1+1 makes 4: Dear Clover . 8 months

Oh goodness Clover.... Did you know that you are the love of my life? What on earth did we ever do without you in our house!? You are the sweetest little munchkin ever ever ever. I LOVE your big chunky cheeks & your huge wide-0pen-mouthed smile.... and the way that those big precious blue eyes light up when you see mama. You're absolutely PERFECT! I love to squeeze you tight, kiss your little cheeks, nuzzle your little neck, and hold you close to me in the rocking chair every morning after you wake up.

Mornings are our special time together.... you've been getting up lately between 7:30 and 8.... and Carterbug doesn't wake up until 9:30 or 10 so we have lots of special alone time to enjoy together everyday. I can't believe how quickly you've gone from being my teeny tiny little newborn girl to being such a chunky, full-of-life, rolly-poly baby. You're growing everyday more and more and the little things that you are doing astound me. I'm in awe at how quickly you are catching onto things.... and when you do the most simple of tasks- I find myself wanting to jump up and down and wave my arms frantically, which sometimes happen. You are clapping your hands, dancing, and starting to give kisses. You are also jabbering the cutest of words constantly. You talk all day long, most often saying "dada-dada-dada-dada-dada". I try to get you to say "mama" and you just stare at me. I guess you want to save the best for last.

You are INTRIGUED to say the least, with your brother. You watch him all the time. If he is in the room- your eyes are on him and I'm not sure if it's because you're afraid he is going to throw a truck at your head or if it's because you are just fascinated with how well he gets from one place to the next. You have NO interest in moving. You are a very lazy, stationary little girl.... rarely moving much of anywhere. You prefer to just sit in one spot and have everything be given to you- which is fine for now. As much as Carter destroys the playroom on his own, I hardly think we need another moving tornado in the room with him. You love to just sit, look around, and take everything in. I could sit and watch you for hours. Your innocence and fascination with the smallest things inspire me to be a better person, a better mommy, and to work even harder on my relationship with God. You are SO beautiful in every sense of the word. At 8 months, you love:

to be held and snuggled- i could carry you around all day long and that would be perfect as far as you are concerned. sometimes I just carry you on my hip while I clean or cook.... and you love it.

to watch Mickey Mouse with Carter. You are fascinated by the colors and it doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing when the theme song comes on- your little eyes light up and you look straight at the television. Lately... you've even started dancing, which is awesome, awesome, awesome to see.

to eat. You love baby food and you love to be fed. The sloppier, the better. The other day, I stepped away from your high chair for a minute and Carter grabbed your spoon and your baby food and started feeding you.... it was perfect and adorable until he assumed that you could just finish it up yourself and he handed you the spoon. Needless to say- we had quite the mess to clean up and you ended up in the bathtub. He hasn't quite figured out yet that you are a baby and there are certain things you can't do and can't eat.... he is always trying to share his popcorn and chicken nuggets with you.

music. You LOVE music. As soon as I turn on the music in the playroom- you are moving all over the place. You bob your little head, kick your legs, raise your arms up and down.... it's obvious that you prefer things not be too quiet....

dada & Carter- you are smitten with those boys. Though you prefer to stay perched on mama's hip..... you love to stare at your daddy and your brother. They are definitely the objects of your affection. I can't wait to see you interact with them more as you get older.