Dear Junior,
You're just about a month old now. Here are a few words and comments on your last few weeks of life:
HELP - Mommy's dad stayed with us for a week and Mommy's mom stayed with us for a month soon after you were born to help us with the adjustment period. It was a blessing to have our meals cooked for us and to have extra moral support and two extra sets of arms and hands to hold and care for you. Mommy's mom in particular had a particular bond with you -- she understood you in a way that no one else did, and she helped Mommy and Daddy to learn how to understand your cries and signals. We learned to put our head to your head when trying to soothe you, to rhythmically pat your body when trying to put you down for bed (Mommy has since improved on that method with her special "Time to nap/time to sleep" chants), and to make sure you aren't overtired. Mommy has been independent for such a long time that accepting help from your grandparents wasn't easy for her at first -- but when she got used to it, she really appreciated it.
SLEEP - Or lack thereof? You are starting to sleep for longer stretches, though you are still a ways away from sleeping through the night. Mommy keeps a sleep journal of all the sleep she gets (this is separate and apart from the journal of all of your daily activities and sleep!), and while she is still getting 5-6/7 hours of sleep per day, the chunks of sleep are tending to increase in length from 1 hour and 15 minutes to about 2 hours and 45 minutes (with a record of 3 hours and 30 mins - but that only happened once). Since Ama left us, you have moved from the pack and play in our room to your crib in your own room -- and Mommy and Daddy have moved with you to the big bed in your room. You seem to prefer the crib over the pack and play, but your absolute favorite places to fall asleep are (in descending order of preference) (1) skin to skin with Mommy in the ergo carrier; (2) in Daddy's lap or lying on Daddy's chest; and (3) together with Mommy and Daddy in their big bed. The last one constitutes co-sleeping that always makes Mommy a little nervous, but you love it so much, and we keep an eye on you (mostly) while you are with us.
LEARNING - Everyone is learning! In the last month, Mommy has finally learned how to burp you effectively (the over-the-shoulder backrub works well) and how to change a diaper (although Daddy still changes 90% of your diapers). Mommy is also pretty good at soothing you to sleep with her chants and rhythmic walking. You and Mommy both have gotten better at the feeding/latching thing, although your bat hands still get in the way sometimes... Daddy has mastered the art of dressing and undressing you (something Mommy has yet to learn -- so far, I've only gotten an over-the-head article of clothing on you ONCE by myself) and playing with you. Daddy is also very good at administering the Nosefrida on you. You hate it, but it is so good for you. And only Daddy has sufficient lung capacity to suck out all your snot. Go Daddy!
You have learned the most: you've learned that lying on a particular towel on the Snoogle means you're going to eat, so you stop crying...you have learned how to turn your head with greater frequency during tummy time... you have learned how to admire yourself in the mirror... you are starting to smile with greater frequency... and you are getting better at tracking people with your eyes (though you had already started to do that on your second day of life!). Most excitingly, you are starting to coo! The little sounds you make are super-adorable and a very fun precursor to your formal speech. We all still have a lot to learn--but I am encouraged by our progress so far.
DIAPERS - I had heard about it before I became a mom, but now I know it is true: a surprisingly significant portion of new-parent life is consumed with counting the number of minutes a baby spends feeding and counting the number of her wet and poopy diapers. Mommy kind of obsesses over how many hours you spend eating, and whether and when you are going to be hungry next. And while she gets excited about your wet diapers because they are signs that you are well-hydrated, she practically glories over your poopy diapers because they mean you are getting her hindmilk. Of course, maybe she would glory over your poopy diapers less if she was the one who had to change them...but Daddy handles that!
TIME - Time is kind of lost these days... the days run together, and days of the week don't mean a whole lot anymore. The only date markers that we use are tracking the dates on which we have visitors or have a pediatrician appointment. You haven't gotten your shots yet, so we can't really venture out yet. So time doesn't really exist for us in a meaningful way. We just have a lot of time with each other and with you. It is a wonderful gift.
RECOVERY - Mommy is still recovering from childbirth. It's a long process! The lingering pain from the episiotomy and the epidural come and go (more come, less go) and serve as a reminder of the incredible process involved in bringing a child into the world. You are totally worth it!
FUN - You are a lot of fun. I know some moms think that newborns are boring because they are more like little blobs that don't interact much with the outside world. It is kind of true that the vast majority of your life right now involves eating and sleeping, and very few periods of unfussy wakefulness (which we end up having to fill with tummy time, which you don't really enjoy quite yet). Daddy pretends to make you "walk" and Mommy and Daddy both have many conversations with you (inserting words in your mouth for you), so I guess we are making our own fun in a way. But even apart from that, I don't think you are boring. I think I am still in awe of the fact that you are a real, tiny person -- and our real, tiny person. We love you, and you are part of our fun little family -- and that is very, very fun.
We love you and are so blessed to have you!
Love,
Mommy
