6 months old.

Dearest Aubrey,

Some day, we'll be in the car driving to the beach or the grocery store or to a school play and a song will come on the radio. It is "It Won't Be Like This For Long" by Darius Rucker. Daddy will tell you how he saw Hootie before they were big, when he was a freshmen in college, Mommy will say that his country music was better. I know it'll be "oldies" music and you'll beg we change the channel, but give us our moment. Because the song will take us back to today, the day you turned 6 months old.

To say "they grow up so fast" is fairly cliche but also very appropriate for the last month. The biggest milestone this month is that you've started eating solid foods. Mommy started feeding you cereal for the first few days, then we switched to bananas. You tried sweet potato, avacado and carrots too, though bananas seem to be your favorite so far. It was fun you watch you experience the new tastes for the first time. This is only the beginning though, with Mommy's creative pallet and Daddy's appetite, you'll have plenty of chances to try new things from here on out. The introduction of solid foods has introduced us to bigger and stinkier poops. Congratulations, you've graduated to size 3 diapers! You are getting stronger too. Your friend Adeline let you borrow her Exersaucer and you just love to jump and bounce and spin. You are getting better at sitting up on your own, not for very long, but better at it. You've always been good at expressing yourself. You laugh so hard now at the silliest of things. Likewise, when you are mad, you let us know, like you did on a ride home from a dinner date with the Whites. Fortunately, you don't get mad very often. You spend most of your time being very sweet. You've learned to give Mommy kisses when she asks for them, Daddy has gotten a couple too. When being held, you reach for another person to hold you, so you can share those kisses.

The past month has been very special for you...and very special for Mommy and Daddy too. We, of course, celebrate Mommy every day. But this month, we celebrated Mother's Day. With my help, you bought Mommy a locket that contains your picture and a hand-sewn letter "A." Why do I have the feeling this isn't the last time you'll ask to borrow my credit card? You also attended a Mother-Daughter banquet at MiMi's church too. Even though it was Mommy's month, we also celebrated Daddy's birthday at a treehouse in North Carolina. You attended your buddy Corbar's first birthday party and Aunt Becky's graduation from the University of South Carolina too. You aren't quite ready to fly so Daddy couldn't take you to Aunt Kate's graduation from the University of South Florida. Daddy also had to travel to Chicago for a work trip. These were the first overnight trips away from home for Daddy since you've been born. Daddy didn't sleep very well being so far away from you. But Daddy knew he wouldn't be gone long, so it wasn't too bad. He just didn't want to miss any new milestones.

“He lays down there beside her
‘Til her eyes are finally closed
And just watchin’ her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows
It won’t be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
So, he's tryin’ to hold on
‘Cause it won’t be like this for long” – D. Rucker, It Won’t Be Like This For Long