Baby Blue

Our pretty little Molly May turned eight months this week, and despite eating large quantities of everything you put in front of her, she seems to be directing most of her caloric intake to the growth of new hair.

While two months ago she was practically bald, she now has a bonafide 'do, a wispy, fluffy strawberry blonde cap that is a little less red than when she was born, but still noticeable enough that strangers take notice. I was fielding comments left and right during all three of my errands yesterday -- Starbucks, Safeway and CVS.

"Wow, is her dad a redhead?"

"Look at that Irish baby!"

"Now where did that red hair come from?"

I know what you're all thinking. Yes, Starbucks is definitely an official errand in my book. Yes, I did inform these people that her daddy is actually Italian. And yes, my hair colorist has definitely made my hair less red, and more blonde in the past few months! When she was a newborn, I never had to deal with this kind of inquisition.

Along with her red(dish) hair, she seems to be keeping her blue eyes! I have been burned before by making this prediction (and at exactly eight months, too!), but I would love to round out my little collection by adding Molly's blue eyes to Joey's hazel eyes and Clara's green eyes! Here's Molly showing off her baby blues at the park today, during her maiden voyage on the baby swing!

Could that smile be any sweeter? She aced her latest checkup at UCSF -- her surgeon was happy with her healing, and couldn't believe what a bouncing bundle she was. While he tried to take her picture for their records, she was hopping up and down on my lap like a little jack-in-the-box. He assured us that her lip will look even better after a few more months have passed. We hardly notice it, except when looking at pictures of her; the flash on the camera seems to make it look redder and more pronounced, while in natural light, it's much less visible.

In the meantime, she beams that smile at anyone and everyone, and is definitely our biggest flirt and most social baby. She loves to catch someone's eye across the room, and "speak" to them in the only language she has right now... lots of grunts and "huhs." She had the entire waiting room at UCSF laughing at her breathy repertoire last week.
 

She's mostly a go-with-the-flow third baby, but sometimes her temperment can match her red hair!

If only we could freeze time, and keep our baby this small for longer!