Slightly belated…

May 11, 2008

Today, my beautiful baby girl, you are four months old. It’s Mother’s Day, a wonderful day always, but today as we spent the morning having brunch with both of your grandmothers I was struck by how amazingly lucky I am. We are, really. You have two grandmothers who love you more than life itself and who themselves are two of the best mothers on the planet. You have a mother who would gladly give her life for you should it be necessary, and (not to toot my own horn, but you know…it IS Mother’s Day) who does everything possible to make sure you and your brother have the best experiences and the happiest childhood memories. I have a mother and a mother in law who I adore and who I am able to look to for great examples of mothering, a husband who not only is a great father but a strong supporter of my attachment mothering techniques, and two of the most amazing children ever born. We are all happy and healthy and life really could not be better than it is on this very day .

You, my Bella, are perhaps the most beautiful baby that ever lived. Anyone who meets you comments on your big bright smile, your huge brown eyes and your calm nature. I still am in awe of your ability to roll with anything we can throw at you. (We don’t actually throw things at you. It’s a figure of speech.) With an extremely active 2 year old brother, you are dragged around town to play dates, playgrounds and shopping trips and around the province to visit friends and grandparents and you hardly bat an eye. Most of the time you sleep the whole trip and have no idea where you are anyway. As long as you can see me and access the two food sources on my chest at will you’re a happy go lucky little baby regardless of what going on around you.

This month you have been laughing some of the best laughs I’ve ever heard. I had forgotten since Primo was a baby how wonderful baby laughs are. You actually crack me up, which is quite the feat for a baby. You get the hiccups when you really get going, and then that makes you laugh even harder. It’s pretty hilarious. Daddy was the first one to make you laugh. He was putting your jammies on and touched your armpit. You looked him in the eye and giggled and it made his week. You are a pretty ticklish baby – your tummy and chest, sides and armpits, inner thighs and feet all make you giggle. I try not to tickle you too much because I think it’s mean since you can’t tell me when you want me to stop, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. A few seconds won’t traumatize you, I hope.

Though you’re an easy smiler and will give one to anyone who gives you one first, you smile most at your family and it’s obvious that you think your brother is the cat’s meow. You could watch him play all day and he loves to make faces at you to get a grin that’s just for him. You also love the dogs and watching them wrestle is an endless source of entertainment for you.

You have a great little mop of hair on top of your head now and no longer look like Grandpa Kent from the top. Just in the last couple of days you’re finally allowing the hair on the back of your head to grow in instead of rubbing it all off while you’re going to sleep. I put little barrettes in the top of your hair now and have found a few brands online that stay in. They’re so stinkin’ cute that it’s becoming an addiction.

On the subject of sleep, you’re still doing it! You sleep from about 11 pm until 10 am, usually with one nursing in there – sometimes two – after which you just go right back to sleep. I am shocked that babies as perfect as you exist and I hope this doesn’t bode poorly for your teenage years. People keep telling me that a good baby means a crappy teenager. Please always be this nice, okay? And even when you’re crazy hormonal remember that your parents love you and would do anything for you, including kicking some serious butt should you need it so maybe just don’t bother. M’kay?

You are an incredibly strong little person and have been since birth. You can stand up for several minutes while holding just my hands. It is my wish for you that you are always strong and take steps to take care of your perfect body and give yourself the best chance for a long life of great health. I’m doing my best to start you off right with no less than a full year of breastfeeding and, when the times comes, organic and whole foods. Your dad and I will do our best to take care of ourselves, too, because we want to play with your children some day!

You’re currently bouncing in your chair (your favourite – just like it was your brother’s) on the deck in the shade and, no surprise, grinning at me and cooing. I suppose it’s time to stop writing and spend some more time kissing those little toes of yours because before too long they’ll be covered in mud as you join your brother running around the yard.

All my love,

Mommy
xoxo