Monday, August 24, 2015

Dear Junior

Dear Junior,

Mommy has just a few days of work left.  Four, to be exact.  I'm floored at how all this came together, and how quickly.  Seems like not so long ago that I was moping my way home, enviously eyeing moms and dads out strolling their kids as I was just getting home (and knowing I'd have to do more work after you went to sleep, if not before) and humming, "Yeah, I'm working my way back to you, Bathands..."

With God's help, I'm working my way back to you.  In less than a week, you'll have Mommy all to yourself again, six months after I went back to work.  We'll spend sixty days together, then Mommy goes back to work again.  I'm excited to spend lots of time with you again.  Excited, and a little apprehensive.  I need to figure out a good way to structure our days, and a way to get things done -- because many many things need to get done.

But I'm excited.  Lots of good things ahead.  And a lot to deal with, though... lots of emotional changes as we leave our beloved friends and family.  And forging ahead, facing forward together as we all dive headlong into something brand new and unknown.  We need our faith more than ever, Ducky.  We need to be reminded that God is with us and we can trust Him. He has taken us this far.  

As for less heavy news from these last few weeks, there's all sorts of fun stuff going on with you.  You have four teeth.  You've learned to accept lentils a tiny bit more, and you love bananas.  You're okay with sweet potatoes, and not so much into them when I mix salmon in.  You love carrots and peaches.  You love eating from Daddy's apple in the morning.  

We've started to flick you when you go for the outlets or the kitchen.  You're starting to learn where you can and cannot go.  

You know how to wave! And you love waving at everything and anyone -- and no one.  It's really funny and cute.  

When you see Mommy come home, you light up and crawl quickly toward Mommy and it just melts my heart right away. Or when you're in your sleep sack and ready for your nursing for the night, you see me and grin broadly and Mommy just can't get enough of you.

Mommy loves to watch you explore. You're starting to cruise around, trying to get from one chair to the next without having to crawl inbetween.  You're testing out your independent standing skills, and you're a determined cookie.  You love climbing the two-step where Mommy keeps her purses (i.e. the "Purse Mountain," which hosts "Strap City," since you love to chew on all the purse straps).  

When we feed you, you eat for a while, and then you start to turn your head away.  My favorite is when you grab the spoon, hold out your arm to the side, and then just drop the spoon to the floor.  Because you know we'll pick it up for you every time.  It's part of how you're learning, and it's fun to watch.

You're more vocal. Not so much using consonants yet, but expressing yourself more vocally than before.  I imagine it will be a lot of fun when you start talking! In the meantime, we're trying to teach you baby sign language.

You played with our neighbor Henry and his dog, Pancakes, yesterday. Super-hilarious. You should watch the video.

Mommy and Daddy delight in you so. You're our wonderful little ducky and we adore you and love being your parents.  Even when you can't sleep at night, and even when Mommy still has to nurse you three times a night (though you're getting better about that! Good job!).  Even when you cry and squirm for no reason when we're changing your diaper.  Even when you are inconsolable after a nap (that someone-wronged-me face is super-cute).  Even when you don't listen and we have to flick you (but seriously - you'll have to learn to obey, Batty).  You're our dear Batty and we love you so.

You appear to be left-handed, though we're not sure yet.

We lay out the yellow fish, pink starfish, and blue penguin for you every night before your bath and you ALWAYS pick the blue penguin.

You let me brush your teeth only so you can sneak in a lick of the water, since water fascinates you and you always want to drink it (and we don't let you).

You don't mind being undressed.  You don't like getting dressed.

You love to sleep on your right side, with your left thumb in your mouth and the other hand grabbing at Froggy.  You had trouble sleeping last night, but finally I put Froggy by your hand, and you calmed down and started playing with Froggy's tag before falling asleep.  The inner stuffy-lover in me rejoiced greatly at seeing this.

Daddy reads to you from the Jesus Storybook Bible every day, and Mommy and Daddy pray for and with you every night.  We hope and pray you will grow in faith and enter into your own relationship with God.

It's a wonder and a joy to be your Mommy.  I'm so thankful for you.

Love to Bathands,
Mommy

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