as soon as you began your entry into the world on october 28th, we knew you’d be calling the shots and have your own ideas about how things were supposed to go.  you scared us so much as your heart rate dropped over and over again during labor until the doctor decided to take you out via c-section.  fearful that you may not be doing well, you surprised us all by screaming with the loudest little voice and strongest lungs and by being ultra attentive with your bright blue eyes open wide taking it all in.  you even made the doctor declare how much of a fireball you were!  and, you are the only baby i have ever heard of getting “kicked out” of the nursery when mommy and daddy sent you on your second night with failed hopes of getting an hour or two of sleep!  daddy and i like to joke that you are spirited- an active baby who is full of life and determined to live life by your own rules!

at five weeks old, your spirited nature is shining brilliantly.  each day is predictably unpredictable.  like yesterday, when you surprised us with hardly any peeps during the whole day only to greet our night with the loudest wails imaginable!  and, it’s your spirited nature, that fills us with so much joy and makes our days with you so much fun.

this week was very busy…we cheered on daddy as he qualified for the boston marathon at the atlanta marathon on thanksgiving morning, mommy went our for the first time without you to do some christmas shopping with nonna and to have dinner with some friends, we went on our first outing as a family to georgia tech to see aunt laura’s design project and to target (you slept the entire time!), you had your one month wellness visit where we learned that you have gained nearly two pounds in four weeks (you now weigh eight pounds, three ounces!- still tiny-you are in the tenth percentile- but growing well), we learned that you hate napping in your crib but love to sleep in it at night, you love your stroller and being “on the go” (like your pajamas say!) and i think that our daily walk is one of the favorite times of both of our days, and mommy discovered how much you love to dance with her as we crank up the christmas music and sing and dance in the living room!  you are already loving your barnyard activity quilt- spending minutes lying on your back and gazing at all the animals.  its activities like these that let us know that you are a very interested and curious baby…and interested babies make for interesting babies.

i am certain that you will continue to take daddy and i on a wild and bumpy ride and i am equally certain that we will love every moment of it.

xxoxo,

mommy

i have decided to write you an occasional letter on my blog to 1. share with our readers the ins and outs of life with you and 2. chronicle those ins and outs in a way that will help daddy, you, and i to remember them.

when you were born, you started crying the minute the doctors pulled out your head.  when daddy and i heard your voice for the first time, we couldn’t hold back our own tears.  you had a full head of brown hair with blond sideburns and deep blue eyes.  your feet seemed so big and your skin coloring was beautiful.  you were perfect.  waiting to get my chance to cuddle you was an eternity, but when the nurse finally placed you in my arms, you looked at me, right into my eyes, and opened your mouth wide as if you were saying “ohh!”  i was completely charmed.

you spent your first week half at the hospital, where you celebrated your very first holiday, halloween (and daddy’s birthday), and the other half at home with your mommy and daddy, big sister sadie, nonna and pops, and aunt jessica.  when you were a week old, we took our first outing to see your pediatrician, we had our first walk in your stroller when you were 10 days old, and nona and pops stayed until you were 11 days old taking care of us and our house so that i could concentrate on taking good care of you.  then, we were on our own and…we made it!  you had your first professional photo shoot on your two week birthday and at three weeks old, your mia and popi came for a visit.

today you are 4 weeks old!  this week, we have been working hard on learning how to nap and you will celebrate your first thanksgiving, your second holiday.  you have really grown fond of your boppy pillow,  swing, and warm bath water and don’t so much like having your diaper changed or having to nap in your crib.  i’m in love with your chicken feather hair after your baths, the way you smell, and the way you cuddle against my shoulder after nursing.

and, when i feed you?  well, these are my favorite times of the day.  you seem completely content.  you hold your hands in tiny fists and rest them on my chest.  you look up at me with your huge, dark blue eyes and i know that you need me and for that i am so grateful.

life is so much richer, so much fuller since you joined our family.  i love you so much.  on this thanksgiving day, i give so much thanks for you.

xxo,

mommy