8 months, potty, teething and comforting

Apollonia,

I am sat winding down after a long day, debriefing with your dad at the moment, who is pre-occupied reading through some papers. I just heard you softly cry from your bedroom. But that lasted about 2 seconds and you seem to have returned to your slumber.

You turned eight months today, so "Happy Eight Months Mama." I cannot believe it. It is like a "suspiro." It all happens just so quickly and effortlessly. Day 1, Day 2 … and now here you are 243 days old. Today was a big day for you. I have been trying to potty train you, in my own non-conventional way. And well, as I sat playing with you and your nanny, Sarah, you got fussy for a few seconds and then crawled over to your potty, attempted to get in, then turned to me. I helped you to do your business and I am so proud of how clever you are.

You typically go to bed effortlessly. A bubbly bath, followed by a bottle, while I read you a story or sing you song (Dad says my voice is annoying - but you always smile at me when I sing to you). Tonight was different, after I left your room, you began to shriek. I gave you a minute to calm down and when I realized that you were not going to calm down I went back in. You had turned over, were very sweaty, flustered and in absolute tears. I picked you up and held you and you continued to cry. So, I sang to you "A ru ru mi nina" ... and while you continued to tear up a bit and pout you did calm down. I wiped the tears from your cheeks and we walked over to my bed and I sat up holding you under a dim light. Once you felt ok, you rested your head against my left shoulder and caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror which made you so happy. I am pretty sure that you are restless because you are teething as you kept trying to ferociously fit your fists in your little mouth.

We played for five minutes and I then leaned you back and silently gave you your bottle. You looked at me for most of the time but then you slowly drifted to sleep. I could not help but admire how beautiful you are and I must have kissed you about a million times throughout this 10 minute period. You fill me with so much love. I hope that I am always able to comfort you when you need comforting, even for the big things, long after all of your teeth have come in.

goodnight, love mama