Letters to Ari...1 month old

Dearest Ari, 

Happy 1 month birthday! I cannot believe you have been here for a whole month already.  Your Dad and I have a hard time thinking back to a time that you weren't here.  I said "What did we ever do without him?" to your Nonee and she said "Dream about having him" and that is the truth.  Before you arrived all we did was dream of the day we could hold you in our arms. So happy you are finally here and also so excited to celebrate your 1 month birthday today.  

Milestones/Special "Firsts" :

-You have just started SMILING and we love it. At first, we were wondering if they were real smiles or if it was just your reflexes and/or coincidences.  But after many more smiles, we're sure you are actually smiling because you are happy!!! You even mimic our smiles when we gaze at you.  Every morning we take you out of your bassinet as you are waking up.  We unwrap your sleep sack and you give us a smile every morning as you are stretching.  You are SO happy when you wake up...we love it! It's one of my favorite parts of the day.  

You smiling at your Dad

- You had your first bath and you LOVED it.  Mommy gave it to you while Daddy was at work and she video taped it so your Dad could see too.  Your little legs did a lot of kicking and you were all smiles and I trickled the warm water all over you.  

You smiling during your first bath!

- You attended your first "Brothers Brunch" with all your uncles.  Daddy and I get together with all your uncles every Sunday morning for brunch.  We used to all sit around the table and talk about how excited we were for you to get here.  Now you're here and we just were so ecstatic to be sitting around the table WITH you! 

First Brother's Brunch

-You had your first "day trip" at 4 weeks old.  We left early in the morning and went to The Original Pancake House for breakfast.  Next, we stopped at our favorite store "Little Monsters" and your Auntie spoiled you and bought you some adorable new outfits.  Then we went out to Cedarburg for the annual Wine & Harvest Festival. Your Stokke stroller worked like a charm and your Daddy had so much fun strolling with you.  This festival really meant a lot to me.  I had been going to this for about 4-5 years before you arrived.  I would always sit and gaze looking at other mothers and their babies and dream of one day bringing you to the Festival.  It was surreal being there again and actually finally having you.  After the Festival, we went to our favorite place for dinner "Sala" and sat outside.  Your Auntie was there and your Uncle Aris joined us too.  It was a perfect way to end our day out.  

Here we are together at the Festival

- You have started sleeping through the night! According to my friends and family members with children, we are pretty lucky.  You like your routine and when we put you in your bassinet around 11:00 each night, you settle fairly quickly and sleep until 6:00 or even 7:00 in the morning.  When we lay you down at night, your Dad and I snuggle and just listen to you as you squirm around a bit and make some grunting noises as you drift off to sleep.  We love listening to you! I end each night thanking God for another amazing day with you and pray that He keeps you safe.  

Things You Like Right Now:

-You love the park by our house.  Before you were here, your dad and I would always take Buckwheat there and play fetch with him behind the firehouse.  It was so much fun taking you there for the first time.  It was a gorgeous day and you were so comfy, you decided to take a nap while there.  Buckwheat enjoyed himself too, playing fetch while you were snoozing.  

 You snoozing while Mommy watches over you

 See, I told you Buckwheat was happy!

Love  

- As I mentioned above, you love baths! Every bath you've had has been pleasant.  Your eyes light up and get real big as I wash you - you are very alert.  You've only peed once so far during your baths...I'll consider myself lucky.  :)

- You are definitely a morning person! You are so happy and content when you wake up, while being changed, and during your first feeding.  

Early morning changing 

- You like being "out and about".  Your Dad and I are a very active couple and we are so pleased with how well you already adjusted to being active with us.  You are such a good baby and I'm not just saying that.  Every time we go out (dinners, family visits, grocery trips, festivals, parks, etc.) you are so content! 

Your current dislikes:

- 7:00 p.m. until bedtime at home = fussy time! It's like clock-work. When we are home and 7:00 rolls around you decide it is time to fuss.  You are just plain ornery at this time.  You do a lot of whining and demand our full attention.  We try a variety of things to soothe you and as soon as we find one that works, it only lasts for about 15-20 minutes.  Then you get bored and we start all over again finding something to soothe you.  Things that work (sometimes): walking around the house holding you, bouncing you in your BabyBjorn Babysitter bouncer, rocking you, and tummy time on Daddy's chest.  You are wide awake during this time and do not take any snoozes.  Daddy and I sure don't mind this time though, because we know as soon as we put you in your bassinet around 11:00 p.m. you will sleep through the night.  

- Johnson's Hand and Face Wipes.  I like to use these on you as a quick way to "freshen up" before heading out for the day or before a visitor comes over.  You? Not so much! You cry every time I gently use these and are so relieved when it's over.  

- You hate getting a onesie put over your head when getting dressed.  Your Dad and I stretch out the collar of the shirt before putting it on you, so it doesn't constrict on your face - but you still hate it! How dare we! You let out some pretty might wails during this time.  

Your Dad:

- Your Dad is still adjusting to being back at work.  And I will be honest, he absolutely hates leaving you every morning to go to work.  It's hard for him to leave his beautiful baby boy to head to work and be stressed out there. I know that you are his inspiration to get through each day.  He daydreams about coming home to you and is so excited to see you when he walks in the door each day.  

- Daddy handles fussy time and I love him for it.  Your fussy time also happens to be Mommy's bed time.  I fall asleep on the couch or in my chair around 7:30/8:00 p.m.  Your Dad lets me sleep (only wakes me up for feedings) while he finds ways to soothe you.  Even before I was pregnant with you, this has been my bedtime.  My body just tends to shut down at this time, so I am so thankful that Daddy is willing to take care of you during this time frame.  

- Is starting to adjust to being peed on.  He is even starting to think it's funny.  I think it's humorous how this past week you only felt the need to pee on him (thank you).  We were doing real well for awhile until this past Sunday, you decided to pee on him 3 or 4 times in one day! 

Your Mom:

-Is healing up quite well.  I'm finally starting to feel more myself.  I am less sore and my incision feels a lot better.  I'm looking forward to my postpartum doctor appointment next week.  I'm hoping to be "cleared for exercise" so I can start toning up again.  For the time being, I am just enjoying going on walks with you as my exercise.  Although carrying you around all day is also getting me back into shape.  

- Went out for the first time without Daddy's help last week.  We made a trip, just the two of us, to Target last week.  I was really proud of myself as I drove with you alone for the first time, lifted you in and out of the car (in the rain), and strolled around Target with you picking up the necessities for the week.  Considering I was only 3 weeks past my surgery, I felt amazing! I definitely became more confident that I could handle outings with you on my own.  

- Is looking forward to your 1 month appointment next week.  I'm praying that you have continued to gain weight since we both seem to be enjoying our current feeding routine.  I'm still feeding you every 2 hours during the day, which I think really helps you sleep through the night.  

- Is just so happy!  I want you to know that I am not sugar coating these posts/letters to you.  YOU are a wonderful baby and taking care of you makes me (and your dad) so happy.  I don't ever get frustrated with you when you are cranky...I really don't.  I just keep thanking God that I have the opportunity to experience your crankiness and especially, motherhood.  Even when I am dead tired and have trouble keeping my eyes open, I look down at you and I just smile.  I'm so grateful that God chose me to be your Mom.  I wouldn't trade in any second of this!  I struggled for years to have you and would do it all over again (ten times over) without hesitation knowing at the end of it all I would get to have you.  

Oh and Buckwheat....he just adores you! 

Love,
Your Mom