My Sweet Boy

Dear Jack,

You would think I would get tired of just sitting and looking at you.

But I don't.

Love,
Mom

Snuggle, Nurse, Snuggle, Sleep

Dear Jack,

This is the start of my second full week back at work. You are doing great at the sitter's... she talks about how well you sleep, even with the other kids' noises, how much she holds you, how you take the bottle really well, how you actually wave your arms at toys and interact with things.

In the evenings, though, all you want to do is snuggle, nurse, snuggle, sleep, wash, rinse, repeat.

Last week, I was kind of busy getting ready for the Kindergarteners, so that was a little bit of a challenge.

Today, after that first day of school, I was right there with you. Snuggle, nurse, snuggle, sleep.

Love,
Mom

Careful How You Answer This

Dear Jack,

Does it make me a bad mother that I think you are absolutely, positively, amazingly adorable when you cry?

I hope not.

Love,
Mom

Sleeping Through the Night

Dear Jack,

You slept through the night last night.

I know I should be excited that I got all that sleep, but the truth is that with you right beside me in the bed, waking to feed you really wasn't that big of a deal. So really, at 6AM, when I realized what had happened, I was just a little sad that we missed each other in the middle of the night.

Love,
Mom

Smells

Dear Jack,

I picked you up from the sitter's today and you smelled wrong.

They say mothers and newborns can identify each other by smell alone and I think they're right.

When I picked you up today, you smelled like the sitter. It wasn't a bad smell. In fact, it was a smell that told me that she spent a lot of time holding you today.

But you didn't smell like my baby.

I was in a wretched mood all evening until your father finally pieced it all together and pointed out that I could bathe you. And then snuggle with you myself. Making you smell like me again.

Isn't it funny to realize that as far as we've come, there is still something so very primal in us all?

Love,
Mom

The Last Day of Summer

Dear Jack,

Today was The Last Day of Summer.

I like to pack The Last Day of Summer with lots of fun activities, revisiting old favorites, and spending time with our friends before everyone has to go back to work or school.

I know you are still very little and all of the baby books say that quite literally I am all the stimulation you require... a mama's face, voice, and touch are really all you need to be entertained and enriched.

So, I guess, for you this day wasn't the most fun. The last three days that you spent sitting with me nursing through your three month growth spurt were so much better from your perspective.

But next summer, when you are old enough to ride the rides and not just sleep, I think you will appreciate that this tradition was started with your sister before you were born and will continue to be added to and enhanced as you get older and have your favorite places to revisit on The Last Day of Summer.

Love,
Mom

Three Month Growth Spurt

Dear Jack,

You nursed thirteen times yesterday.

To put it in perspective, you had gone to a mere eight nursing sessions a day. Right now, it's not even ten in the morning and you have nursed five times today.

I think you may be having your three month growth spurt a little early and I couldn't be happier. If you had waited until your actual three month birthday, I would have been at work and would have missed out on the marathon nursing schedule.

Happy Growing!

Love,
Mom

All Good Things...

Dear Jack,

With me going back to work and you headed off to the sitter's each morning starting next week, our days of sitting around the house all day, snuggled in the nursing chair are coming to a close.

But I want you to know that I have thoroughly enjoyed them, and we'll still have the evenings and nights.

Love,
Mom

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Dear Jack,

While it is possible to have too much of a good thing, the warm fuzzy feelings I get when I see you laying on the blanket my Mema crocheted, next to crocheted donuts, wearing crocheted shoes make me think this is not one of those times.

Although a lot of folks might think it is.

Love,
Mom

Sleeping Jack

Dear Jack,

You, asleep, are just about the most adorable thing in the world to me.

Love,
Mom

Swirly Things

Dear Jack,

This is the view out the window of the room I normally sit in to nurse you.

You really have no idea how much time I have spent, looking at you, looking out that window.

Which is why having the swirly things makes me so very happy.

Love,
Mom