One month old

Today:



Dear August,

You are one month old today, baby girl! I cannot believe that it has been an entire month since you came from my body and joined our little family. It seems like it was mere days ago, and yet it also seems like you have always been with us. We have had a busy month!

You have gotten to experience so many things, like your cosleeper and your crib, your pack and play and your car seat, your bouncy seat and your borrowed swing, your changing table and your little bath tub. You have been to restaurants and to the mall, in your stroller and in a number of slings and carriers. Currently you hate all of the slings, wraps, and carriers.

We have struggled with breastfeeding and there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish that I could provide all of your nourishment (or even some more), but I am honored and touched that you continue to want to nurse from me, even for comfort and the little bit of milk you can manage. You have gone from taking one ounce to two ounces to three ounces of formula per feeding. What a big girl you are!

We have watched you grow and get stronger every day. You are getting better head control and you can turn your head to both sides while on your little tummy. You make such great eye contact when you are feeding and you make the cutest gassy smiles in your sleep when you are done. You only cry and fuss when you are very hungry or when you have gas. You are such a good baby.

You have met your Great Aunt Sandie, your great-grandparents, your Nana and your Papa John. In a few days you will meet your Grandma and Grandpa, and then Uncle Rick and Aunt Gretchen. At the end of this month your great-grandmother will turn 85 and you will go to a big family dinner and meet your Great Uncle Joe and your cousin Tony. You got to meet little Ruby who is one week old, and you are destined to be best friends if your mamas have anything to say about it. Everyone loves you and talks about how cute you are. You are already very popular on the internet.

You had your first big fall and scared your moms half to death. It was so scary to see you connected to all of those monitors and to have you get so angry at the doctors that you cried real tears. It broke my heart to see you in that CT Scan machine but I am glad that you slept through it. I hope we don't have a repeat of that sort of episode EVER.

You have changed my life in so many ways, baby girl. Everyone talks about sleep deprivation and while I do get less sleep, that's not what I will remember about this time, our first month together. I will remember how you came from my body and turned me into a mama, and how you made us a family instead of a couple. I live for you, this month and always, and I am so thankful that you chose me.

Happy first month of life, August. May God bless us and make this the start of a very long time together.

Love,
Mama