My dear son, time marches on. Each night I fall into bed, asleep in minutes. And typically in a few hours you wake me up (a habit we are trying desperately to break thank you very much). Morning comes and you greet me with a grin and I forget how tired I have been...again.
Tonight I came home from work and you were sleeping in your bassinet. Before I could even step into the warm shower your eyes popped open, fussing. Frustrated I thought to myself, as I often do by 8:00 p.m., "Will I never find a moment's peace to do something for me?" But then we got the diaper changed and the bottle fed, put you in warm pjs for bed. We sat in the rocker and I read to you my Christmas books that I have cherished from childhood. Your eyelids got heavy and you patted me on the arm, looked up at me as I read. And I realized that this won't last forever. And when you are seven years old I will long for these moments when you snuggle in tight. And when you are seventeen I will desire nothing more than to steal a few moments with you...that I will probably gladly seek an interruption to help you with homework or make you a snack, because these will be moments for bonding.
I wish I could describe how quickly you are growing. I swear you get heavier each day! You are eating very well, I believe that you favor peaches and sweet potatoes. You also seemed to enjoy the pickle your father let you taste the other day, which I will never understand! It amazes me how clever you are, knowing where I keep your food in the kitchen and observing impatiently from your high chair while I prepare to feed you. We are making your food and I am pleased with how this is going so far.
You had a delightful first Thanksgiving with your family who came to our house to celebrate. You got to meet your Uncle Ray for the first time and had lots of grandparent and aunt & uncle snuggles. Boy, were you tired by the end of the day!
I love watching your face light up when Daddy walks in from work. Your smile really does wash away all the grime of the day. I hope this is a gift you will always have, that of bringing bright joy into people's lives.
You have done some pretty awesome things the last few weeks including sitting up quite well on your own, although still wobbly. You have begun to enjoy your bumbo seat more, especially if it assists you in supervising whatever I am doing. It is fun to see you sit up on the couch or bed, supervised of course. Just in the last few days you have begun to put weight on your feet, placing them flat and springing up in your Exersaucer or on our legs while holding you! You are very proud and all smiles when you achieve this feat. So are we.
Don't worry son, I won't tell everyone how you pooped in the bathtub last week. Or how in my tired state I only ordered one Christmas card.
Christmas is only a few days away. You have already gotten some pretty awesome gifts and I know many more are to come. We've had lunch with Uncle Jer and a Christmas Party with Auntie Whit. And we attended Daddy's Christmas Party at Trax, where you were gleefully social. Your very first Christmas, so exciting for all of the family. It is my favorite holiday and I am excited to start new traditions with you as you grow. For now I will rejoice in the practice of "get him what he needs before he knows what he wants." Sorry, kid.
I hope time slows down just a little. I hope sleep lasts a little longer. I hope, I hope, I hope.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year, Bear!
Love,
Mom
