Bringing Up Baby

Dear Declan,

You are such a handsome devil! I cannot believe how quickly one month has passed since the day you were born.  You have already grown and changed so much in just one month already! The diapers we brought home from the hospital used to be so big and you have already transitioned into your fluffy cloth diapers, and that makes me so happy.  In the past month you have met quite a few people! Your Grandparents (Grandma Joe, Grappa, Grammey and Grandpa), Aunt Nicole and Uncle Christopher, your Great Ama.  With all the outfit changes we have gone through we have been able to make our way through most of the newborn clothes that everyone gave you.

You have a very serious yet playful nature about you, constantly studying your surroundings and watching every little thing.  You have begun to give us little smirks and smiles when we talk to you and each time I am in such disbelief that you are actually mine.  You take my breath away and it's almost like time stands still for just a moment.  Right now you smile as you start to drift off to sleep after you've eaten.

We have tried to give you a pacifier on occasion and a few times you take it and enjoy it, as long as its your wubanub and you can hold it.  I think you prefer having your little bull friend more than sucking on the pacifier. Most of the time, however, you'd rather one of Mommy's fingers.

The pups have been stealing your wubs when they can though, and as much as we try to keep them safe Emmy and Tyler want to sniff and smell them because they've been with you.  Emmy has been a bit more brave and has come in for kisses and Tyler has been standing watch.  They will be such good friends with you, even though right now you aren't quite sure about them yet!

Finally, after some struggles in the very beginning, you have become a great eater. Between nursing with Mommy and taking bottles of formula in the evening from Daddy, you are getting the best of both worlds. Mommy is doing everything she can to make sure you are happy and healthy. You have no trouble switching between nursing and bottle feeding…and you definitely aren’t picky. Daddy always warms your bottles up for you, but in a pinch you’ve even taken them cold without a fuss. You only eat about 2 ounces at each nighttime bottle feeding, and you nurse around 40 minutes or more at a time!

 

You have already made your preferences known!! So long swing, hello bouncer.  As soon as we discovered exactly how much you like to bounce we ran right out to get you a bouncer that you would enjoy.  Mommy found this out when you were upset after a diaper change and she placed you on the bed and started bouncing you up and down.  The smile you gave was infectious and you were so thrilled to be playing this way.  From this we found you love bouncing legs too! Just wait until your Grappa gets ahold of you, his leg moves constantly.  When it's time for bed you like the vibration turned on in your Pack n' Play as well.  

You are quite a good sleeper and will sleep in 4 hour increments right now with a break to nurse and have a bit of a bottle.  You sleep right next to Mommy in your PNP and enjoy being within arms reach.  One of your other favorite spots to fall asleep is on Mommy's shoulder. 

Mommy also discovered your deep affection for the vacuum.  This sound will put you to sleep in a pinch and, thankfully, Mommy also installed an app with the same sound so you can always travel with it!

Your first month was nothing short of wonderful. You got to meet most of your close family members, and you got to experience your very first Christmas and New Year’s Eve. You lost your umbilical cord stump at just 17 days old. Even your belly button is adorable. (Everything about you will always be adorable. Especially to Mommy and Daddy.) You also experienced your first snow.  It was so cold outside, but Daddy got you all snuggled up in your bear suit and went out into the snow.  You didn't even notice the snowflakes landing on your nose.

   

Mommy could stare at you all day! Especially your eyes, they are the most beautiful azure blue color and most likely will change in time.  There is a very slim chance they will stay this color, with Mommy's hazel green and Daddy's mostly brown eyes you will likely end up with coloring close to that.  I keep hoping they never change because they are so perfect, and your Grandma Joe, Great Popop and Great Grammey each have blue eyes, so anything is possible!  Those baby blues are topped off with such long lashes anyone would be envious of.  You have such an expressive little face and we can't wait to see who you look like more.  We can see parts of Mommy and Daddy in you. You have your Mom's chin, lips and nose and your Dad's ears, forehead and eyes (we think).

We celebrated your first month birthday over New Years Eve, you even grabbed Daddy's glass of Champagne and held on tight!!

Mommy and Daddy are so glad you are finally here and love to watch you grow each day.

We love you so much Chipmunk,
Mommy