"...the smile is the beginning of love."

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” - Mother Teresa

Oh Mother Teresa.  You hit the nail on the head! Amelia has started to smile at us, and it IS the beginning of love. There's nothing like seeing your child happy, is there?

Being the dutiful mother that I am, this is one of the important milestones in Amelia's life that must be recorded! The social smile.

The first time it happened, that I noticed, I managed to capture a picture.  At the time, I wasn't really attributing this smile as a response to anything, I thought it was just a fluke.  A few days later, though, I realized that it wasn't "gas", Miss Amelia was starting to recognize happiness.

July 1

We were really convinced that Amelia was giving us a social smile when we had her in Dover the following weekend.  We took her to join Great Grandma Esther at mass.  (Esther, by the way, was downright delighted to show off her perfect great granddaughter...so that was pretty special for all of us.) After mass we went back to Esther's to visit with Dover family.  Carmie, Phillip, and Sue came over.  After Amelia had just napped, had a clean diaper, and a full belly, she went to Aunt Sue.  Sue had her smiling and laughing for quite awhile.  Amelia had us all captivated! :) Mommy-paparazzi was there with the iPhone in her face, trying to capture it!

July 8

Ever since, our hearts just melt when Amelia graces us with a smile. When she looks at us with such joy, it does feel like her love for us is beginning to build. Right on, Mother Teresa! 

Here are a few more pics, and a video. 

Apologies:

1. The pictures are kind of blurry and right in her face because I'm generally holding her and trying to take a picture with my other arm. 

2. Sorry for the "Mommy talk" in the video! :) I think it's really funny to hear people talk to babies, and I realized how silly I sound when I watched this video back. 

ENJOY!