Dear Hank:
Today I am closing my eyes and remembering that morning 6 months ago when you were born. I am back in the operating room full of doctors and nurses, and I can picture all of it like little vignettes. Like seeing your dad's face, with tears in his eyes, after he saw you for the first time. And the look we gave each other when words would have never been adequate. I remember holding you for the very first time and being so amazed by you.
I loved you before I knew you. Before I knew how your smile would light up your whole face. Before I knew that your curious fingers and sweet little toes would make even the hardest, most trying days all worth it. Now I see your personality, your way of being, and I see flashes of who you might become. I am already so proud of who you are.
This month, we focused a lot on sleep. That is — getting you to sleep. Our old method of following your cues and doing whatever it took to get you to sleep was just not working anymore. You were so tired. And you so needed to sleep. And while our arms and rocking and singing once lulled you to sleep, it just wasn't working anymore. We moved you into your own room. I thought it would be a gradual process, but it happened all at once. You were much happier when you weren't being roused from sleep by sounds from me and daddy, or your snoring four-legged sister. We also started putting you to bed a lot earlier. Instead of 9 PM, you now go to sleep at 6:30 PM. You take 2 or 3 naps a day varying in length from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Overall you sleep for about 16 hours a day total, and you are so much happier.
Can I tell you a secret? I miss sleeping with you, and I miss having you next to my bed at night. The sound of your breathing, your cute little sighs, and the clicking sound as you suck on your pacifier — it was comforting to hear your little noises and know that you were ok. But I know that you are sleeping better, and that your brain is well rested. And I have a new favorite part of my day. In the middle of the night, after I've fed you and I'm walking you back to your crib, your wrap your arms around my neck and fall back to sleep. And I savor those moments. There is nothing better.
This is what a typical day looks like for us now:
- 7:30 AM — wakeup, play, nurse, more play, read books
- 9:00 AM — first nap
- 10:30 AM — wakeup, play, nurse, more play, read books
- 12:30 PM — second nap
- 2:30 PM — wakeup, play, nurse, run errands, help mommy make dinner, play with daddy
- 5:30 PM — bathtime with daddy, PJs, nurse
- 6:30 PM — goodnight kiss, bedtime
- 10 PM — nurse
- 2 AM — nurse
- 5 AM — nurse
If your naps are short, you get a third nap in the afternoon. When you play, sometimes you play with mommy on the floor. Sometimes you play by yourself in your Jumperoo or your Twirl n' Whirl. Other times you play with a small toy while I do some chores.
You are just now trying solid foods for the first time. We are doing the baby-led approach. So far you have tried bananas, and you mostly chew them and spit them back out. But I think in a few weeks you will get the hang of swallowing.
You still love to stand, and bounce, and you are still chatty as ever. Sometimes you even try to talk while you are nursing, which is really funny. You also love to kick your legs and will often pick both legs up and slam them down. Our little professional wrestler. You've also started to sit up on your own. You can go for about 10-20 seconds without falling over or needing some assistance. You still hate tummy time, and immediately flip over when I put you on your tummy. You may never crawl, but that's okay. :)
I think you may have learned some crazy facial expressions from mommy. You are so expressive with your face. This month you learned how to pout, and you even do it at appropriate times. Like when I hide your toy behind my back. You are very observant of people and you love to look out the window and take it all in.
You are such a happy guy. You have a smile for just about everybody who greets you. Once, we met a beautiful young lady who can read auras, and she said you are surrounded with love. I knew she was right. You are so loved by so many people, but you also radiate love outward. The way you look at me and see me, the way your little hands rub my arm or face, every day you make me feel so loved.
You are my sunshine, Mama