Dear Hank — two months

Dear Hank:

You're lying here beside me as I write this, sleeping peacefully and looking so adorable. I fall more in love with you everyday. I think I must have kissed you at least a million times in these first two months. Sometimes I just can't help myself. I know that someday you might not like my kisses quite as much. :)

Your personality and your little face has blossomed over the past few weeks. You've started smiling in reaction to us, which is just... wow, it's the best thing ever. It wouldn't matter if I had nothing in the world, seeing your smile fills my heart with the most indescribable joy. I hope I never have to go too long without seeing that smile.

You are still a laid-back guy most of the time. Occasionally you can have a bit of a temper. But it's hard being a baby, and I don't blame you for getting mad once in a while. You love when I use a toy to touch your lips and say your name. It almost always brings a smile to your face. You also smile a lot when you're on your changing table. I think you like seeing our faces so close to yours.

You're sleeping better, which is just heavenly. You aren't sleeping through the night yet, but that may start happening soon. This week you're going through a growth spurt and are up every 2 hours or so. Even though I'm tired, I like knowing that you're growing into a big boy. You finally started to fit your 0-3 month clothing a couple of weeks ago.

Reflux was making you miserable for a while, but we finally found a medicine that makes you feel better. You're back to being our happy little guy and not screaming in pain at night. I hated hearing you in pain and would have done anything to help you feel better. Dr. Collison is your doctor and he helped us figure out what was bothering you. We also discovered you are sensitive to dairy and corn, which means I have to give those things up for a while. You are the only person in the world I would happily give up cheese for!

We've done some traveling this month: to your Nana and Papa's house for a "Meet Baby Hank" party with your Mama's family, and you danced at your first wedding in Maryland when your Aunt Christie and Uncle Jamie got married. You generally like car rides and will either sleep or look contentedly out the window. This coming weekend we'll be traveling to Edinboro, PA so your Daddy's family can all celebrate your arrival as well!

I think the happiest part of your day is bath time, which is Daddy's specialty. He fills the tub up with warm water all the way to the top every night. You make the cutest surprised face when he puts you in. You stay in there for 20-30 minutes and just kick your legs around the whole time with a happy face on. We think you will be a good swimmer next year.

Now that fall is here, I find myself so excited to start sharing the seasons and holiday traditions with you. You make everything feel more special and exciting because we get to share it with you.

*forehead kiss*

I love you, my little one, Mama

Dear Hank - one month

One month ago I gave birth to the most handsome and sweet little boy. We named him Hank. Before he was even born I decided I wanted to steal an idea from Emily over at The Culinary Couple. Emily writes a letter to her son Sam every month on the anniversary of his birth. I'd like to do the same for Hank.

We've setup a gmail account and I'll be sending his letters there. I'd also like to share them here so his family and friends can follow along.

Without further ado, here's my one-month letter to Hank.

. . .

Dear Hank:

I can't believe you are one month old. It feels like you've been here for only the blink of an eye. At the same time it feels like you've been here all along.

You were born on 8-8-12 at 9:02 in the morning via cesarean at Mount Nittany Medical Center. You weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. I was induced the day before at 37 weeks gestation and labored throughout the night. I made it to 10 cm dilation and even got to push for 15 minutes. But your heart rate was dropping during contractions, and the doctor didn't want to take any chances. So she recommended we do a c-section. Your Dad and Aunt Stacey looked kinda scared as they prepped me for surgery, but I wasn't scared. I knew in my heart that you and I would both be okay.

I waited anxiously as they worked to bring you out, and your Daddy stayed at my head. He had tears in his eyes and told me he was so proud of me. I knew that he would be the first of the two of us to see you, so he had my big fancy camera with him. When you were out, I heard you cry, and in that moment I fell in love with you. I didn't even need to see you. Your cry was like nothing I had ever heard before. It was like I already knew you.

Your Dad got to cut the umbilical cord and watch as they cleaned you up. He took some pictures of you and brought the camera back to show me what you looked like. We both cried as I looked at you. You were as cute as a button, even with your cry face on.

Then they let Daddy bring you over to see me before going back to the nursery. I could barely see your face through all the blankets. I longed to hold you, but knew I'd have to wait an hour or so before that would happen. We both had to get cleaned up a bit before we would be reunited. But your Daddy stayed with you the whole time.

Feeding you has been an adventure. You were such a little guy that you had a hard time breastfeeding at first. You were great at latching on, but just couldn't get enough food because you weren't quite strong enough. We even ended up back in the hospital so you could get an IV to help make you strong again. It took 3 tries for them to get an IV going on you because you were so tiny, but you were a brave boy throughout all of it.

After we left the hospital (the second time), feeding you was a long process that involved nursing for 30-45 minutes, supplementing through a supplemental tube system or a bottle, and then Mommy pumped milk for you for another 20-30 minutes. We would do all of this every 2-3 hours, and it took about 90 minutes to do all of it. So Mommy and Daddy were pretty exhausted, but we knew it wasn't going to last forever… just until you were strong enough to nurse all on your own.

Your Daddy and I both love you so much. We spend a lot of time just looking at you. We laugh at the faces you make and the things you do. You make what I call your "lawyer face" a lot… your lips purse tightly and your eyebrows raise and it looks like you are silently judging everyone. You also make smiley faces a lot. Whether it's gas or a real smile, we're not sure — but it's cute either way. You have the longest fingers and toes. You often stick your legs out straight while you're eating and curl your toes under. I find it so adorable. You grab onto us when you're being fed or cuddled, and you even pull your Daddy's chest hair when you're upset. It makes him scream but then he laughs at you. You already entertain us, and you're not even talking or moving yet.

Your sister Sophie loves you very much, too. She watches over you and protects you. She always checks the bassinet to see if you are in it, and sniffs you while you are sleeping. She gets anxious when you cry, though she is getting used to the sound of it. If we let her, she'd lick your face and hands all the time, but we only let her get in a few licks now and then. You don't seem to mind. She's just biding her time until you start eating solid foods and can sneak her treats under the table like Nana and Opa do.

We named you Hank because it was a name that your Daddy and I both loved, even before we were married. We love that your name is a name you can grow into someday.You do have quite a few nicknames already including:

• Mr. Hank (pronounced "Midder Hank")
• Puju
• Bugaboo/Rugaboo
• the bean
• little nugget
• burrito boy (when you're in your swaddle)
• Mister Hankles

You look just like your Daddy and Opa Sollman. One of our friends even said, "It looks like somebody left Rick in the dryer too long!" and that about sums it up. In fact, we had other plans for your middle name, but you looked so much like Daddy and Opa that we decided to name you Richard after them.

You also act just like your Daddy. You are really laid back and happy most of the time. When you get upset, it's usually for a good reason. It takes you a good while to wake up from a nap (just like Daddy in the morning). You also make man-sized farts and burps that truly rival your Daddy's. It makes him proud, and I just shake my head.

Our first month together hasn't always been easy, but we wouldn't change it for anything. The rough spots have helped our little family bond. We're in this together. And the sweet spots... well, life just doesn't get any sweeter than it is right now. Even when we're sleep-deprived and exhausted and smelly from not having time to shower and our house is a wreck — we are so happy. We can't believe how lucky we are to be your parents.

Love you so much, Mommy

hospital photos taken by your Daddy Sophie photo taken by your Aunt Christie one month photo taken by Mommy