Dear Ellie,
You are 12 weeks old today. I absolutely, positively can’t believe it! All parents say this, but it just seems like yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital! Not that I am saying I want to go back to that day… It was one of the scariest, although happy, days of our life. First of all, we were dying to get you out of the hospital. We were so uncomfortable there and we just knew you would love to come home. And you did! Grandma and Grandpa came over and you settled in very easily. Of course you had to meet the doggies first. We got some good pictures of that. I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of those some day. You did sleep pretty good from the beginning, but I can not begin to explain to you the anxiety Mommy had for the first week or so. Every time you made a sound, I had to check on you--day or night! Of course, you were just fine, I was just being paranoid, but between hormones, lack of sleep and pain killers, Mommy was a wreck… I still check on you a lot. But you are now sleeping about 10-12 hours at a time! It’s fabulous and we really appreciate it! Thanks!
I did eventually calm down--slowly but surely. By the time you were one month old, I was feeling much better. Now-a-days, I really feel like I have a new confidence about me. I would tell any first time mom to just hang in there--it will come! But it’s so hard at first. Each day seems so long. On one hand, I couldn’t wait for you to get a little bigger, but on the other hand, I was sad at night time because I didn’t want you to ever even get one day older. Needless to say, a few tears were shed in those days. You’ll have to ask Daddy the “Big Lots” story sometime. Luckily, he was patient and sweet and let mommy act like an idiot in those first couple of weeks. Now, sometimes even when you cry daddy and I don’t even stress (we might even occasionally make fun of you for being dramatic). We know you are just mad for a minute and we are trying to hurry up! For example, you LOVE taking baths in the sink with the faucet spraying you. But, you get so mad when we get you out of the bath and try to get you dressed in your jammies. I think it’s a combination of you being cold and just mad that your bath is over! We especially like it when you stick your bottom lip out.
Do you know what “12 weeks old” means to mommy? It means I have to go back to work on Monday! OH NO! Honestly in a lot of ways, I’m ready, but for the most part, this has to be one of the hardest things moms go through. As much as Daddy loves you, I don’t think he quite struggled with it as much. I think it’s a “Caveman” instinct thing… they have to get back out in the world and provide for their families. He stayed home with us for 2 weeks and that was plenty for all of us. As for Mommy, my instincts are all telling me that I am crazy to even leave you for one minute! Although, we don’t mind leaving you with your grandparents here and there so Mommy and Daddy can go do some things. So, I am going to get up Monday morning, feed you, then say bye to you for the first time in what seems like a never-ending stream of day after day. And it’s going to kill me. It’s not fair that we need two incomes today! But, it’s what is best for our family right now, and it will be nice having a little more money in the bank account.
Lucky for you, I doubt you will mind too much that Mommy won’t be with you all day, because MeMaw is coming out for 3 and ½ weeks. You will have so much fun with her! We are so lucky to have parents that are willing and able to help out with you. It makes it much easier on so many levels. It’s hard not living closer to more friends and family, but at least we have Grandma & Grandpa Skinner here part of the time and MeMaw & PaPaw are willing to come see you any time we ask! I’m sure you’ll have a blast w/ MeMaw. I’m guessing you’ll do lots of shopping and visit your first (of many to come!) antique store. She’ll be glad to just hold you and hang out too. After she goes back to Texas, your Aunt Julie is coming to see you. She could not be more excited! Then, we only have a few more weeks until Grandma will be retiring and watching you 3-4 days a week, and Mommy is going to work from home 1-2 days a week. You also have some friends coming to see you! The Straws are coming in November (you will just love Kyla!) and Auntie Jeni is coming in December. Mike & Lynn in January.
We have had a fun time in the past three months! During the days, we would listen & dance to music (mostly songs that Daddy would never let us listen to if he was home), watch TV (mostly HGTV and we never missed an Ellen!), go for walks, talk on the phone to friends & family, go to our “moms group”, run errands, go shopping and visit with friends! Some of your first outings were to visit with Julia & Howie, Kristina, Jamie & Sam, Cara & Liam, Gail, Maja, Jennifer F… When daddy would get home, we sometimes would go out to eat and walk around. You LOVE being on the go, that’s for sure! Everyone says you look like Daddy, but you certainly get that from Mommy. We also took you to your first parties! Labor Day weekend you go to go to Kristine & Jon’s and in October you got to go to Larry’s surprise party! You weren’t even scared when everyone yelled! You impressed everyone by being such a good girl all night. In your first months, we also had a lot of visitors. Kristine & Jon, Larry & Lisa, Hannah & Marcus, Erika & Corey to name a few. Grandma S even took a few days off of work to come hang out with us.
You are already getting to be such a big girl. You have been holding your neck up better and better each day. You can even sit in your bumbo seat for a few minutes at a time. You love watching Baby Einstein DVD’s and sitting in your bouncy chairs kicking! OH the kicking! You just love to kick your legs! You have been smiling and giggling for weeks now and it’s the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. Yesterday, you even did your first belly laugh! Of course, mommy was being silly and you thought it was hilarious. You’ve also started sucking your thumb, which we think has started to help you sleep better. You are sleeping (usually) 8-9 hours and then you even go back to be for a few hours. You are awesome.
It’s amazing to be a parent. All of the cliché things people tell you are so true. We love you more than anything…EVER! You have brought Daddy and I closer. You have your grandparents wrapped around your tiny little fingers. You are getting so big, so quickly, in some ways it’s sad, yet it’s so much fun to watch you grow. My heart is already breaking thinking of your first day of school, getting your drivers license or leaving for college. Our lives are changed forever and we have only one person to thank for that. YOU.
Love,
Mama
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