Month 3
Dear Reagan,
This one really snuck up on me. I can't believe you've been with us for 3 months. Did I say that last month? I probably will say it every month. This is all still insane to me. That I'm a mommy, that Joe's a daddy, that you exist. We're slowing figuring this all out and settling into a routine...which you prompty change every 2.5 minutes.
You're more alert and interactive every day. Lately you've taken to grabbing things, your bib, the "leash" your pacifier hangs from, your Grandmother's hair, your ears. You also seem to be playing with your hair somethings, grasping at it with your fat little fingers. You're more easily occupied these days with toys and such, too. You'll bat at things, though still with little precision and questionable intent. Your smiles come quickly and often. I'm finally convinced you know who the heck your dad and I are.
Now that I've been back at work for a month I've learned how utterly impossible it is to work full time and be a mom. Pretty much it's a garantee that I will not be satisfied with the job I'm doing at either. It started out easy enough and has gotten progressively harder. Our evenings are spent in a blur of cleaning bottles, pumps, you, and the occaisional load of laundry. That's really what makes it so hard, the mad rushes in the AM and PM. You're staying with Joanne Halm during the days and I feel so good about that. She really loves you and she take you and her little Lola Belle for walks and plays games with you. You two hang out on the floor and grin at each other. I also like that you're getting exposure to their cats because I can't wait for you to get big enough to tell your Daddy that you want a kitten.
You really enjoy your baths, even though we've struggled a little to find a baby wash that doesn't give you a rash. I think we've found a good one, although the associated lotion doesn't agree with you. That's OK, it's wonderful and since you can't use it I don't feel bad about hogging it all. You poop in the baths with a fair amount of regularity still, and we've gotten really good and wisking you out the second we hear the tell-tall bubbles. You hate this quick departure and usually tell us about it loudly. In the bath you love looking at the bold colored letters and numbers "Aunt" Lisa got as decoration for the diaper cake she made for my Charlotte baby shower. You also kick, kick, kick your legs like there's no tomorrow. Maybe you'll be an olympic swimmer. You did watch a lot of Olympics this past month. I think your favorite was the hockey.
You cried your very first tear this month. It was patheticly sad. You're generally a very good baby, fussying only when you're tired or hungry. Sometimes you put up a little bit of a fight on the changing table, but really you love being there. It's one of your favorite places to smile and talk to us. Sometimes you still have an upset tummy. Luckily I think we've figured out the gassiness issues for the most part. I sure would like a milk shake, but the consequences are so immediate and so palpable, and so so sad to hear that it makes it easy to resist. You're eating like a little piggy, taking 6 ounce bottles every 3 hours or so.
You also rolled from your back to your belly for the first time. I was so thrilled that you did that in front of your daddy because I know it has been hard for him to be away from you as much as he has been. You rolled over for him once, and then another time when you were crying in bed you flipped yourself over and promptly fell asleep.
Your dad's travel schedule has been nutty. He traveled for 3 of the past 4 weeks. It's been tough on him, but he's taking it like a champ. I think he's thrilled that things have worked out at his job in such a way that he's able not only to provide for us, but to provide some really great opportunities for us. We're in the middle of making some really big decisions about next school year, and I'm thrilled that you and I might get to spend a lot more time together.
When I wrote your two month letter you had just slept through the night for the first time ever. You never did that again...until Saturday the 6th. You slept through the night that night, Sunday night, and Tuesday night. It may be a real trend this time. The funniest part is that Daddy and I had just been discussing your sleeping habits that night while Daddy was feeding you a bottle. It's like you heard us and decided to take things into your own hands.
Your tiny man hands. They are huge, baby. I'm sorry to say. Apparently your Aunt Susan has big hands too. There's no question that you're a Filanowicz. You look just like your dad to me. Especially when you first wake up in the morning and your hair is sticking in all directions just like his when he rolls out of bed.
It's been so fun watching you grin more, learn new sounds (you have G, A, K, and sometimes B, but you can't say Mama yet), interact with us, and start grabbing things more and more. We love you so much.
Love,
Mommy
