Love Letter #2

My dearest munchkin - you are TWO MONTHS OLD! Where did the time go? I can't believe you're already two whole months old! You had your two month check up with Dr. Fasullo today and you've grown almost two inches and you've gained two pounds, so you're 21.5 inches long and just about 10 pounds.

This last month has been a busy month for you! Your Papa and Gigi came to visit you. They absolutely adore you and it was nice to have them here! While they were here, we showed them around our little neck of the woods, took them to Redondo Beach for your first glimpse of the sound. We took them over to Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Ron's house and to Grandma Jody and Grandpa Jim's house. We all went out for dinner and you really enjoyed the "fine dining". Everyone thought you were beautiful! But mostly, we just hung around the house and they loved on you as much as humanly possible.

We started visiting Auntie Jennifer more. I want you to be comfortable over there when I go back to work. I already know Auntie Jen is going to take wonderful care of you and you'll be just fine without me, but I like to think you'll miss me all day long and need to get used to everyone but me. It's a Mommy thing. While we were at Auntie Jen's, you got to meet Rachel and her two little boys Lucas and Josh. Rachel taught me how to use our Moby wrap better and that's been great! I've used it a lot more and you almost always fall asleep on my chest. Thus far, we've only tried two different ways of wrapping it, one with a cradle hold and one with your head on my chest. You like both of them!

We went to the museum with Grammy Marilyn and my friend Jennifer. Her little boy Holden was born just a few days after you and you two seemed to enjoy each other's company. You weren't much interested in the art, but then again, you're only a few weeks old ;) You did very well on that outing and didn't fuss much at all. We had our first public restroom changing and I didn't drop you in the toilet, so I was really proud of myself. Someday you'll understand that - how hard it can be to keep everything from touching the ground or any unclean surfaces, all while holding an infant in your arms. I'm not yet a one handed pro - so it's still challenging for me.

You also got to meet your future BFF Mikayla. You two really hit it off. When she cried, you cried. When you cried, she cried. She held your hand and petted you - it was really sweet. Mommy really loves Mikayla and her mommy Deborah, so she's glad you two are hitting it off. Hopefully you two will spend a lot of time together growing up.

You're growing so big, it's astonishing. You're already so long, you're starting to outgrow your newborn clothes. Not because you're too big in the tummy, but because your legs are getting so long! You're really holding your head up well. Not without wobbling some, but it won't be long that you'll hold it up all the time! You're a master smiler. You really light up when you see someone you recognize. Thus far, that list includes Mommy, Daddy and your mobile. You still love that mobile something fierce. Daddy and I call them your "friends". Your monkey friend, your birdy friend and your froggy friend. You looove them. I've got videos of you watching them I'll show you some day.

We're just starting to really play with toys with you. You don't hold on to anything just yet, but you're starting to smile when we shake your rattle. You love for us to hold you and put your feet on the ground so you can pretend like you're walking. In fact, you can stand on your legs and support your own weight pretty well. I think Daddy is right and you'll walk early. Mommy still hopes you don't. I want you to stay little for as long as possible.

You still have the cutest cough I've ever heard and when you yawn, I melt....it's adorable. You've got a whole range of new noises. You definitely cry to let us know you do not like whatever is going on - which is usually me changing you (you hate that - you like to either be naked or dressed), a dirty diaper, a request for another bottle, or you're just plain tired. Lately you've started "talking" to us. You grunt and make cooing sorts of noises. You don't laugh yet...I can't wait for that, I know it will be the cutest thing ever.

You and I have a night time routine. Some nights we take a bath. You like that, except for the getting dressed part. Then, we read the same three books every night: Guess How Much I Love You, Just In Case You Wonder, and Goodnight Moon. You usually take your last bottle while I read those to you. And more and more, you rest your hands on your bottle, as if you want to hold it. Little Miss Independent already. Then, we sing our nightly lullabies while we rock. Most of the time, you're asleep by the end of the lullabies and I take you to bed. You still sleep with us. If Daddy is home, I put you into your co-sleeper just so we all have enough room. But, if it's just you and me, I put you on Daddy's side. You'll stay asleep for maybe fifteen minutes then you wake up. You know I'll come get you and I usually put you in your swing while I finish up taking care of George, making milk for the next day, and tidying up. Then, we go to bed together. You still sleep best when you're right next to us. In fact, even when Daddy is home, you might start out in your co-sleeper, but you usually wake up fussy and end up in bed with us. I think we all enjoy that - even though Mommy wishes we had a king size bed instead of a queen size bed.

In a few weeks, we're going to visit Nana and Gigi and Papa. We'll get to visit Auntie Bree and Uncle Drew and Cousin Carson. I'm very excited to take you to Idaho, even if I'm a little nervous about getting us both on the plane. You take a lot of stuff!!

We've had some challenges this last few weeks too...you've been throwing up *alot* and your little bowels aren't doing what the should. So, we've had to put you on a special formula to see what you're allergic too. It's going to take us three or four weeks to figure things out and Dr. Fasullo, Mommy, and Daddy are still hoping it's a bug and that you'll be able to drink Mommy's milk again. I guess those bugs can take a long time to pass in little babies. But it seems more like you're allergic to milk. So be patient over the next couple weeks...we know you don't feel good and your tummy hurts you. We sure are doing everything we can to figure it out because it just breaks Mommy and Daddy's heart when you don't feel good.

My littlest, I just can't believe you've been here for 58 days. In some ways, it seems like it was yesterday that you were born and in some weeks, I'm floored by how much you've grown in such a short time. You're getting so big so fast. It's exciting but makes me sad too...I hate to see you grow up too fast - you're so precious to me, I just want to be able to love on you and snuggle you tight for a really long time!

Just to show how much you've grown, I've got three pictures comparing sizes:

When you first came home:

Your one month birthday:

You yesterday:

I love you little Maddykins - with my whole heart and soul. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us in your next month.