The Tovsky Tribe: A Letter to my Son on his 9 Month Birthday!

Dear Decker,

9 Months Happy! 3/4 of your year of firsts is now behind us and as fast as it all has gone it seems impossible that last holiday season I hadn't even met you yet. This time last year I had no idea that your name would be Decker, or that your eyes would be blue, or that your smile is infectious, as is your laugh. 12 months ago I was still anticipating the shape of your face, and the curve of your mouth. It does seem impossible that this time last year I hadn't met you yet because now it feels like I've always known you, as if you were always in our life, making each day brighter, sunnier, happier.

You may be only 9 months old, but your physical abilities seem to indicate otherwise. Though you are not yet walking (and barely cruising) it is no matter because the ease and agility with which you perform "stunts" is awe inspiring. You can climb. The steps were where you learned to climb up but everything else is your base for climbing out and down. The high chair. The exersaucer. Your car-seat carrier. I am hoping the crib is still a while off.

You've finally gotten more teeth. The four top teeth came in all that same time along with a third bottom tooth. That fourth bottom tooth is working on it but seems to be a bit slower than the rest.

Now, with a mouth full of teeth, you can chew and prefer to eat table food. As a result your diet is far less healthy than it was when you were eating puréed fruits and vegetables. You've also mastered your pincer grasp and can self feed most small pieces that are put in front of you. Of course, once you grasp the food, you can also chuck it across the room with strange accuracy

We celebrated Thanksgiving, which was fantastic. Aunt Bonnie visited from Florida and was so delighted to see you and be with you, her little DJ. You are extra special in her heart, being that you were named for Jamie, and both the honor of his name that you represent and the absolute wonder that you are fill her with so much joy, as they do all of us.

Over Thanksgiving break we also went to Maryland for the day to celebrate Uncle Bunny's 90th birthday. It was so nice to see all of the Citrenbaums, together in one room, and celebrate such a milestone. I was thrilled to have you be a part of it and to have so many people meet you. Although neither you nor Bunny will remember the day it is a remarkable valuable moment for me, and for Pop-Pop, to know you were a part of something so special.

Celebrating Bunny's 90th

You are all over the place and constantly on the move. And, though you can play nicely by yourself, you are in constant motion, which is evidence that you are a Tovsky brother. You have mastered climbing up the stairs and are attempting to climb up everything from me, to the bookshelves, to the beds. You also like to put all the wrong things in your mouth. If we don't watch you, you will have a nice steady meal of lego pieces.

When you're given a bottle we hold it for you. Truthfully, none of us mind, and knowing that the time is going to soon end, I do want to give you as many bottles as possible. However, you act like you are unable to hold your own bottle. Then, one day, I walk into your room at daycare to find you giving yourself your bottle. You little stinker!! Now that we know the truth we still give it to you, but when we need to, if we place your hands on the bottle you will hold it up yourself.

Holding your own at Daycare

You took your first school picture. The class photo is funny as it is just you and little Phoebe and Ms. Cheryl. Your individual picture came out quite good. I call you my Superman in the picture because your hair is darker than normal, your eyes are bluer than normal, and you have the Superman curl.

Superman

You still love the guitar, the phone, your brothers, and the bath. When I sing the Decker song, sung to the tune of B-I-N-G-O, you laugh and pay close attention trying to follow along. You love that song! You're still a pretty serious baby, taking in everything around you, studying the world preparing to master it, but you've learned to be silly, to laugh, and to have fun. And, we all laugh with you. You have been a gift to all of us for the last 9 months and you will continue to be so for all of the days to come.