Dear Binja:
I always start out these letters by some exclamation at the realization of just how old you are because, HOLY CRAP!, you keep getting older every thirty days. And while there are some months where the thirty days fly by, there are some months — like this one — that are so challenging and awesome in every way that the month seems to linger.
For. ev. er.
But yes, I am still amazed that you are already (and yet only!) eight months old. Let’s face it: you’ve already got some pimp skillz to be admired. You have spent the greater part of this month at rehearsals with me for a local production of Annie that starred your favorite aunt:
And while you were there, a gang of 12 or so orphans would come and abscond with you. You would happily disappear for a couple of hours, till one of them would come roll you back and say, “He’s wet.” You may charm them, dear, but not enough.
This month, we all were sick. For most of it. You tend to show your illness like your mommy; it’s all in your eyes.
You being sick is one thing. Both of us being sick is quite another. And there were three or four days where you and I stayed home and just took turns being irate at eachother. Because much like your eyes, I think you also get your mother’s temperment. God help you.
But even when we were fighting, you were still quite precious. Like when Aunt Delle and Uncle John brought cousin Matthew to visit, you were completely obsessed with that baby.
And you were very patient with all of the other children around you. Especially your father.
Your appetite grew this month, expanding into solid foods. Well, some solid foods. And some solid things that are NOT food:
And you also started bathing in the “big boy bathtub”. Which both broke our hearts and elated them, because MAN, that is SO MUCH MORE FUN than the itty bitty blue tub. FOR YOU.
There is a song in Annie that the cast, in general, dispises. Our gentleman playing Daddy Warbucks has the voice of an angel, but it’s clearly a song that was added after the original show came out. And for the most part, the cast doesn’t understand it.
But I do.
Some of the lyrics are:
Why should I change a thing?
Got the world on a string.
Who needs the clamor that a little girl would bring?
Why redo the bedrooms?
Undo vacations?
Learn to love cornflakes?
Why change a blessed thing?
Because. If you’re incredibly lucky, you get this:
And this:
And this:
And this: (yes, even though it gives you a turkey neck and you know how unattractive you are in the picture, but LOOK AT HOW CUTE WITH THE ARM AND EVERYTHING.)
Binja, you made it all worthwhile. You do every single day. Try not to grow up a whole lot during the next thirty days, okay?
