Dear Annabelle,

Today you turn six months old. You have a happy and laid back demeanor. I love that you smile every day now. You even smile at the cats.

You have come along way physically. I would see the picture of the baby in the “What to Expect The First Year Book” on its belly, pushing up on its hands, and holding its head up high. I was a little worried for a while that you weren’t meeting this milestone. Then one day I came in to get you from your nap and there you were, pushing yourself up on your hands and holding your head up high. I am wondering if this is how it’s going to be the rest of your life. Will I be worried about your development, and then one day with no warning you just do it?

Daddy was drilling you the other night about rolling over. You rolled over one way and then Daddy coached you to roll back the other way. Then he said, “Again!” and you happily did it. You were a good sport about it.

You had your first cold this past month. We ran out to get a humidifier for your room late one night. You were having trouble breathing and kept waking up. You really hate your nose being suctioned, but who wouldn’t? You recovered from your cold just in time for a cough. You still have the cough, but you don’t have a fever and you are still eating okay.

You are still being breastfed. Eating is not a problem for you and you have actually started playing while you eat. When you are done chugging you come off, give me a huge smile, and then attack my boob again. It’s so darn cute, but I have to stop you from stopping and starting again, so you will learn to eat. Lately, you have started teething and you like to teeth on my boob. Thanks.

You drool like its going out of style. You try to chew on everything. One of your favorite activities is grabbing stranger’s fingers and sticking them in your mouth. A few fingers even make it into your mouth. Your first tooth has yet to arrive.

Standing is joy for you. You prefer to stand than to lay on your belly. I have stood you up and leaned you against something and you stood for five seconds.

Rice cereal was introduced to you two weeks ago. You really like the stuff. Lately it has been hard for you to eat, because of your cough.

Your two fingers upside bring you comfort when you tired or hungry. I am not sure when you switched from your thumb, but it is quite funny.

You bring your dad and me such joy. We took you to feed the homeless last week. I carried you around in the Baby Bjorn and a lot of them came up to see you. They would try to get you to smile and you would smile right back at them. You would try and grab their hands. They would ask what your name was and I would tell them and ask them for their name. You open doors to the Gospel, which you don’t even know. You bring your little light and joy wherever you go. We pray that you will always shine your light of the Jesus inside of you.

Next month you will travel to the other side of the world with your parents to share Jesus. I know you are going to be more of a missionary on that trip than me or your dad will be. I am trusting the Lord for your health and safety. You will be my sidekick for ten days. It will be challenging, but it will be worth it. Your Daddy and I have always prayed at every significant occasion that we would be more for the Kingdom of God together than separate. You are now a part of that vision. You are a member of Team Espinoza.

We love you very much and can’t wait to see your personality grow and develop.

Happy Birthday, Annabelle!

Love,
Mommy