8 Months.

Dear Ada,
Today Ada you are eight months old. I've realized it's true what you hear, the first child gets the most of your attention... and it just goes downhill after that. I'm sorry about that and will try to do better. Of course we had a little photo shoot to mark your special day, and you were a good sport, as long as you could put something in your mouth, and there wasn't a big flower on your head (I will have to learn to accept the fact that you hate things on your head and will rip them off as quickly as I put it on.) You are such a good, adorable little baby. Everyone says so. Especially at church. The little girls in primary adore you. You get so much attention for your red hair; I hope you will love and embrace it in the years to come. I think I need to make you a bib that says "I got it from Grandma" so people will stop asking me every time we go somewhere, "Where did the red hair come from?" Or maybe I will dye my hair red. Probably not a good idea.
Anyway, I weighed you last night and you are 17.4 pounds. You are so small and petite compared to your cousin Jonas, who's just a few weeks older than you, and compared to how big Lincoln was at your age. You are definitely a girl. I love it. I love your two little bottom teeth, your little side-balance pose you do, your "ba-ba"bursts, the way you light up when Lincoln talks and plays with you. I'm pretty sure he's your favorite. He loves that you laugh at him and smile when he talks to you. He loves for you to chase him around the house when mommy and daddy hold you, and he loves crawling by you. He always wants to have a race, and he wins all of them for now, but I know that won't last long, you get faster every day! Two days ago you pulled yourself up in your crib too! Now every time you wake up you crawl to the edge of your crib and climb up the side. Lincoln loves to go in your room, flip on the light and wake you up. That is my favorite face you make- your squinty face. I call you "squincy" when you do it. Oh you are so cute. Ha!
I know you are my daughter, because just like your mama you LOVE TO EAT!! I've never known a girl who could pack the food away as well as I could, but I have a feeling in a few years you will give me a run for my money. You love oatmeal, applesauce, bread, lil munchies, basically anything you can sink your little teeth into. We are always shocked at all the food you can put away. And if you want more, oh boy do you SCREAM! I wonder if you'll have a set of pipes like mine too. My parents always told me I could scream like a banshee, and you sure can too.
So far you've said, "ba-ba," "da-da," and "ma-ma" although dad doesn't believe me that you've said mama, cz you'll never say it in front of him.
Oh it has been so funny lately. Every morning since you've discovered the presents under the tree, you make a bee-line from the family room to the living room and bang on the gifts. I think you like the shiny, sparkly paper. It's so hilarious!

You still wake up once or twice at night, and drink a formula bottle of four ounces every three hours except at night when you eat real food, and of course you snack all through the day. You hate your car seat with a passion, have the fairest skin ever, love watching tv, are always rocking back and forth thumping your legs on the ground, love to play with paper, and put everything in reach in your mouth.
We love you with all of our hearts and might Ada-boo. Thank you for all the magic and joy your presence brings to our family and my life. Oh how I adore having a little girl! I often tell you I just feel like you are a real doll I get to play dress up with! It's so fun to be your mom! My heart just wants to burst with how much I love you little girl!! I'm always there for you, and daddy is too. Oh we just love you so much.
Love to infinity and beyond,
Mama