Dear Graham, Week 21

Dear Graham,

The big news of the last week is that you have finally rolled over! Once. On mommy and daddy’s soft bed. But still, it was a roll. And you did it! We’ll see if you attempt a repeat performance any time soon or if you’re content with having checked that off the list for now.

Also during the past week, you have developed a new sound. Normally I’m excited about your new noises and coos, but with this new shrill you’re trying to see if you can actually break glass just by using your vocal chords. Let me tell you, buddy, you can’t. So, if you’d kindly stop trying, your mommy and daddy’s ears would greatly appreciate it. Because we’d actually like to have use of our ears so we can hear you for the rest of your life. And our lives too for that matter.

We had to make a transition last week from bathing you in your infant tub in the sink to bathing you in your infant tub in the bathtub. You continue to love your baths but you love to kick so much that you were turning our kitchen into a splash zone. So now you can kick until your heart’s content and the water stays in the bathtub.

Our refrigerator door's art collection is growing, thanks to your projects from school. Several of them feature your pictures as you are making the art and if your facial expressions are any indication of how much you're enjoying the projects, you're not going to be the next Picasso. But we love each of the pieces and admire them daily.

At the risk of upsetting the sleeping gods, I’m going to tell you a bit about your sleeping patterns (while crossing my fingers that I’m not jinxing anything). You continue to go to bed so early, often by 6:30 and mommy’s stretching you for you to stay up that late. This is due, in part, to the fact that you don’t like taking naps for fear that you might miss something that’s going on during the day. You sleep from 6:30 to midnight or 1:00, when you wake up to eat. Then you go back to sleep. Lately you’ve been waking up in the 5:00 hour, which mommy and daddy are trying desperately to get you to change. You always wake up such as happy baby, smiling from ear to ear when we come in to get you.

Speaking of those smiles, your belly laughs are more and more frequent these days and there isn’t a better feeling than making you laugh. We can get you to laugh now with just noises or silly looks and it’s so much fun.

I told your daddy this week that I find myself smiling all of the time in your presence…you bring such joy to our lives.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Graham, Week 20

Dear Graham,

I can’t believe we’re already 20 weeks old. Who knew that 140 days could pass by so quickly…

The big news for this week is that you’re growing hair! Your cute bald spots are rapidly disappearing as new light brown hair is beginning to cover your sweet head. Your eyes have remained a grey color, although some days it seems like we can see a bit of brown in them. Your eyelashes and eyebrows have grown in and have darkened…your features are definitely beginning to take shape!

You continue to be so vocal these days. You and your daddy have developed a new game where your daddy will make a sound rolling his g’s and you imitate the sound back to him. It’s so precious and something I never tire of watching.

You are also so alert in taking in your surroundings. We went to a Christmas party at our neighbor’s house last weekend. The plan was for you to be asleep in your stroller when we went, but you, of course, never do anything by plan. Instead you were awake and alert throughout the first half of the party, looking around at all the people and the noise. You charm everyone you meet by flashing a sweet smile and showing off your dimples.

Speaking of those dimples, you’ve learned to use them to captivate your teachers at school too. Every morning when we drop you off you smile at Miss Leslie. Throughout the day your teachers tell us that you’re happy and content. When your daddy picked you up from school on Friday, you were laying on the ground with all of the other babies around you in a circle. I’m a little worried that you might be already be a flirt and what this might mean for us as you grow up.

Rice cereal is going over much better these days and you’re up to one tablespoon twice a day. You still get it all over your face and, because your hands are constantly in your mouth, your hands end up covered in cereal as well.

Because you’ve been changing so rapidly each day, lately I’ve been especially cognizant of the fact that I only get this one opportunity to spend each day with you. You’ll never be 20 weeks and 1 day again or 20 weeks and 2 days again, which means I’ll never get a second chance to spend that time with you. With this in mind, I’ve been trying very hard to live in each moment. To take in your smells, your smiles, your touch. To just hold you and squeeze you tight. It’s such an important life lesson that you’ve taught me without even realizing it.

Love,

Mommy

PS…still no progress in the rolling over front. In fact, I think you’re content to just be on your back forever.

Dear Graham, Weeks 17, 18 and 19

Dear Graham,
Again, we have combined letters this week as we were out of town celebrating your first Thanksgiving during the first week and during the second week your mommy was just plain exhausted. Apparently you can easily survive on fragmented sleep, but for the rest of us, it's taking its toll. However, you're changing so rapidly these days that three weeks is really too long period of time in documenting your new milestones that are occurring daily. Your daddy and I often say to each other "Who is this big baby?" as every time we turn around you're growing and doing something new that charms the both of us.

So, with that, I apologize in advance for the extreme length of this letter....

Week 17
This year for Thanksgiving we went to Panama City, the family reunion in Alabama and Tallahassee in what daddy called the "Turkey Tour 2010." I have to admit I was a bit concerned that your mom and dad were crazy for planning such a full trip with a 17 week old, but you were such a travel pro. You entertained everyone you met with your big smiles, coos and expressions. At daddy's family reunion you met 70-plus distant relatives, and they couldn't get enough of you.
On your first Thanksgiving, you loved watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, slept through dinner and enjoyed morning walks with mommy and daddy.





The last leg of our Turkey Tour 2010 was a stop in Tallahassee for the Florida State/Florida game. While you don't understand this yet, it's the biggest game of the year and one that your mommy and daddy were so excited about attending. We began your Florida State brainwashing early in life as we took you tailgating with us in the morning before the game and you loved being outside. It was a chilly morning and you were bundled up in your Seminole gear. I wore you in the Baby Bjorn for quite a while and I think you were mesmerized by the all of the colors and images. (That or you were trying to figure out the rules to the flip cup and beer pong games that were being played around you.)





Mommy's friend Amy and her family watched you during the game, and they came and picked you up from tailgating. This was your first babysitting experience outside of school and you were such a good baby for them. Or at least that's what they told us. :)

You again were amazing on the flight home from Florida on Sunday, which is a behavior I hope continues on future flights.

You still haven't rolled over yet, but we keep thinking you will every day. You'll get up on your side, flip your legs over your body, and just lay there on one side. You don't know quite what to do with that arm that's underneath you, so eventually you just plop back over. If I were a betting mom, I would have lost some dollars as every day I've thought today was going to be "The Day" where you were going to actually do it and roll over. The funny thing is as excited as I am for you to roll over, I know it is the first in a long string of mobility milestones and the end of you staying where we put you.

Week 18


We marked week 18 with your 4 month doctor's appointment. It seemed like just yesterday we were there for your 2 month appointment, and it made me again realize how far you've come. At the two month appointment you were fussy and we did a lot of bouncing you as we waited for the pediatrician to make her visit. This time while we waited, you simply looked around, taking in your surroundings and learning from it all.



You continue to be our long, skinny boy, although you wouldn't know it with the cute rolls on your thighs. You weighed in at 14 lbs, 3 oz (34 percentile) and 25 1/2 inches long (71 percentile). The doctor was pleased with your growth and the fact that you're reaching your developmental milestones. He wasn't nearly as concerned as mommy is that you're not rolling over yet. You again did amazingly well with your shots. You didn't even cry after the first one, you just looked around with an expression that said, "What in the world was that???" You did cry after the second one, but you calmed so quickly afterward.

During our appointment I may or may not have told the doctor that your sleep patterns were "a hot mess," a phrase in which your dad may or may not have teased me about. There's no better way to really describe it though; we'll have one great night followed by three not so great nights. The one good thing that we've done is gotten your feedings down to one a night, but that doesn't mean your wakings are also once a night.

While at our appointment the doctor gave us the green light to begin putting you on rice cereal. We made a first attempt over the weekend, and you were not. a. fan. At all. We've continued to try each night, and you still aren't really liking it.



Also during the week we bought your first Christmas tree. Let me tell you a little bit about our annual Christmas tree buying experience: your dad is the world's most picky tree buyer...ever. We went to three stores this year, which, believe it or not, is less than our typical average, but we spent more than an hour at our final location selecting the perfect tree. Did you know that after an hour of looking at Christmas trees they all begin to look exactly the same? That's the case for everyone but your daddy, who can somehow still distinguish between a little gap here or a not so perfect angle there. You were a trooper during this process and even slept through part of it. After looking at 1,241 trees, we selected the "perfect" one and brought it home. You love looking at the tree's lights and we love beginning the traditions for what will be the first of many Christmases with you.



Even though selecting and decorating your first Christmas tree was a highlight, there was a bigger memory for us that day: your first belly laugh. While you've been squealing and letting out an occasional giggle for awhile, this is the first time that you truly let out a long belly laugh, which we couldn't get enough of. We've spent much of our free time since trying to replicate that sweet sound, and you reward us about every other day with a hearty laugh.

Week 19
You can't keep your fingers out of your mouth. This, combined with the inordinate amount of drool that's commonplace on your chin, has led me to wonder if you're teething early, but nothing can be felt on your gums yet. Because of this, we got out a present that my friend Melody sent to you when I was pregnant: Sophie the giraffe teether. You love Sophie and the fact that she squeaks when you squeeze her...you're always figuring out a new way to chew on her limbs.

You have also been learning how to hold your bottle at school, and you are doing a great job holding the little bottle, while the larger size is a bit of a challenge. You are grasping everything these days, from your toys to mommy's hair. You continue to be interested in new toys, including the exersaucer at school, and you love being read to...mommy normally reads you three or four books every night after school.



Even though you don't understand Christmas yet, this holiday season has taken on such a new meaning with you in our lives. Your daddy and I are constantly awed by the blessings you bestow upon us each day, even if it is with little sleep. Your smiles...your sweet noises...the curious way in which you explore everything around you, has led us to also look at life in a whole new way. We, quite simply, are smitten with you.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, Weeks 15 and 16

Dear Graham,
There's so much to say about the last two weeks! The reason for the combined letters is that we were out of town last weekend. However, over the last two weeks you experienced many firsts, including:

• Your first trip to both South Carolina and North Carolina (you've now been to 4 out of 50 states by week 15)
• Your first time meeting your great-grandma and great-aunt in South Carolina
• Your first wedding
• Your first stay in a hotel
• Your first ear infection and upper respiratory infection (and therefore your first antibiotic)
• Your first time using the Bumbo chair
• Your first time being featured on a blog other than mommy's: http://sarahromingerphotography.com/asheville-photo-booth-the-official-launch-of-the-cliqueit-booth/

Mommy's best friend Krista got married in Asheville, NC over the long Veteran's Day weekend. In the week leading up to leaving for the wedding, you had a dry cough. Somehow the night we landed, it had transformed to an evil, wet sounding cough that woke you up at least five times a night every night we were gone. Fortunately you were such a trooper and you didn't let your cough stop you from being a happy baby during the day. You enjoyed your first wedding...especially being danced around with your grandpa and uncle. You also again were wonderful on both flights, despite not feeling well.





Daddy was on vacation this week and he stayed home with you while you were sick. It was a good experience for the both of you, although you sure know how to wear daddy out. It was fun for mommy to leave my boys home together and come back to you both here.



You've discovered a few new tricks over the last several weeks. The first is blowing bubbles...you love to blow spit bubbles, which means there is always drool on your cute chin. You have also learned that you have legs and feet, so while sitting in your bouncy chair you stick your legs straight up into the air and hold them there in front of your eyes as if they were a field goal. It can't be comfortable, but you don't seem to notice. You have also been grasping your hands together, almost like you're praying. Most times you're trying to get both of those grasped hands into your mouth.

While we've enjoyed the beautiful color blue that your eyes have been since birth, these last few days they really appear to be changing to brown right before our eyes. I think this will cause you to look even more like your handsome daddy...which is just fine by me.

It's become especially evident lately that you recognize mommy and daddy and want to be in our company. We are having so much fun with you and love watching each of your cute developments.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, Week 14

Dear Graham,
Well, everyone said week two of daycare would be easier than week one, and they were right. Although, I don't know that I'd consider it "easy" yet, we both definitely got a bit more used to the routine. Daddy has been taking you to school on the mornings that he's home, and it's so much easier on mommy those days. I love leaving you here with him and coming back home to find my two boys together.



While we made progress on our morning routine, our evenings are still so busy. You're often exhausted when you get home from school, so I try to spend as much time as you'll let me together before putting you to bed. Normally this involves spending some time outside together, as you continue to love to be outdoors. (Even one of your teachers commented this week that you like going outside!)



Well, on Monday after work you and I went out to our back porch and spent time together. As I decided to come back inside to give you a bath, I learned that I had locked us out of our house. Without my cell phone. Without a pacifier. Without any possible thing that could help us. And to top it all off I was wearing PJ shorts, flip flops and my the cami I wore under my suit to work. Classy.

So, we walked as quickly as possible around the block to our neighbor James, who works with mommy. He helped us to call a locksmith, who then proceeded to charge us an arm and a leg get us into the house. You were not at all amused by this whole ordeal and were exhausted by the time this was done. At least you can now add getting locked out of the house to your list of "firsts."



My favorite time with you is our mornings together, as you're always so happy. I hate that we are often rushing to get out the door, but I always try to carve some time just for us to interact and for you to brighten my day with your smiles. Those smiles are what gets me through to the end of the day when I can see you again.



Throughout the first 14 weeks of your life, and especially in the early days when you were often so fussy, mommy would sing to you to calm you down. (In hindsight, you were probably crying to get me to stop singing!) In addition to normal lullabies, I'd sing you songs that were stuck in my head. One of those is the Sugarland song, "Stuck like glue." Now, I every time hear that song on the radio, it makes me smile though tears thinking of you, my sweet baby.

You and me, baby, we're stuck like glue.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, 13 Weeks

Dear Graham,
We survived the week! While I'm sure there was never a doubt in your mind, your mommy wasn't quite as certain. Day one of day care was rough on mommy, but you seemed to be just fine. Your naps were short and sporadic, which is no real surprise given they are short and sporadic at home. You were worn out the first few days...mommy was so sad that we didn't get to spend more time together because you were asleep by 6:30. (Although you tried to make up for it by waking multiple times during the night!) By the end of the week, you were taking longer naps and you were awake more in the evenings. Let me tell you: I've never been more excited for a Friday knowing that we could spend all weekend together.

This week at school you also made your first artwork, which mommy and daddy have proudly displayed on the refrigerator. It makes me smile every time I pass by and I think we'll soon have to buy more magnets to display everything you will be making at school.







Friday evening we went to your first fall festival at school. You were dressed up as the cutest puppy dog that the earth has ever seen, and you received many compliments throughout the night. You weren't quite sure what to make out of all of the lights, sounds, costumes and people: you just looked around all night long studying your surroundings. Your teachers told us what a good baby you are at school and that you're one of the most content newborns they've had. We, of course, beamed with pride.




Although you're a bit young to be concerned with bald spots, let me tell you: yours is growing on a daily basis. The area on the back of your head where you sleep has little hair left. We were doing the comb-over trick for awhile, but I'm afraid it can't be hidden now. Your daddy and I are curious as to what color your hair will grow back as. Your eyes continue to be blue, although they are darkening a bit. We think they might turn brown, but we are enjoying the beautiful sea color they are right now.

Toward the end of the week, we decided to finally give up on swaddling, as you found a way to break out of every type of swaddling we had. We bought your first sleep sack and went cold turkey one night. As you fell sleep that night, you had your arms stretched out like a "T". I think you were surprised to learn your arms could actually go that way. We had a bit of a rough night that first night, but each night you're getting more used to the fact that you have arms that can actually move.



Love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, End of Maternity Leave Edition

Dear Graham,
After the fastest 12 weeks of my life and the first 12 weeks of yours, I go back to work tomorrow. I felt inclined to write you a letter about this event not to chronicle your milestones or growth like your normal letters, but to tell you how I feel and explain my reasons about returning to work. Perhaps this is more of a letter for mommy than it is for you.

When I was young, I was taught that the only thing that would ever hold me back in life was me. This mantra has shaped nearly every life experience for me and it's one that we will try our hardest to instill in you. I hope you grab onto this lesson and ride it for all it's worth. As cliche as it may sound, you have the ability to achieve whatever it is you set your mind to achieving. And I can't wait to be there cheering you on the entire way.

Because of this mindset, I always knew that I wanted to be both a working professional and a mom. I didn't see why I would have to be defined by just one title or why I would need to chose one over the other. I knew I could do both.

Then, you came along. And I loved spending time with you. Watching you grow. Reading to you. Taking walks. Fostering your development. Much to my surprise, I started to dread the date on the calendar when I wouldn't have the opportunity to be with you all of the time. Yet, at the same time, I was looking forward to returning to the workplace and using a part of my personality that isn't stimulated at home. I felt so torn.

I was prepared for feeling upset about this transition. I wasn't prepared for the crippling guilt that comes with making this decision. Instead of feeling like the world was my oyster, I began feeling like I was choosing one lifestyle over another.

And, that's why I wanted to write you this letter. I'm not choosing anything over you, nor will I ever. Instead, your daddy and I are working to provide you with opportunities. Opportunities that one day I pray you will recognize, be thankful for, and run with. And, ultimately, it's my hope that you'll see in your mommy and daddy two people who are trying their hardest to provide for you, both at home and at work.

With so much love it hurts,
Mommy

Swaddling

On the same night that I published the post about how well the Miracle Blanket was working the unthinkable happened: when I got up with Graham at 2:00 a.m. he magically got his arm out of the swaddle.

You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

And you just thought I was being neurotically superstitious.

This will be the last time I mention swaddling on this blog.

The End.

Dear Graham, Week 12

Dear Graham,
What a fun week we've had! Over these past several weeks you have truly started to shine, which has been so enjoyable for your mommy and daddy. You are happy, interactive, and confident. This is a huge contrast to the first eight weeks of your life, where you weren't certain of yourself or your surroundings. This transition has made it so much easier on your mommy and daddy. I am so thankful for the many blessings that shine through each of your milestones.

In fact, in a conversation earlier this week I asked your daddy why, in all of the books we read, they didn't tell you that the first eight weeks were so hard. He said it was because no one would have children...I disagreed and said I would have liked to have been better prepared. Instead of being blindsided, I would have rather read a book titled, "Get Ready for the Toughest Eight Weeks. Ever." or "You Just Thought Labor and Delivery Were Hard." or "Everything You Thought You Knew You'll Now Doubt." Something so painstakingly obvious that it would have struck me right between the eyeballs and made me say, "Oh, now I get how it's going to be."

I guess there is no substitute for experience, and while it was challenging, these past 12 weeks have been the proudest time of my life.









Now, back to this week. In my last several letters to you I have avoided mentioning swaddling. Apparently parenthood makes you incredibly superstitious, as I've become convinced that just by mentioning progress, you would somehow know and decide to take two steps back. (In fact, when you were just a few weeks old your daddy and I banned saying "good night" to each other as we thought you would hear us and wake more frequently. This just about sums up how delusional and sleep deprived we were.)

For several weeks, on the advice of my good friend Melody, we were double swaddling you in two blankets and it worked like a charm. You actually didn't fight being swaddled and you didn't break free. You also looked adorable, earning many nicknames like pea in a pod, pig in a blanket and, my favorite, the glow worm. Well, as you've gotten a bit bigger and stronger, you eventually found a way to break free. So, we got the straight jacket Miracle Blanket back out and you've been using it each night. You don't fight it anymore and you don't break free...such progress.

You've been becoming more coordinated with your hands recently. Instead of them flailing mindlessly all day long, you're beginning to control them more. Your hands are finding their way to your mouth and you suck on your entire fist. You are also learning to grasp your "best friend" the rattle, but then you don't know what to do with it when it's in your hand.



As you've made progress recognizing voices, you are also now noticing music more and more. We are playing CDs for you before each nap and before bed, and it acts as a sign for rest. Your daddy also spent time with you playing guitar, and you were so vocal in response to his music.



You've changed so much in these last few weeks...it makes me excited to see what you're going to do in the next several weeks.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, Weeks 10 and 11

Dear Graham,
This week's letter features two weeks as we were in Florida last week and didn't have the ability to upload all of our photos and we didn't have your bear to take your picture with. Let me just tell you that our last two weeks have been filled with adventures and many firsts for you.



As I mentioned in your last letter, (somewhat) cooler weather has embarked on Houston and we spent much of the time outside. We went and picked out our pumpkins and mums for our porch and you loved being outside. On Sunday of that weekend we met friends for brunch outdoors and then went to Discovery Green, a park downtown. You were being such a good baby that we decided to go to the Astros' game with them. Despite the open roof and the noises of the stadium, you were able to sleep on me while in your Baby Bjorn, which you love. All was going well until you woke up and decided you needed to eat 30 seconds ago, and you wanted to make sure that the entire section we were sitting in was aware of that fact.



On Monday you took your first (of what will be many) plane rides to Florida with mommy. Daddy helped get us to our gate and down the jetway, but he had to work a trip so you and I flew with you alone. You did such a great job...you took your bottle on takeoff and throughout the flight mommy bounced you on my knees as you like to constantly be in motion. (Apparently going 500+ miles per hour in a 757 wasn't enough for you.) Prior to the flight, I know everyone around us was cursing the fact that they had to sit in our section, but you didn't make a peep. I was so proud of you.



While in Florida you met so many people who love you so much. You met your grandpa, uncles, your great-grandma, great aunts and uncles, second cousins (we think), and friends. Everyone marveled over you and you didn't spend much time there not being held by someone. While in Florida you became more attuned to people's voices and intently follow whomever is speaking with your head and eyes. You also enjoyed nightly walks around the block in your stroller with your grandpa, who enjoyed them just as much as you did. While there you also learned to fall asleep on your own at night after being laid down drowsy but awake without us having to go into your room multiple times to give you a pacifier or calm you down. With all of our sleeping challenges, this was a task that I thought the books just talked about but that you might never accomplish.







Your smiles continue to delight all of those around you. As you get more rest both at night and with your naps, you smile more and more each day. I told your daddy recently that you've become so much fun and I love being around you so much more lately as your personality is shining through and you're actually responsive and interacting with us.



During these past two weeks your mommy has reached some important developmental milestones of her own. When given the choice between napping or running, I actually, gasp, selected running. This is huge progress on my part as several weeks ago I couldn't have imagined turning down sleep for a million dollars, much less to exert physical energy outside. I also spent my first day apart from you when I went to visit with friends in Florida. During my entire drive there, I literally felt like I had left a vital piece of me at home, almost as if I was missing a limb. Considering the longest we'd previously been apart was for two hours, this was a challenge for mommy, but your daddy and the family helped me through the day by sending many adorable pictures of you to my cell phone.

You were just as good on the plane ride home from Florida and your daddy met us in the airport to help us get home. While we had a wonderful time in Florida, it felt so good to be reunited as a family of three. We've spent all of our time at home just being together.

I can't put into words how much joy you bestow on all of those around you. I never knew that I could love this fiercely, this deeply, this protectively.



With all of that love,
Mommy

Dear Graham, Week 9

Dear Graham,
Today we had your two month check-up appointment, the day after you turned two months old. The visit confirmed what we already knew...you are a growing little boy who is meeting all of his developmental milestones. You weighed in at 11 lbs 3 oz (33 percentile) and you are 23.5 inches (72 percentile) as you continue to be long and skinny. But daddy says not to worry, that many quarterbacks are tall and thin. :)

Unfortunately you also received your shots today, but you did such a great job. After being upset initially, you calmed to nurse and then fell asleep on the way home. You woke up when we got home and even had smiles for mommy and daddy.

We spent a lot of time talking with the doctor about your upset tummy and the fact that it wakes you up so often at night. (Last night alone we were up 4 times...once for an hour and a half!) We're increasing your medicine dose and are going to space out the times we give it to you. Hopefully that will help in providing some extended relief.



During the last weekend your grandma flew in from Florida to help mommy and daddy with you for a few days. She loved playing with you and she even sacrificed her sleep to wake up with you during the two nights she was here, letting mommy have her first good nights of sleep in eight weeks. I am forever indebted to her!



This week brought the first taste of fall weather to Houston and we enjoyed it with you to the max. We went on an hour and a half long walk with daddy on Monday and on Wednesday we took our first StrollerFit class together. You also enjoyed being outside with daddy in the mornings while mommy slept in a bit to recover from our nights together.



You have become more alert in noticing your surroundings, paying close attention to things like the mobile on your swing and the hanging toys on your car seat, which before went somewhat unnoticed. You also like to stare at the ceiling fan and lights. You are very close to giggling...you'll take too many breaths and get so excited when something delights you. And we, in turn, are delighted by you.


Love,
Mommy