Friday
Jul022010
The Obligatory One Month Letter
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 8:52AM
Dear Sailor Bear,
I can’t believe it’s been a month. This past month started out with you popping into our lives and rocking our world. Nothing prepared us for what it meant to bring you home and be responsible for your well-being. The worry, the anxiety, the newness – it all had your dad and I questioning what the heck we had done, and if we ever wanted to do it again! For the first several weeks, I hated nighttime. I didn’t know what to expect from my evenings with you and I was so tired and overwhelmed. Thank God for your grandma on the nights she was here and we let your dad sleep so he could keep making it easy for me to stay home with you.
After a couple of weeks we started to get to know each other better. And, thankfully, we figured out your eating situation! You weren’t getting enough from me, baby girl, so we switched to bottles, I got to see that you were eating your fill, and the baby I worried might be colicky turned out to just be hungry!
You are surrounded by so much love. Your grandma, who couldn’t bear the thought of the title, will now snatch you away to another room to raise up your arms and do “so big!” and make various stuffed animals talk to you. She was also the first one to take you outside (fitting, considering her obsession with the sun!) and discover how quiet and contemplative you get when a warm breeze crosses your face. Then, I found out that you love a rainstorm, and Papa encouraged your fascination with trees of all kinds.
Last weekend your dad took care of you both nights and did such a great job. He didn’t have to come get me once! I woke up to a happy baby and a dad with a massive grin. In the previous weeks, he didn’t feel like he was bonding with you. That all changed last weekend. He was so proud of himself, and he should have been. Last weekend I think he really became DAD. Oh, and please learn to laugh a loud laugh soon. Although he’s made you smile, Daddy is more than ready for you to find him hilarious. And I know you will.
You love your changing table mattress. I’ll often bring it around the house with you on it so I can get chores done! You are fascinated by everything – and, with all the HGTV we’ve been watching, I wouldn’t be surprised if you wanted to redecorate the house. You also like to dance, and you love your “Five Little Monkeys” book when we sing it to you. Two days ago you started getting the connection between your hand and what happens when you hit the rattle on your playmat. It was awesome to watch. Hand-eye coordination. Cause and effect. I had a tear in my eye at how cool it was to witness. It’s going to be amazing to see you learn and grow.
And, while I dreaded nights early in the month, I don’t anymore (especially because you’re sleeping longer and longer)! Even when I’m in a dead sleep and your cry brings me to enough consciousness to hope that you go back to sleep so I can, too, once I look at your little face in the dim light, eyes open and searching for me, it’s like the most adorable doll has come to life and my brain, each time, goes, “Wow. There she still is. This itty bitty PERSON. Trusting that I will take care of her.”
And I will, Little Bear. You are and will be so loved and taken care of. By me, your Dad, your Grandparents and our friends who love you and have fallen under your spell.
Happy one month of life.
I can’t believe it’s been a month. This past month started out with you popping into our lives and rocking our world. Nothing prepared us for what it meant to bring you home and be responsible for your well-being. The worry, the anxiety, the newness – it all had your dad and I questioning what the heck we had done, and if we ever wanted to do it again! For the first several weeks, I hated nighttime. I didn’t know what to expect from my evenings with you and I was so tired and overwhelmed. Thank God for your grandma on the nights she was here and we let your dad sleep so he could keep making it easy for me to stay home with you.
After a couple of weeks we started to get to know each other better. And, thankfully, we figured out your eating situation! You weren’t getting enough from me, baby girl, so we switched to bottles, I got to see that you were eating your fill, and the baby I worried might be colicky turned out to just be hungry!
You are surrounded by so much love. Your grandma, who couldn’t bear the thought of the title, will now snatch you away to another room to raise up your arms and do “so big!” and make various stuffed animals talk to you. She was also the first one to take you outside (fitting, considering her obsession with the sun!) and discover how quiet and contemplative you get when a warm breeze crosses your face. Then, I found out that you love a rainstorm, and Papa encouraged your fascination with trees of all kinds.
Last weekend your dad took care of you both nights and did such a great job. He didn’t have to come get me once! I woke up to a happy baby and a dad with a massive grin. In the previous weeks, he didn’t feel like he was bonding with you. That all changed last weekend. He was so proud of himself, and he should have been. Last weekend I think he really became DAD. Oh, and please learn to laugh a loud laugh soon. Although he’s made you smile, Daddy is more than ready for you to find him hilarious. And I know you will.
You love your changing table mattress. I’ll often bring it around the house with you on it so I can get chores done! You are fascinated by everything – and, with all the HGTV we’ve been watching, I wouldn’t be surprised if you wanted to redecorate the house. You also like to dance, and you love your “Five Little Monkeys” book when we sing it to you. Two days ago you started getting the connection between your hand and what happens when you hit the rattle on your playmat. It was awesome to watch. Hand-eye coordination. Cause and effect. I had a tear in my eye at how cool it was to witness. It’s going to be amazing to see you learn and grow.
And, while I dreaded nights early in the month, I don’t anymore (especially because you’re sleeping longer and longer)! Even when I’m in a dead sleep and your cry brings me to enough consciousness to hope that you go back to sleep so I can, too, once I look at your little face in the dim light, eyes open and searching for me, it’s like the most adorable doll has come to life and my brain, each time, goes, “Wow. There she still is. This itty bitty PERSON. Trusting that I will take care of her.”
And I will, Little Bear. You are and will be so loved and taken care of. By me, your Dad, your Grandparents and our friends who love you and have fallen under your spell.
Happy one month of life.
Copyright; 2011, Blahggy. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments (6)
How has it been a month already? Wow.
It sounds like you and your hubs are doing really well at getting the knack for this parenting gig. It took us a lot longer!!! Sailor is so beautiful and it just gets better and better.
Sweet letter! I remember before my son was born, my mom would shudder when I said the word "Grandma". She was soooo not ready for that title. Now? She couldn't adore her (almost 1 year old!) grandson more. I think it's so cute.
What a beautiful letter! I too remember watching endless hours of HGTV at all hours of the night...nothing like strolling around the bedroom watching strangers purchase a property in Italy.
I'm glad that y'all are adjusting well.
She's beautiful and it only gets better and better!
Love this! Can't believe she's already a whole month old.
What a precious letter that Sailor will someday get to read. You are both doing so well! She's such a cutie.