Law Students

Baby Becca: Month 1

By Andrea

Dear Becca,

On Friday, you turned one month old!

I can?t believe I?m writing a letter like this. I?ve read them on Dooce for years, and on Magic Cookie since K was born. This month we welcomed you into the world, and then didn?t get to bed..ever. Whoo!

You can imagine what the first couple weeks of your life were like for your daddy and me, especially me. Eating, pooping, sleeping, crying, starting over. Recovering from birth, and dealing with my boobs and the weird new things they do. I think we did pretty good, but it?s a real marathon. I cried twice, out of total exhaustion and not being able to calm your screaming yet again. They were low points, but there have been many more high points, more and more every day.

In the last week, and really in the last few days, something amazing has happened: Instead of a milk-guzzling poop machine who looks cute sleeping, you?ve turned into a baby. You can hold your head up a little bit, and although you?re still cross-eyed sometimes, you?ve started truly seeing the things and people around you ? Mommy, Daddy, yourself in the mirror, your animal mobile. You?ve found your fist, and suck on it a few times when you come across it. You?ve started being awake longer during the day, and you?re teetering on the verge of smiling ? your eyes brighten and your mouth works sideways, but you?re not quite there.

I love so many little things about you, and how well I know you ? the way you smell at different times of the day, where you like to put your head when you sleep on me, and the way your lower lip bobbles in your sleep like you?re dreaming about eating. I love watching Daddy sing you made-up songs (today: ?Go Poo On Mom?) and snuggle you on the couch.

Last week someone (who obviously did not have children) exclaimed that I?d had my baby, and then brightly asked, ?Is it fun?!?? I was speechless, I have to admit. The last month has been tiring, challenging, wonderful, and transformative a lot more than it?s been fun. But I have the feeling there are a lot of smiles right around the corner for us. And I?d do it all over again for you.

Love, Mommy

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on February 18, 2008 (boomark / email).