Fred: Month One

Over the years, I've read many blogs. On one in particular blog, the author writes a letter to her daughter each month. I love the concept behind it, documenting the changes, milestones, etc and the post being a letter to her child. I want to incorporate the same into our blog. Thus, each month (hopefully on, or close to our children's birthday date) I will write a letter to them. As this blog/site is also a family journal it seems appropriate to me to share it here.

Dear Fred:

Hi! It's your mom. Yes, the one in whose body you grew for 9 months and 3 weeks. That would be me. That would also be the same body you stretched out, and the same armpits and hips you loved to put your feet and hands into for hours on end. Hola! and Hello! Welcome to this fine place called Earth! We're thrilled that you've finally joined us, and that you're here!

You arrived on December 17, 2008 at 12:23pm at Baylor Grapevine hospital in Grapevine, Texas and you were delivered by Doctor Thomas Vaughn. Your arrival was by way of scheduled c-section - not necessarily by choice, but certainly by no arguement on my part. You weighed in at 9 pounds even and were 21 1/4 inches long. You had a full head of hair - and what a big head it was; 14 inches! In fact, it was noticeable enough that the doctors commented about your head size when they went in to get you out. 

Your dad, that would be the tall hairy guy you see all the time, was with me in the delivery room and was the very first person to really hold you. He's loved you since the first time he saw you on an ultrasound in my belly, but between you and me, I know he fell in love with you as soon as he laid eyes on you. He was (and still is) pretty excited that you're part of our world. Your Oma (that would be my mom) was waiting to hear about your arrival in the hospital waiting room. She was SO eager to see your gorgeous face - and take oodles of pictures (that's what she does!)

Each time I met with the sonographer to see you while you were still growing, I would leave with a different idea of what you would look like when it was time for you to join us. The first time I laid eyes on you, I was instantly in love with you - more than I ever thought possible. Dr. Vaughn lifted you up over the curtain so I could peek at you before they cleaned you off - and my heart soured. You had the two characteristics I thought you would surely have - lots of hair and pinch-ey cheeks.

We stayed in the hospital for a few days, and once we had the okie doke from all of the doctors (Dr. Vaughn for me and Dr. Creary for you) we went home on Saturday, December 27th. I was so ready to get you home - and your Dad was too! In fact, he was at the hospital close to 5am - which was before visiting hours even started. We had you dressed into your going home outfit and ready to go long before we had the official release from the doctors.

I'll never forget getting you loaded into your car seat, and then loaded into the car. It was so surreal - terrifying and exciting at the same time! 

Oma was waiting at our house for us, and took photos of us getting you out of the car and into the house. It was so nice to have you home. We loved on you as much as we could and then let you sleep. We were very blessed to have Oma stay with us for the first bit as we got acclimated to having you with us. Your Dad and I had so many questions, and worries. We worried about whether you were eating enough, pooping enough, sleeping enough, breathing right, how to care for your umbilical cord, bathing you and your circumscision. Oh boy, we were worried parents (don't worry - all new parents are). Oma settled our fears and let us know that we were doing everything right, and that all was good.

Soon it was time for her to return back to her home, and we dropped her off at the airport. I'll admit that I cried when I left her in the terminal. It's a big scary thing - being 100% responsible for someone so perfect and tiny. But, she assured me that I would be able to do it and that she was just a phone call (or a short flight) away. 

Off to being 100% parents for your Dad and I!

You have changed our lives in so many ways - and in many completely unexpected ways. I didn't realize how much love my heart could hold - and how much my life would change once you came into our home. Loving you at the hospital was one thing, but loving you at home was something completely different. 

Your sleeping schedule was, and still is, much like how you were in my tummy. You sleep all day long and party all night. I can distinctly recall having conversations with friends about you being wide awake in my tummy at 2 and 3am. They would tease me that you were preparing me for your arrival. Boy were they right! You are a night owl! Your sleeping patterns have changed and varied from the very start. However, at the moment, we're working on creating a sleeping pattern for you, and creating a bed time ritual. We'll see how well it works out...

During the day, I try to keep you awake for 3-4 hour stretches (or longer if possible) and then let you nap for an hour or two. Then, at 9pm calm everything down at home. We go upstairs and chill out for a bit reading stories and hanging out in your room. Some days I give you a warm bath, but mostly we just chill out. Then I get you into your jammies (if you're not already in them) and swaddle you tightly (really, you love it). I then turn out the lights, and we sit in the rocker for a bit while we talk about our day, say your prayers, and then I sing to you for a bit. In the end, whether you're asleep or not, it's into your crib you go!

You're a champion eater! You started eating 2 ounces every two hours, and now you eat 4-6 ounces every 4-6 hours. WOW! You have not ever thrown up and we're hoping it stays that way!

For being only a month old, you sure have changed our lives drastically - and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Love you,

Mommy

P.S. I've been trying to write this letter since the 17th of January. And, here it is... the 27th of January and I've finally finished it. Goodness gracious!