Love letter (aka: thanks for my baby!)

Dear Polly,

Remember when you were born?

You came on your due date. You didn't take too long to come out (about 7 hours, start to finish). You were born in the water. You cried a lot for your first few hours, as if to say "I wasn't ready for this," and then, as if finally resigned to your fate, you slept a lot. I couldn't stop smelling your tiny head. It felt so primitive and sacred for me to be constantly breathing in your brand-new scent like that. I'll never forget it.

Remember when you were 1 month old?

We had visitors your whole first month. First my parents, then your dad's parents. Hannah and Rhoda and Robbie too. You got your first cold at the tender age of 3 weeks and I thought I'd lose my mind with worry when you coughed so hard your lips turned blue. Your brothers and sister were still in school during your first month and we had our helpers, so you and I got a lot of one-on-one time. You napped in the swing in the living room and took good long naps, up to 3 hours at a time. We were baffled that you wouldn't take a pacifier.

Remember when you were 2 months old?

We had more visitors. Cousin Hester and her family came, and then Uncle Harry and his family came. You were a pretty good sport to let me carry you around everywhere. Your siblings were out of school and they got bored at home, so you were forced to be portable. We went to the pool and to the park and to downtown DC and on walks around the neighborhood. At home you sat in this old denim bouncer that I used to sit in when I was a baby (and many many babies have sat in it since). You started losing your hair on top, so Dad shaved the longer hair on the sides of your head with his clippers and we thought it looked much better! You started sucking your thumb and I gave up on the binky idea.

Remember when you were 3 months old?

You took your first trip to the beach and slept in your first hotel! We stayed there for just two nights, and it was fun, if a little exhausting. But we had brought the big stroller, and on the second day you took a giant nap in the stroller on the beach while the rest of us played. (We had learned our lesson, because on the first day I just carried you around and you hardly slept and then at bedtime you treated us to a half an hour of solid screaming.)

Remember when you were 4 months old?

More visitors and more excitement! Dad gave you a name and a blessing at church, and we had both sets of grandparents at our house again, plus Hannah and Rhoda. You wore the same dress that Ida wore, I wore, Hannah and Rhoda wore, and Grandma Barbara wore when we were all babies. You were pretty good at sleeping by now. I used to put you to bed around 8 and go to bed soon after, and we both got several hours of sleep at a time. Slowly it started to feel like you were a bona fide person and I was a bona fide person again too. I loved your newborn time, don't get me wrong, but back then it was more like you were this mysterious beautiful solemn little creature, and by now you were becoming a vocal, interactive member of the family. Although you refused to smile, which mostly just made me laugh. You and I traveled to California (your first plane trip) for Grandma Helen's 100th birthday. You were an angel on both flights and during the whole trip. Also, you learned to roll over!

Remember when you were 5 months old?

Theo, Ida, and Lars went back to school and it was you and me again. And you got to take real naps in your own crib. I think everyone was happy about that. You started being more generous with your smiles. You refused to take bottles when I went to work; in fact, you just got really mad when Dad tried to give them to you. So he just stopped trying, and then you were happy. You'd happily go 5-7 hours without eating anything in the afternoon once a week while I was gone, and it was like you didn't even care. You little weirdo. It was always hard for me to leave you, and so sweet to come home and snuggle with you at night.

Remember when you were 6 months old?

What in the world?! How did this happen?! You are the sweetest, bounciest, tiniest, dimpliest, most wide-eyed little girl in the world and we thank our lucky stars every single day for you. You are the most popular member of the family. Theo, Ida, and Lars all fight over their turns to hold you and snuggle you. Sure, it would be nice if you'd sleep all night (you've done it just twice so far) but you're the baby after all so I'm soaking it in anyway. I love you SO much and I'll take the nighttime wakeups if it means I get to be with you.

I love you. 

I love you!!!! 

(to read my other babies' 6-month reports click on the label "love letter.")

Love letter

Dear Lars,

Remember when you were born?

You came 2 days early, on a Sunday night after stake conference and dinner with Hannah and Robbie. We rushed to the hospital after a few hours of labor at home and you were born an hour after we arrived. Your dad caught you and rolled you onto my chest. You opened only your left eye and looked right at me with a piercing one-eyed glare as you screamed in my face--one of my favorite life moments ever. Then, you proceeded not to open your eyes again for about a week.


Remember when you were 1 month old?

You slept really well for a 1-month-old. You settled into a predictable routine of naps and nursing, and you and I got lots and lots of one-on-one time because we had lengthy visits from both grandmas. I will never forget your first month of life and how much beautiful, quiet time I got to spend alone with you while the grandmas played with Theo and Ida. I needed and craved that time with you and was so blessed to get it.


Remember when you were 2 months old?

You took your first trip to the beach! and slept most of the time in your stroller. A few weeks later, both sets of grandparents, Aunt Hannah and Uncle Robbie, Aunt Annie and Uncle Chad, and cousin Ella came for your baby blessing. So did several of our friends, but we had to cancel plans to host everyone at our house, because a few days beforehand, our basement flooded...twice. You started sleeping through the night, every night, 6-8 hours. Once you and I both slept nine hours in a row at the same time. I think I cried from happiness. You perfected the sneeze coo. Oh how I loved the sneeze coo.


Remember when you were 3 months old?

After some experimenting we decided for sure that you didn't like cow's milk and so I completely stopped drinking milk or eating cheese, yogurt, butter, etc. You had been fussy at times, especially right after nursing, and once I cut out dairy you were totally happy. You slowly cut back on your hours sleeping at night, unfortunately. But you were so very happy at all times and you napped very well. Theo and Ida really started having fun playing with you and loved your responses. Every time you woke up in the morning or after naps, they would chime, "LARS IS AWAAAKE!" Theo especially loved seeing you greet him when he got off the school bus.You started sucking your thumb (although you would still take a binky) and we would often find you asleep in your crib with your thumb in your mouth.


Remember when you were 4 months old?

You went on your first plane ride, to California so that we could meet your sweet cousin Jonah. Born just after you, he only lived 11 days. I was nervous about having you there with me because it was such a new situation for all of us and I wanted to be helpful and not a burden to Aunt Dawn and Uncle Harry. It seemed like you knew I was worried and decided you'd pretty much take care of yourself for a few days. You slept in the carseat and Baby Bjorn and didn't fuss. Baby Jonah died the day after we came back to Virginia. Thank you for making that trip so much easier than it could have been. I will always cherish the memory of that weekend and meeting little Jonah.


Remember when you were 5 months old?

Between traveling across time zones and the switch from Daylight Saving Time, and a terrible ear infection at the end of the month, you pretty much abandoned all previous sleeping habits and became completely unpredictable. For several nights in a row you woke up every single hour, and forget about regular naps. But again, you were sweet during your waking hours so we couldn't complain. Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Harry came for Thanksgiving and we all traveled to New York. You stayed snug against Mom's or Dad's chest for 2 days straight and barely uttered a peep. You rolled front to back and back to front, slept on your belly from time to time, and learned how to put in your own binky. You started eating food now and then--bananas, avocados, applesauce. Beans, rice, bread. Basically whatever was around and mashable.


Remember when you were 6 months old?

(How did 6 months just come and go like that??)

You love to pull on my necklace while you nurse. You love to "hug" by pinching my neck and burrowing your face into my shoulder. You love to play in the jumper or the saucer and you automatically try to jump whenever you have a surface to press your feet against. You love to be tickled, zerberted, and played with. You LOVE taking baths and kicking like crazy in the water. You love to sleep in bed next to me. (something I'll admit I love too.) You love being surrounded at all times by people who want to entertain you, namely Theo and Ida. You love to eat "people food." You're not sitting up on your own yet but I am fine if you want to stay dependent in that way for just a little bit longer. I joke about you being my favorite but...well...it's not really a joke. OK, it is a joke. (it's not a joke) I can hardly remember what life was like before you came, and not just because of sleep deprivation. I love you.



I love you!





Bonus...
Remember when Ida was 6 months old?
Remember when Theo was 6 months old?

Love letter

Dear Ida,

Remember when you were born?

You came right on time. We were flabbergasted. Then you slept 6 hours in a row every night for your first week home--equally flabbergasting. We took a day or two to decide on your name, but Ida Rachel fits you perfectly.

Remember when you were 1 month old?

You learned how to smile and your very first smile was one you still do now--with your tongue sticking out and curled up. You definitely did not sleep through the night anymore but we could always depend on your swing as a last resort to get you to stay asleep.

Remember when you were 2 months old?

You had your first Thanksgiving and then your first Christmas. Your grandparents flew across the country to participate in your blessing. You took 3-hour afternoon naps at the same time as your brother's. You were an angel on every plane ride we took during the holidays. You charmed everyone you met.

Remember when you were 3 months old?
As a 3-month-old, you loved to be held. Did I say loved? I meant loved. You would smile and coo as long as you had some strong arms holding you up. You perfected your giggle and started the habit of clasping your hands in front of you, fingers interlocked, as though in prayer. You still do this, often. So reverent of you.

Remember when you were 4 months old?

I think it's due in part to your tiny cute little head that you started sitting up on your own during this month. Sadly enough it became one of your brother's delights to witness you wobble and fall over occasionally. ("Ida fall down!") You also started sharing a room with Theo at night, and your days finally began to resemble a normal baby's napping and eating schedule.

Remember when you were 5 months old?

You started eating "people food" and were not especially a fan at first. We took you on another plane ride, to Florida this time, and for the first time you slept all the way through the night. 10 hours. I could have wept with joy. Near the end of the month, you also stopped sleeping with your arms swaddled, a day I was not entirely sure would ever come.

Remember when you were 6 months old?

Every morning your brother wakes up and asks for you (and wakes you up if you're still in your crib). Twelve hours without his favorite playmate! I'm so happy he has you. He misses you when you're not together. And who can blame him? You are the sweetest girl I know. Maybe that's why your dad or I bring you into our room almost every night sometime around 3 or 4 a.m. Yes, that must be it, we just miss you too much!

I love you.
I love you!




Not to steal sweet Ida's thunder, but...to revisit Theo's 6-month report, click here.

Love letter

Dear Theo,

Remember when you were born?

You came home from the hospital and pretty much slept for days. Besides sleeping, you also enjoyed eating, and staring. I enjoyed all of these activities as well.

Remember when you were 1 month old?

Your dad was back at work and your grandparents had gone home. I was a little bit nervous about this, after all you and I had only just recently met, but we got along fabulously.

Remember when you were 2 months old?

I started working part-time while you stayed home with your dad. You were such a good baby and hardly ever cried for long. I finally felt like I was starting to really know you.

Remember when you were 3 months old?

Your cousins, aunt and uncle, and grandparents came to Virginia for your blessing. You went on your first plane ride (to Boston), started sleeping in your own room, and learned how to laugh.

Remember when you were 4 months old?

I took you on another plane ride, to California, where you met more grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. You learned how to roll over, and started sleeping on your stomach.

Remember when you were 5 months old?

You started eating cereal and sitting in a high chair. You also learned how to sit by yourself and play with toys on the floor. You weighed 19 pounds! Your fat little legs are pretty much the best thing ever.

Remember when you were 6 months old?
Even when you are waking me up at 4 a.m. just to say hello, I am in love.

I love you.
I love you!