Dear Rose - Two Months Old

Dear Rose,

This is Mama. Tomorrow you are 2 whole months old! This month has been filled with amazing events. You hold your head up. You smile lots now, big beautiful smiles that light up your entire face. Mama and Dad can coax smiles out of you, too by blowing raspberries and wagging our tongue at you. You have giggled for us. One Sunday afternoon, Dad came running out of your nursery with you and he announced, "She laughed! I was swinging her and she laughed!" He was so delighted. Whenever you do something new for us, like how you swatted at your toy octopus from the activity gym, the one that has a rattle attached to one tentacle and a little plastic square on another, Dad and I get very excited and we cheer! Hurray! Go Peanut! Go Rose! Get that octopus!

You now weigh 10 lbs., 5 oz. and are 21.75 inches long! You are moving out of your newborn clothes and into the 0-3 month size. Mama thinks that you will be moving out of this size quickly too!

Your timing/routine has gotten "better" this month. We are no longer up all night long with you - only one or two times. You are definitely sleeping in longer stretches. Dad and I were "laughing" about how now 4 or 5 hour stretches of sleep are now luxurious! Haha! It's amazing how much our lives have changed in the last two months. We talk about poop, we worry about how much you are drooling, we get all giggly and overwhelmed with joy when you coo and smile. We are still deliriously happy and so very much in love with you. Or perhaps, we are more accustomed to this new life as your parents. One thing is true, I never appreciated my own Mama like I do now.

You went to your first storytime and the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul and I was so surprised by how engaged you were at 6 weeks old. We sang songs, read a few quick books, and just enjoyed the show. You flapped your arms and wiggled and were very enthralled. I hope that you will enjoy reading your entire life. It can be a wonderful escape and a doorway to a new world.



You had lots of new visitors again this month. So many people love and adore you. Uncle Luther came from Washington DC to see you. He was smitten the moment he got into the car and heard you. We spent a weekend with him - he held you and talked with you. That was the weekend we went to storytime. On Sunday, we went to Uncle Joe's and Aunt Katie's for brunch. Aunt Katie's parents were in town and they were dying to meet you! Cathy and Gary held you and cooed over you. Gary even danced with you. Other visitors were friends Jim and Liz and Paul. The neighbors have enjoyed meeting you, too. We've been taking weekly trips to Dad's office. His partner Jeff and his wife Cindy also love to see you. One morning, Cindy held you for a long time while she did some work at the front desk. She proudly introduced you to everyone who came in the door! I want you to know how happy it makes people to hold you and talk with you. You are truly loved.

We've been attending a weekly ECFE class, you and I. There are other moms and babies there and we sit and talk and listen to each other's questions and stories. Mama is fascinated by how other Moms parent their babies and is sometimes horrified/amused/curious about what they do. (Dad is also taking you to a Dad and Me class too - he's learning lots of songs to sing to you! And exercises to do with you.) The best lesson that Mama has learned from this group is to listen to her heart/gut/instincts and do what is right for you and her and Dad. One of my wishes for you is that you have the confidence to listen to your own heart and do what is always right for you. Sometimes in life we have a hard time hearing our hearts when there is other noise around us. Don't worry if you don't learn this right away - it is one of those "lifelong lessons."

Other exciting news from this month - you had 2 new friends join the world! Beck was born to Koshiki and Ben at the end of February and Eva was born to Elisabeth and Evan on March 14. We are excited for you to meet them and hope you will have lots of friends to play with and learn from as you grow. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your new cousin at the end of March and Mariah and Patrick's baby to arrive around the same time. There seems to be a baby boom going on around here and Mama and Dad are very happy they got in on it too!

Life is wonderful with you, Rose. And it keeps getting better.
All my love,
Mama