amazing month and for showing us so much more of you. 

love,

Papa

 

7 Months!

Dear Naomi,

Wow.  What a month.  The picture above I think says it all.  The past month introduced us to so many firsts, none more noticeable than you starting to stand.  What's crazy is how fast everything happened.  One minute we were rejoicing in you learning to crawl and sitting up with ease, to one day just popping up to stand like you had been doing it behind our backs for weeks.  It is such a remarkable thing to see you becoming so capable and determined.  I can only imagine what's next, although I bet my imagining will only last a short while as soon you will be walking, talking and reaching for the sky.  We love to engage with you in your baby talk and often have conversations with you, even if we don't know exactly what you are trying to say.  It was also a month full of other firsts.  You had your very first airplane ride, traveling across the country to Philadelphia and touched the ocean with your feet for the very first time - both of which will be receiving their very own posts as well.  And we've also been introduced to a not so fun and challenging first....teething.  But that's a whole other story all together :)  

Your laughter and smiles are a welcome and frequent presence for us which light up our days like nothing else can.  Thank you Naomi for a month filled with so many remarkable milestones.  Here's to a next month full of more.

love,

Papa

 

 

Happy 6 Months Naomi!

 

Dear Naomi

We know that we will have so many milestones to experience and share.  In these early days, which are flying by way too quickly, we've seen you have so many firsts.  First smiles, first laughs, first swings.  First conversations, first walks, first rolls.  Pretty soon you will be crawling!  Before you know it you will be walking!  I can't even comprehend sometimes the joy I feel at thought of these days that are soon to come.  Each and every one is so special, but I look at today in it's own unique light.  It's special and unique because I want to not just celebrate all the many joys that encompass everything that you are, but I also want to celebrate that your Mom and I have fell into the role of being your parents not just with every ounce of our love, but also with every bit of intent to be the best possible parents we can be.  I am proud of us.  I am so very proud of you.  I am proud of this little unit we call home and that we call family.  Truth is, we have grown just as much as you have the past 6 months.  We shared in every moment with you....every single beautiful moment you have given us - and yes, every single tough moment too :).  But in the end, what touches me the most is seeing how we all have grown to be this little family.  And just as much as I like to think we have helped you succeed in your first 6 months of life, I can't help but feel like it was you who was really helping us, by bringing so much love and joy into our lives.  

Happy 6 months baby Naomi!  I can't wait to celebrate your first full year....actually, yes.  I can wait.  I just want everything to slow down so we can soak in every day with you just the way you are.  

 

Mama and Papa love you so much.