Summer's almost gone [the season, that is...]

we had some good times
now they're gone
the winter's comin' on
summer's almost goooooooooone

This is the end of our first summer as parents. I had the good fortune of having my maternity leave meld into my summer, making my time off really extra long. Ramis also made an excellent decision of coming back to the classroom, allowing him some extra weeks off with our growing baby girl. We had lots of time, and time is what we needed. More than anything, our time has been relaxing and an incredibly rewarding learning experience. But, the best part? We have Summer all-year-round... and our little sunshine will give us enough light to make us not even notice the seasons... for with her, the summer sun is always shining!

Summer is a new baby every day. A few of Summer's favorite things:

• Being surprised. Be it a simple "Boo", a bursting open of a fist, or just a surprised look on your face. She giggles in the sweetest way after being surprised.
  
• Fresh air. One of the most reliable ways to cease crankiness in this baby is to take her outdoors. Suddenly, anything that was previously bothering her has been forgotten.
• Exploring. She prefers to be face out so she can explore. She looks and looks and looks around for new things. This is amazing and wonderful, but is also kind of frustrating when trying to put her to sleep or nurse her. She also isn't a fan of sleeping through the action-packed daytime. We wouldn't change this for the world, as we love that she loves to be awake with us!
  
• Nursing. She has shown us in so many ways that no silicone nipple will ever replace her mommy. So, she chooses not to eat unless it's the real deal. She's smart enough to know that if she waits her hunger out, eventually mommy will come and give her the goods. So, she waits and gets her food later (and sometimes overfeeds). She really, really loves nursing too, because she's at over the 95% for weight at her age (yaaaaaay!)... she's also 95% for her head size, which explains her abundance of brain power.
  
• Music. She's just beginning to appreciate music. We'll pull on the rings on her bouncy seat (with her help, of course), and it plays a little ditty. Every morning as we're getting ready, she giggles and smiles as the song repeats itself from the speakers of a tiny plastic lion. I can't help but giggle myself just thinking about it! Sound is a much more important feature to her than ever before; besides music, she enjoys the splish splash of water from baths with daddy and chants that mommy whispers when putting Summer to sleep.
  
• Being well. It's amazing what a little medicine to quell acid reflux and gas pains. She's happy = we're happy.
  
• Grabbing things. Whether it be her new rattle, daddy's t-shirt, mommy's hair, or anything else in grabbing distance, Summer loves to grab onto things and attempt to put them in her mouth.
  
• Daddy. I say this not because it's any news, but because daddy was disguised behind various facial hairstyles. She often looked at "this man" confused as to who HE was and where her daddy went. Fortunately daddy "came back" (ie. shaved it off) a few days ago and Summer is a much more content and centered baby... and if she wakes up from a nap and looks at him, she doesn't cry with confusion anymore!
• Zerberts/Raspberries. Oh, how we had waited to blow on her little bare tummy and hear a little giggle. The time has come, and it was soooooo worth the wait.