Dear Baby Girl,
Make. It. Stop.
You are now two whole months old, my dear. When did this happen?? Oh my goodness, you have changed so very much in the short time you've been with us, and it is bittersweet to Mommy. I love to watch you grow and learn and become YOU, but I just can't fathom how fast time is flying by. Again, make it stop. ;)
The very best thing has happened with you recently: SMILING!
Oh, what a reward your smiles have become. You are particularly smiley after you've nursed one side, and you will then start to just beam up at me as we continue nursing. It is almost as if you finally realized that Mommy was right there the whole time! You smile so much on your changing table. You will lay there, kicking your little feet and waving your little arms, smiling up at us as we change you. If you catch sight of me walking by while you are in your bouncy chair or flopped over the shoulder of someone else, you will lock eyes with me, think about it for just a second, and then give me a big, toothless grin. Oh my love, this is the greatest sight in the world. I get tears almost every time you smile right at me. I know that you know who I am now, and that means so much to your Mommy.
Along with smiling, you have begun 'talking' to us. You will coo and grunt and gurgle back at us when we pause in our 'conversations' with you. Your little noises make Mommy and Daddy laugh quite often, especially when you are putting yourself to sleep at night cooing away, or when you are getting a little frustrated at a certain activity. You grunt and huff and puff during tummy time as you are trying to learn your little body, and you sound like a dolphin sometimes as you send out your 'sonar' signals to us: if we aren't where you can see us and you haven't heard us talking for a few minutes, you will give out a quick "Eh?" and then pause to see if we answer back. This can go on for a few minutes, and it is so sweet that you are 'looking' for us! I can't wait to hear what your little voice will sound like someday.
You are quite the efficient, quick little eater when nursing, but you take FOREVER to drink a bottle! You had your first bottle at 7 weeks old, and Daddy has sure enjoyed getting to spend that special time with you. You are eating about every 2 1/2-3 hours during the day, and at night, you will sleep for two 4-6 hour stretches at a time. It looks like you are starting to wake up and go to bed around the same time every day, and I do believe you are finding a little routine that works for you (and us!). We follow the eat, awake, sleep routine, and that has been such a lifesaver in learning what you need and when you need it. You take your daytime naps in your crib, and they last about 45 minutes to an hour and a half. If you have taken three successful crib naps during the day, Mommy gets the reward she's been waiting for in the evening hours: naps on Mommy's chest! :) I've had to learn self-control while we are at home together and let you learn to sleep on your own most of the time...but in the evening, all three of us snuggle up on the couch for dinner and movie. My favorite time of day. :)
Some of your baby gear has come in quite handy. You love love love your floor play gym, and you will lay there for 15 or 20 minutes after eating and just coo and bat at your little friends hanging from the play gym. After that, you like to sit and look around in your bouncy seat with the vibration turned on. You aren't a huge fan of the plinky little songs on the bouncy seat, so you and I will just look at each other and have 'conversations' for 15 or 20 minutes. You aren't a huge fan of your swing, and you are getting better and better about tummy time.
Speaking of tummy time, you have such a strong neck, little girl! Ever since you were at the hospital getting your first bath from the nurses and you lifted and turned your head at one hour old, we've known to watch out for that strong little neck! ;) You crane your head around all on your own while being held and while nursing. So strong! You are still uninterested in taking a pacifier, but, on the rare(ish) occasion that you really get to wailin' in public, I can shove a clean pinky in your mouth to soothe you. I do believe you are starting to 'find' your hand/thumb, though. I've noticed you sucking and sucking on that fist while trying to fall asleep a few times. Also, I think you are getting ready to try rolling over--when you're laying on your back, you keep lifting up your legs sooo high and then flopping them over to the left. You are growing up way too fast, my friend. ;)
You enjoy riding in the car, and I've noticed you looking out of the window as we drive along. You last about 10 minutes (if that) in the car before falling asleep, but if I sing to you while we drive around, you will crane your little head up and up and up, trying to look back and find my voice (you are in a rear-facing car seat, so I'm behind your head). It is so sweet to watch you trying to find me. I have to remind myself to not constantly stare into your mirror to see you--Mommy needs to watch the road! Some of the places you've been thus far are our church, the zoo, Target, the grocery store, the park, our neighborhood, Dad's parent's house and church, the mall, and the doctor's office!
Oh yes, you are also famous, Baby! Our local newspaper featured you and Mommy for a Mother's Day special, and you looked fab for your photo shoot. ;) What a neat memory for us to share.
One of our sweetest times together is in the morning when we wake up for the day usually around 7am. I scoop you up out of your bed after listening to your 'sonar' signals for a few minutes, and you promptly nestle your head down into my neck and hair. Your eyes are very squinty and blinky as we walk around the house, opening up the window blinds, saying 'good morning' to the house. I'll sing, "Good mornin, good mornin, you slept (almost) the whole night through. Good mornin, good mornin, to you!"...it is the tune from "Singin' in the Rain," in case you were wondering. ;) You are so warm and snuggly in those first morning minutes, and I almost look forward to hopping out of bed bright and early...almost. :) I love our mornings together, Baby.
We just took you to your 8 week check up at the pediatrician's office, and it was a big appointment for you. The pediatrician wants us to take you to a pediatric dermatologist to have your strawberry checked out. He said this is just precautionary, so we'll see what happens with that. The nurse weighed and measured you, and you are a growing girl! You weighed 13 pounds and measured 24 inches. You are in the 98th percentile--healthy baby! (This calms Mommy's nerves to hear that you are growing nice and strong). That was the good news. The bad news: first shots. Oh Baby, it was so sad to watch your little, unsuspecting self as you coo'ed on the table right before getting jabbed in the thigh three times for your shots. SO sad to hear your hoarse little wail! When I got to scoop you up after it was all over, you snuffled your way into my neck and sobbed just a little bit more before calming down. That afternoon and evening, you were so very sleepy, so you and I just snuggled and snuggled. It was a long day for a little baby, and you did such a good job, sweet one.
(Sad little thigh band-aids from the shots...)
I just can not believe you have been in our lives for two months already. It sounds so cliche, but I'll say it again: time is flying by so very quickly. It is amazing to see your little personality starting to show through. You seem so mellow, very quietly inquisitive, a little bit shy and full of gradual and glowing smiles. And I just know you'll change so much over the next few weeks. I can't wait...and yet I can all at the same time. A mother's conundrum. :)
I love you so, my little birdie girl.
Mommy
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