More Columbus Fun!

Hi Caleb,

The weather stayed beautiful for your first Columbus Day Weekend.  We had to get out and enjoy it, so Sunday Daddy and I took you hiking in the Blue Hills.  We drove over to the skating rink and picked up the trail heads there.  We wandered around the Skyline trail for a few hours, had another picnic and all in all had a great afternoon.  Daddy wore you in the Jeep carrier and you loved every minute of it.  You laughed, squealed and kicked your feet the whole way!   You really liked to watch the wind blow the leaves on the trees.  It was so pretty with all the colors in the trees!

By the end of the hike you fell sound asleep on Daddy's chest.  Worn out from all the fun.  What a great day!

In 1492...

Hi Caleb,

It is your first Columbus Day weekend! That means three days off from work for Mommy and Daddy.  The weather is incredible- about 70 degrees and sunny in October!! We intend to make the most of it!

Today was such a great day.  We had a lazy morning around the house, then went to Weymouth to the condo where Mommy used to live.  We spent a little time there, cleaning up (which you did not like) and then went to Webb State Park.  We had a picnic, you rolled around in the grass for a while, then went for a walk around the park.  The leaves and the ocean were beautiful.  We took lots of pictures.  It was the perfect spot to spend time today!

After the park we went by Nana and Granky's for a bit.  Everyone was there- Auntie Erin, Uncle Sean, Cousin Dillan, Cousin Andrew, Uncle Pat and Auntie Fallon.  It was Andrew's first visit to Nana and Granky's house.  You looked so giant next to him!

It was a great first day of your first Columbus day weekend.  Two more days of fun to come!

Oh, yeah, you got your first tooth today too! It is not all the way in yet, but it is there! Such a big boy!

Octoberfest!

Hi Cal,

Today was a great day.  It was the first Octoberfest in Q center, so you, Daddy and I walked over.  It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun.  There was music, lots of food, animals, pumpkins, all kinds of fall treats.  We brought your lunch and sat outside, then walked all around.  You were awake most of the time and you really seemed to like looking around and seeing all the people and activities.  It was a great family day and we can't wait to take you back next year! It is so much more fun to do these kinds of things now that we have you to do them with!

Ouch. And please stay still!

Dear Cal,

You have developed a few new habits.  Things that you really like to do, but that Daddy and I don't enjoy as much.  First, you love to pull hair. And Daddy's beard.  You are really good at getting a big handful and not letting go.  You also like to pinch my face.  Ouch!! 

The other thing you now like to do is anytime you are put on your back, you flip right to your belly.  Then you reach for anything that is nearby.  This is fine most of the time, but you do this when you are getting dressed or getting a diaper change.  This makes things a little tricky.  Sometimes, a diaper change can take WAY longer than it should.  You think its pretty funny.  Silly boy!

So busy!

Hi Cal,

Wow, the month of September flew by.  It was a very busy time! So many things going on. I couldn't write to you about each one, so I guess I'll just do a month in review.

You have changed and learned a lot this month.  At your six month appointment, you were 13 lbs, 10 ounces.  Still the 5th percentile, but up two pounds in a month.  Annette was so impressed by how strong you were and how well you rolled and moved.  There was a student nurse in the room with her and she couldn't stop raving to her about you.  I was so proud.  You did have to get a few more vaccines this month and you took them like a champ.  You cried a bit but got over them fast.  All in all, a good appointment.

You are talking a ton now. Lots of noises that are starting to sound more and more like words.  You day ma ma and da da.  At first, we thought you were just making noise, but now you look right at daddy and say "da da."  He loves it!  You also move more on your own.  You can get any where you want by rolling and you are very close to crawling. You are trying so hard to get going!

You really like to play now.  You can sit on your own and love to be on the floor surrounded by toys.  There is one toy that Abba gave you that you really love.  Its got Sesame Street characters on it and it spins and makes a lot of noise.  When it lands on Oscar it says "I love trash." You spin it and laugh.  Most toys end up in your mouth.  You are still working on getting some teeth, but nothing yet.  You drool a ton, though.  Some days I have to change your shirt because you get so soaked.

A few big things happened this month.  Probably the most exciting is that you now have a baby cousin.  Auntie Erin had a baby boy named Andrew.  You haven't met him yet because he's been a little sick and had to stay some extra time in the hospital.  He's home now, though and you'll meet him soon.  Cousin Dillan is so happy to have a baby brother.  You three are going to have tons of fun playing together!

We also went to Cousin Jake's christening and first birthday party this month.  Daddy is his Godfather! It was a great day at their house.  You spent a lot of time playing with Jake and his cousin Cameron.  It was at this party that you really sat by yourself for the first time.  You got pretty jealous, though, when Jake got his piece of cake.  He put his face right in it and I could tell you wanted to dig in with him.  Not yet, though!

You do still love to eat.  By now, you have tried most of the fruits and veggies and the only thing you don't like is green beans.  You get pretty excited at meal time and don't like to see anyone else eat unless you have something too.  New treats this month have been puffs and zwieback toast.  You do a really good job feeding yourself the toast, but you make a HUGE mess! In your hair, on your shirt, sometimes even in your eyes.  Messy, but you love it.  You have also started drinking a bit out of the sippy cup.  You haven't mastered it yet, but you are getting close.

You are turning into such a big boy.  You are learning so many new things and you are so much fun.  Daddy and I love the time we spend with you and you make us smile everyday.  Six months have gone by so fast and we have loved every minute of it!

Off to daycare...

Hi Caleb,

This week, I went back to work.  I know I'm very lucky that I got to be home with you for almost six months, but that didn't make going to work any easier! I'm only working part time, so I am away from you from about 7 until 11:30.  Its not that long a time, but it feels like forever.  I know you are in good hands while I am gone, though.  Somedays, you are with Nana and Granky, the other days you are with Abba.  They are all so happy to spend the time with you.  Abba takes you for walks all around her building and you have made lots of friends with "the ladies."  You are quite the popular guy with them!  On Nana and Granky days, Dillan is usually there to keep you company. He likes to push you around the house in your walker and he really likes to sit in the chair with you while he watches television.  

So while I am off teaching the high school kids, I know you are having a great time.  Being back to work isn't so bad, but I'd rather be with you!

How can I leave?

Dear Caleb,

Tonight's a hard night for the mommy.  Tomorrow, Daddy and I are suppose to go to California for a week.  You are just over five months old and you are going to stay with Nana and Granky while we are gone.  Our flight is very early, so we are planning to drop you off at their house in just a little bit.  I don't want to :(

We've been planning this trip since before you were born.  When we started to plan it, I never could have guessed how hard it would be to leave you.  I know you'll be in good hands- you are going to Maine for the week with Nana and Granky.  Auntie Erin, Uncle Sean and Cousin Dillan will be going too.  Fun week for you!  But that doesn't make it any easier to leave! Daddy and I are going to miss you so much!

It's time to go now.  Please don't get too big while we are gone.  Don't learn to crawl or do anything else too cool.  We'll be back very soon.  I miss you already!

Right now...

Hi Cal,

Right now, it is a lazy Sunday morning.  You are just about six months old.  We all stayed in bed this morning until about 8:00!! Then, you and I got up to have breakfast while Daddy slept in.  After your bananas and cereal, I put you into your exersaucer to play for a bit.  Usually, you love your exersaucer, but there in one toy on it that gets the best of you! Its a plastic book, two pages, with a mirror underneath.  The pages are pretty hard to turn, but you are determined to turn them.  Actually, I think you would like to eat them, but you can't get them into a good position to do that.  So instead you are screaming at the book with a look of fierce concentration on your face.  You are so angry and determined at the same time.  I hope you take to your school books with the same determination! 

Daddy just came out of the bedroom. I think we woke him up :).  He's probably wondering what all the screaming is about...

Welcome to the Old Apartment

Hi Caleb,

When you were born, Daddy and I were living in a condo in the Q.  Since I hope we won't still be living there when you read this, I thought I take a little time to tell you about your first home!

Daddy bought the condo about a year and a half before you were born.  At the time, it was perfect for him.  It was good sized for one person and very close to the train station.  I was living in my own condo not too far away.  When we decided to move in together, we decided to live in Daddy's place because it was bigger.  We thought it was plenty big for two, but when you came along, it sure seemed to get smaller!! Not that you were big, but you had a LOT of stuff.  When I moved in, Daddy had electric guitars in the bedroom, a foosball table in the living room and an office full of stuff.  Very quickly, those things went away to be replaced by your crib, bassinette, exersaucer, swing, highchair, jumper.... the list goes on and on!! Even though things go crowded, we were very happy in your first home.

The building the condo was in was very interesting.  It was pretty old, so sometimes things, especially the elevator did not work.  We were on the fourth floor, so when we had things to carry, it was kind of a pain! The people living in the other units were interesting too.  We had nicknames for many of them- Shoeless lady, guy with dog, albino man.  You were the only baby in the building, but there were lots of cats, usually roaming the halls! There was also a box by the door filled with odds and ends that said "like, take." Dad and I never really figured that one out.  Sometimes the fire alarm went off at night, but Daddy usually refused to leave (I would take you out, though!)

Your first home was a funny place, but we were happy there.  We'll drive by and show it to you sometime!

How Sweet It Is!

Dear Caleb,

Today was Auntie Erin's birthday. To celebrate, we had dinner at Nana and Granky's house. After dinner, we had birthday cake. Daddy was holding you at the table while we ate the cake. You were staring at everyone eating and reaching for Daddy's plate. There was no question, you wanted some! We decided a teeny bit couldn't hurt, so Daddy put a little bit of frosting on his finger and you licked it off. It wasn't a lot, but enough for you to get the taste and you LOVED it. And so, at just about five months old, your sweet tooth was born!

Packing it on!

Hi Cal,

After your four month appointment, Annette suggested that we start giving you a big bowl of cereal twice a day to help you put on a bit more weight. From that day on, you began to have a quarter cup of cereal for breakfast and a quarter cup for dinner. The first few times, it was a bit messy, but once you got the hang of it, you loved it. After a few days, we started to add some fruits and veggies to your diet. Bananas were first, followed by pears, sweet potatoes and carrots. You liked it all! And it worked. Within a few weeks, Daddy and I could see that your face was getting chubbier and your clothes were fitting better. I was excited for your follow up weight check to see how much weight you had actually gained.

Your follow up appointment was three weeks after your four month appointment. Annette told us at four months that she was hoping to see you gain a pound by that appointment. Well, you did that and then some! At four months you were 9 pounds 10 ounces. At this appointment you were 11 pounds 2 ounces. One pound, 8 ounces in three weeks!! Daddy and I were so happy when the scale landed on that number! You are still skinny, but at least you are back on the chart!

Fingers and Toes

Hi Caleb,

When you were first born, the nurses at the hospital didn't give you a pacifier so we didn't give you one. At your first doctor's appointment, Annette recommended that we try one. She thought you might go longer between feedings if we gave you a pacifier. We stopped at the store on the way home to buy one. When we got home, I sterilized it and gave it to you. You did not like it. Someone suggested it might be too big, so a few days later, I bought another one. Sterilized it. Gave it to you. You did not like it. I went to Babies R Us to get you the kind they have at the hospital. You kind of liked that one, but mostly you would suck on it for a few minutes, then spit it out. If we held it in your mouth then you kind of liked it. But you didn't love it. Daddy and I were just about at the point where we were going to give up, when you discovered your thumb. From that point on, the pacifier was forgotten. You became a thumb sucker and you loved it.

After about a month of happy thumb sucking, you made another discovery. You found your feet. For a few days, you were content to just grab at your toes. But Daddy and I could tell you had other plans for those feet of yours. Sure enough, after a few days of grabbing at your feet, I went to check on you in your crib and you were sucking your toes. Like a mad man. And you were so happy. From that point on, your toes became your favorite thing to put in your mouth. You'll still suck your thumb if you can't get your toes, and when you are sleeping, but your toes are your favorite. Our little toe sucker.

A Few of Your Favorite Things!

Hi Cal,

You are about 4.5 months old right now. As I write this, you are napping in your crib while Daddy and I sit on the couch. These months have gone by so fast and have been so great. I thought I would take some time to tell you about your favorite things so far.

Your very favorite toy is probably your exercise mat. It has arches that hang over you and toys hang from it. You love to lay on it and roll around, batting at the toys. You giggle and smile. Sometimes you'll stay there for over an hour!

You also really love your exersaucer and the bigger you get, the more you love it. You get to stand up in it and standing is another one of your favorite things. You don't like to sit and you love to move. You are a very wiggly, active baby!

You are still pretty small right now, but despite your size, you LOVE to eat. You get a big bowl of cereal in the morning and at dinner time. You love to have fruit mixed with it and so far pears seem to be your favorite. You like veggies too- so far you have had carrots and sweet potatoes. You get very excited when you see the spoon and often try to grab it and feed yourself. What a mess!

Just a few weeks ago, Daddy taught you how to blow bubbles and that has become a favorite activity. You laugh when someone blows them at you, and then you blow them back. Its pretty cute! You also love when I blow on your tummy. That makes you laugh VERY loud. You have a great laugh and the best smile. Your whole face lights up when you smile and you look so happy! Your smile is one of my favorite things in the whole world!

Of course, some of your very favorite things are the people in your life- Nana, Granky, Abba, Auntie Erin, everyone really! You get very happy when you see Cousin Dillan. He really loves you now and gives you hugs and kisses all the time. He likes to hold you and sit with you. You two are really getting to be good friends.

You especially love your Daddy. When he gets home from work and you hear his voice you get the biggest smile.

And, of course, I know that the mommy is your favorite of all your favorite things ;)

Your First Vacation

Dear Caleb,

What a week we have just had! You were on your very first vacation! Daddy, Nana, Granky, Auntie Erin, Uncle Sean, Cousin Dillan, Auntie Fallon, Uncle Pat, you and I all went to Maine for a whole week!

You and I left early on Friday morning. We picked up Auntie Erin, Cousin Dillan and Auntie Fallon at Nana and Granky's house and headed to York, Maine. We spent the day at York's Wild Kingdom and had a blast! Dillan loved all the animals and it was fun to spend the day with Erin and Fallon. After a few hours at the zoo, we drove to the lighthouse in York and had a great lunch at a beautiful spot. Once we were done, we got back on the road and headed the rest of the way our house in Limington.

This house has been in Nana's family for a long time. Her father, my Grampy, originally owned it. Now, Nana shares it with her brothers and sisters. Your cousins all enjoy taking their vacations there. I was so excited to take you there for the first time! By the time we got there, Nana and Granky were already there and so happy to see us. Uncle Pat, Uncle Sean and Daddy arrived later that night, after you were in bed. With all those people, the house was pretty crowded, but that was okay!

That first night was a little exciting. Right after we got there, it started to rain. The rain turned into a bad thunderstorm and we lost power. That meant no working stove and no running water. We had sandwiches for dinner and sat around talking by candlelight. This was hard for Dillan for two reasons. First, he couldn't understand why we wouldn't turn the TV on. Second, he wanted to blow out the candles and couldn't figure out why we wouldn't let him. He thought they were like birthday candles. We spent most of the night trying to keep him from blowing them out!

When we woke up the next morning, the power was still out. I made breakfast for all of us on the grill and we talked about what to do. We knew if the power didn't come back on soon, we would have to go home. Luckily, it came back just before lunch time.

Unfortunately, the rain didn't really stop when the lights came back on. It rained off and on for most of the week. That didn't stop us, though. We still did a lot of fun things. We went to a dairy farm that we have been going to for a long time. We got ice cream, bought some homemade cheese and played at the petting zoo. You especially like the goat, which came right up to you and kind of licked your hand. One day, Mommy's friend Gina came over with her two kids and we spent the day playing at the pond. Another day, Nana and Granky took you to Portland to buy lobsters while Mommy and Daddy went canoeing. By Friday, the weather was nicer so we took you to Freeport for the day. We did a lot of shopping and even toured a vodka factory. Saturday was beautiful so we spent the morning at the pond swimming and then left for home in the late afternoon.

We arrived home around dinner time on Saturday night, tired but very happy with how well our first family vacation went. We can't wait for the next one, and for all the fun things we will do together as you get bigger.

Peanut Boy

Hi Caleb,

Today you had your fourth month doctor's appointment. You saw Annette, and for the most part, it was a good appointment. You are healthy and strong. You smiled through most of the appointment and Annette was very impressed by you. Only two negatives to this appointment.

The first negative was your weight. You hadn't gained very much since your two month appointment. You only weigh 9lbs 10ozs, which is VERY small for a four month old. It wasn't even on the chart! You have only gained 1 lb, 4 ozs since your last appointment. Annette wasn't too worried, but she told us to start giving you cereal to bulk you up a little bit. That's fine by us, because we have already been giving you cereal for a few days! Hopefully, that will help you get a bit bigger. You seem to like it, so that's a good thing!

The second negative was your second round of vaccinations. I can not stand to see you get the shots. I feel so terrible letting them do something that I know hurts you! Daddy handles it well, though, so he held you while you got them. You cried for a few minutes, but got over it pretty quickly. No more until 6 months!

So that's the update. You are a peanut, but a healthy peanut. We will go back to the doctor in three weeks to see how your weight gain is going. Lets hope for a pound!

Tears...

Hi Caleb,

I feel like we have to be honest, and tell some of the less pleasant things that happen in your life. Mostly you were a happy, laidback baby. You usually only cried when you were hungry. It was pretty rare that you would fuss for no reason. Most days, you woke up smiling. People often commented on how good you were. Sometimes, however, you would cry because of something Daddy or I did. It didn't happen too often, but when it did, it was the worst, so I'll just give you two examples- one Daddy, one Mommy.

The mommy example came pretty early on and happened at Nana and Granky's house. I was giving you a bath in the sink, which I do not like to do. You get very slippery and wiggly in your bath. Well, on this particular occasion, as I was washing you, you kind of slipped. Or I kind of dropped you. Under the water. I scooped you up immediately, but the damage was done. You had gone under the water and you didn't like it one bit. You cried like your heart was broken, real tears, and I almost cried myself. You recovered quick but it was still a very terrible moment.

The daddy example is a bit more intense. As I was feeding you one night, I noticed your fingernails needed to be cut and asked Daddy to do it while you were distracted with eating. He did and, in the process, cut three of your fingers. You screamed and cried louder than I have ever heard you. And you bled. A lot. Daddy felt awful, I thought he was going to cry. You are a pretty tough guy, so you got over it soon, but it was a long time until you got your nails cut again.

So there's the ugly truth. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy made mistakes. Sorry! We will try harder in the future not to break you!

Re-Vo-Lu-Tion!!

Dear Caleb,

In case you haven't realized it yet, your Daddy LOVES soccer. He likes to watch it, to play it, to talk about it. His favorite team right now is the English team Arsenal. But he also loves the New England Revolution. As a matter of fact, this year he has season's tickets. He really likes going to the games, so it was only a matter of time before he wanted to take you!

You were almost four months old when you attended your first Rev's game. I was a little nervous about taking you, but Daddy was so excited. It was a bit cool, so we bundled you up and headed to Gilette Stadium. We met up with Tony and Kerry in the parking lot and you had your first tailgating experience. You seemed to enjoy it. We heated your milk on the little hibachi and Daddy fed you, so you were pretty happy. He wore you into the game in the sling, and you were pretty content. It was noisy in the game, but you didn't fuss. You stayed awake, looking around at all the people and things going on. The Revolution took the lead pretty quick, which made Daddy happy. I could tell how much he loved having you at the game with him. I know he can't wait until your bigger and going to the games becomes a regular thing for the two of you!

We stayed at the game until almost the very end, we left about ten minutes early. The Revs won and Daddy got to have his first soccer experience with his boy!

All American Boy!

Hi Cal,

For a long time, the Fourth of July has been my favorite holiday. The weather is usually nice, the day is spent outside, cookouts mean no one has to spend tons of time preparing food, and there's no pressure for presents or spending tons of money. I love it!

In Quincy, the festivities usually kick off on the third, with bonfires, block parties and fireworks all over the city. When I was in high school and college, I loved going to the bonfire in Hough's Neck (but those are stories for another time). Times have changed a bit, so instead of going to Hough's Neck this year, we went to Tony and Kerry's for a lobster bake. Bard and Nadine were there too. It was lots of fun- you had a great time playing on your blanket of their floor, smiling and laughing with everyone. When it got to be bed time, you slept in your car seat in Tony and Kerry's room. A perfect angel on your first third of July!

The fourth has always been spent at Auntie Jackie's pool. She has a cookout and the whole family comes. Its usually a great time! This year was no exception. The weather was a bit cool, but other than that, things were perfect. Once again, you were the hit of the party- everyone passing you around, wanting to play with you. Even Abba came this year!

Like usual, you didn't sleep during the cookout. Too much to see, I guess. As it got later, I gave you to Uncle Mike to hold while I helped clean up. When I came back, you were sound asleep with him in the rocking chair. It was pretty cute, he was so happy to be spending time with you. It was the perfect ending to the day!

There was only one problem on the fourth this year. Nana had bought you an awesome bathing suit and matching shirt to wear. It was so cute and I couldn't wait for you to wear it. When I got you dressed, however, I couldn't find the suit. I could find the shirt, but not the suit. I turned the whole house upside down to find it, including dumping all your clothes on the floor. I think Daddy thought I was going nutso! I didn't find it and was so disappointed you had to wear something else. Of course, I found it the very next day, wedged behind the drawer! Despite this setback, we still had an excellent day. I hope you like this holiday as much as I do as you get older. But I don't think I'll be letting you go to the bonfire in Hough's Neck until you are much, much older!

Back to Work :(

Hi Caleb,

When I found out you were due at the end of March, I was pretty psyched. Being a teacher, I couldn't have timed it better. If you came when you were due, or after, I would not have to go back to work until September. Six whole months to spend time with you. But you came a week early. So I have to go back to work. For three whole days.

I'm pretty bummed about this work thing. Daddy doesn't have much sympathy and I can see his point. Its only three days and then I have the summer off. There won't be any kids around because exams are over. My principal said I could come and go as I needed to. Nana volunteered to watch you. It could be so much worse, but that's not the point. I'm not sad about going to work- I like my job. I'm sad because it means my maternity leave is over, that that period of time has ended. It means you are getting bigger and don't need me quite as much. It means someone else is going to get to spend the time with you that's usually OUR time. It means I have to leave you for longer that a couple hours. Sucky.

I know you'll have fun with Nana, and I know I'll survive. But don't do anything too cool while I'm gone. I'll be home as soon as I can.

Rugged Mountain Men.

Cal,

I love to hike. I especially love to hike with Daddy. I'm not sure that Daddy loves to hike. As a matter of fact, I don't even know that Daddy LIKES to hike. Its usually hot, often buggy and very frequently we get lost. Those things don't really bother me, making it to the top makes them worth it. I'm not sure Daddy feels the same. But he hikes with me because he knows I love it. And because I love it, I couldn't wait to take you hiking. So today, memorial day, at barely 3 monts old, you went on your first hike. Daddy carried you in the sling. You were the most popular guy on the mountain, everyone we saw commented on how cute you were, even though you are so small you could barely be seen over the carrier. It wasn't too hot and we didn't get lost. Your first hike was a success and I can't wait to do it again!

On a side note, carrying you in the carrier makes Daddy very hot. When he gets hot, he sweats. Also, you tend to drool a bit. The combo of sweat and drool made Daddy's shirt very wet. That didn't bother you, though. You spent a lot of the time trying to lick the moisture off of Daddy's shirt. Pretty gross, but very funny.

Mornings with Dad.

Hi Cal,

I am not a morning person. I like to sleep late. Your dad, however, is an early bird. He likes to get up way before I do. This works out well, in my opinion. I am up a lot in the night feeding and changing you. He gets up with you from 6 o'clock on, which gives me a chance to sleep for a few hours while the two of you play in the living room. Usually, I sleep during this time, but sometimes I wake up. And spy. Yup, you heard right. I spy on you and Daddy.

The reason I spy is because I love to see you and Daddy together. You are such a little version of him and he loves you so much. I love to watch him play with you and to see him smile at you. Even just seeing you lay on the couch with him makes me happy. I know you two are going to have so much fun in the years to come!

So, yeah, I love my sleep. But somedays I'm willing to trade it to watch you and Dad together. Its worth missing sleep over.

See Animals?

Hi Caleb,

You are nearly two months old. This second month of your life has been a busy one for you, thanks in part to Cousin Dillan! Nana watches him two or three days a week and as the weather has gotten nicer, we have been trying to think up fun "field trips" for him. He loves animals, so several of our trips have been so he could "see animals."

Our first trip to the animals was to the Trailside Museum at the Blue Hills. This was one of my FAVORITE places when I was little. You mostly slept on our first visit, but Dillan loved it. He wanted to see everything. Nana could barely keep up with him! He loved the otter and the rats, but his favorites were the turtles! He couldn't get enough of them!

Inside the museum was a gift shop that sold toy versions of the animals. Nana wanted to get Dillan a souvenier. Right at the front of the shop, though, there was a basket of rubber snakes. Well, Dillan was so afraid of those snakes that he wouldn't look at any of the other toys! (He got over this fear the second time we went- he got two rubber frogs, one of which he immediately threw into the turtle pond.) We left that first visit with no toy for Dillan.

Because Dillan did so well at the Trailside, we decided our next field trip would be the Franklin Park Zoo. We invited Kelli and Alex to come with us. We packed a picnic lunch and had the best day! If we thought Dillan like the museum, it was nothing compared to how much he loved the zoo! He and Alex had a blast seeing the lions, monkeys, birds and more! Once again, you slept through most of it, but I'm sure you will love it too when you get bigger.

A museum and a zoo. Pretty good for a two month old! And there are lots more field trips to come!

Your Christening.

Dear Caleb,

Today was your Christening! It was an awesome day and never have I been so proud to be your Mommy!

We had you christened at St. John's Church. Deacon Lewis did a private ceremony just for you because he is my friend Meaghan's dad. He did a great job! We were almost late for the service because you kept making your diaper dirty, so we had to change you three times before we could get out the door. We made it just in time! Lots of your Aunties, Uncles and cousins came to see you be welcomed into the church. You wore Cousin Dillan's christening gown and Auntie Erin and Uncle Sean were your Godparents.

After the service, we had a party at Abba's apartment building. So many friends and family came to celebrate you! You were passed around from person to person all day- everyone wanted to hold you! You were so well behaved through it all- you didn't make a peep. You stayed awake the whole time, checking everything out! Everyone was amazed at what a good boy you were!

We're home now and you are sound asleep, wiped out from your party. Daddy and I are tired too. I bet we all sleep well tonight!

Psst... Wanna hear a secret?

Hi Cal,

I have a confession to make. Don't tell Daddy! You are about 6 weeks old right now, and you still aren't sleeping through the night. You are, however, going for longer stretches- sometimes four or five hours. That makes me think that it won't be long before you start sleeping all night. That makes me sad because my secret is that I really, really like the nighttime feedings. You sleep in the basinette next to our bed, and when you wake, I take you to the rocking chair in your room and feed you and rock you. Sometimes, I hold you long after you fall asleep. I'm tired and I like to sleep, but I really love the quiet time with you, when I can just look at you and talk quietly to you. I love how content you get when I feed you. I love that I can do that for you because I am the mommy. I know when you start sleeping through the night, I'll be glad for the rest, but I'll miss our late night visits. So, it's okay if you don't sleep through the night quite yet. No rush!

Let's not tell Daddy about this. I like the sympathy that sleepless nights gets me!

Here We Go Red Sox!

Caleb,

Before you were born, one of my favorite things to do was to go to Red Sox games at Fenway Park. I went to my first game when I was about ten, with my childhood best friend. It was so much fun and from that moment, I was hooked! A member of Red Sox Nation for life! Games are pretty expensive and very hard to get tickets to, but tons of fun!

Daddy and I typically got to two or three games each season. When we first started dating, I took him to Chicago to see the Red Sox play the White Sox. We had an awesome weekend, but nothing compares to seeing them at home! That's why its fitting, I guess, that our first outing without you after your birth was to a Sox game.

Daddy came home from work two days ago to tell me that his Uncle Bill had offered him tickets for tonight's game. It was only the second home game of the season! I was really torn over going- I wanted to, but didn't want to leave you, and you were way too little to go with us! Who would babysit you? Would you cry? Would you eat? What if you needed me? Daddy convinced me you would be fine and that Abba had volunteered to be your first babysitter. I was so nervous, but decided to go.

I pumped a ton yesterday and today to make sure you had plenty to eat. I don't know why I thought a one month old would be able to eat 20 ounces in four hours, but that's how much I left with Abba! We dropped you off around 6, I could tell Abba was so happy to have a chance to spend time with you. We left quick before I could change my mind. We drove to the ballpark and had a great time. It was so strange, though, to be without you!

We checked in with Abba a few times during the game and she assured us you were doing great, but we still left early. The Sox were up by a few runs when the 8th inning started, so we decided to head home. I practically ran down the hall to Abba's apartment, I was so happy to see you.

The Sox won the game and I survived my first night out. It went pretty well, but I think we'll wait a while before doing it again!

Bottle.

Dear Caleb,

Today was a big day. You drank out of a bottle for the first time. We were at Babies R us with Nana when you got hungry. We went into the Mother's Room and Nana thought I would nurse you in there, but I had a surprise for her. I packed a bottle because I knew she was dying to feed you! I was nervous you wouldn't want it, but you drank it like a champ! I have to admit, it made me a bit sad and maybe even jealous to let someone else feed you, but I saw how happy Nana was to have the chance and that made me feel better. I can't wait for Daddy to have a chance to feed you, too! Maybe he can take over some of the late night feedings...

Month One in Review!

Hi Cal,

You are one month old today. Can you believe it? I sure can't. This month has gone by so fast! It seems like just yesterday we were dreaming about you, five minutes ago that we were in the hospital with you. At the same time, I can't imagine life without you or remember what it was like before you joined us. You are such an awesome baby. I know I'm biased, but I think you are pretty amazing. It has been so much fun getting to know you! I can't wait to see what next month brings!

Goop and a rash.

Hi Cal,

Before you were born, Daddy and I did some research to pick your doctor. We wanted to make sure you had a really good pediatrician to help us take care of you. Auntie Erin recommended Dillan's doctor, so about 2 months before you arrived we had a meeting with him. His name was Dr. Hom and we like him very much. He also had a nurse practicioner working for him named Annette. She was Daddy's nurse when he was a little boy! She remembered him well!

Your first few doctor's appointments were routine. You had a check up at five days, one week and two weeks. At all of these appointments you were doing great. You were small, but gaining weight. You were strong and healthy!

Shortly after your two week appointment, Daddy and I noticed you were having some trouble with your right eye. It was really runny and goopy. When you woke from a nap, it was often stuck shut! I called the doctor's office and they wanted to see you right away. Nana was sure it was a blocked tear duct, but I was nervous it was something worse. Like usual, Nana was right. It only took Dr. Hom a few moments to diagnose is, and he gave me some ideas on how to make it better.

The day I took you for that eye appointment, I noticed that you had a small rash starting on your face. It didn't look too bad and the nurse said it was just baby acne. Very common and nothing to worry about. Well, within two weeks, it had spread to all over your face and onto your neck and chest. It was so red and looked sore- but it didn't seem to bother you. I called the doctor a few times, and finally I insisted that they look at it. As soon as Annette saw it, she knew it wasn't just acne- it was eczema! She said it was most likely caused by overheating and she told Mommy not to dress you so warm. She also recommended a cream to put on it. It took almost a month, but it finally cleared up.

After the rash, I thought we would be able to stay away from the doc until your next check up. No such luck. As soon as the rash started to clear, your LEFT eye started to get goopy- even worse than the right had been. Another blocked tear duct!

All these things happened between your two week and two month check up! So many visits to the doctor in that time, I was afraid they were going to think I was a crazy mom, or a worry wart. But, by the time of your two month check up you were back on track- healthy and strong! No rash, no goop. Now we are waiting four your four month check up!!

Cousin Dillan

Dear Cal,

Your first few weeks of life went by in a blur! You didn't sleep very much at night, so neither did I. I was pretty exhausted, but wanted to take full advantage of the time I had with you when I didn't have to work, so we had some busy days. We had lots of adventures with Nana, especially when Cousin Dillan was around.

You met Cousin Dillan for the first time at the hospital. Auntie Erin and Uncle Sean brought him to visit and he was VERY excited to meet you. He had just turned two and you were his first baby cousin. His excitement changed, however, when Auntie Erin held you. He wasn't so sure how he felt about his mommy holding another baby!!

After that first meeting, it took Cousin Dillan a little while to figure out how he felt. You saw him several days a week at Nana and Granky's. The first few times he wanted me to take you away. He didn't want HIS nana paying attention to you! He also didn't like that you were sleeping in the cradle that he had slept in. Quite a few times we had to take him out so we could put you in!

Over time, Dillan got used to having you around. He became more interested in you and wanted to touch you. He even started to share toys with you. By the time you were a month old, he was always looking for you and wanted to make sure we didn't leave you behind if we were going some place. Many times he even wanted to help me carry you in your carseat!

Not only did Dillan start liking you better as time went on, he also started to like your stuff. He stole your pacifier, got into your carseat and loved playing with your floor mat. You didn't care! You and Dillan were on your way to becoming good friends! You spent lots of time together in those first few months! I hope you'll stay good friends as you get older. And soon, Dillan will have a baby brother or sister to join in the fun!

Easter

Dear Caleb,

As your due date drew closer, I hoped that you would arrive early enough that we would be home from the hospital in time for Easter. I really didn't want to be in the hospital on Easter, and since Easter was after your due date, I was really hoping you would be here before that. Luckily, you arrived over a week early, so you were here in plenty of time to celebrate your first holiday. Let me tell you, it was a BUSY day. Everyone wanted us to bring you for a visit!

We started the day out by going to Auntie Linda's in Bridgewater. This was your longest car ride yet and you did awesome. We spent a few hours there hanging out with Abba, Auntie Linda, Joe, Kate and Tommy. Tommy got his first pair of roller blades from the Easter Bunny and he had a blast trying them out around the living room.

After Auntie Linda's, we went to Auntie Nancy's for a quick visit. There were a lot of people there and they were all so excited to meet you. You were taken out of my hands when we walked through the door and I didn't see you again until it was time to leave. Your cousins were especially glad to see you- glad for another boy to play with. We couldn't stay at Nancy's for too long, though, because Auntie Erin was waiting for us at her house. This was our last stop of the day, and that's where we finally had dinner!

It was such a great day for Daddy and I. We were so proud to show you off to all of our family! You were so awesome- you barely fussed a bit! We were all exhausted when we got home, but your first holiday was a big success!

So Many Visitors!

Hi Cal,

Today was a crazy day! You are one week old and we have been home from the hospital for five days. You, Daddy and I spent most of the early part of the day just kind of lounging around, playing and watching TV. We were just about to take a nap when the phone rang. It was Abba asking if she could come for a visit. You hadn't seen her in a few days, so we told her to come on over. Well, she came and brought with her Geri Herbert, Auntie Mazie, Uncle Brian, Cousin Ari, and Cousin Jake. At the same time, Uncle Pat, Auntie Fallon and Nana all stopped by. Our quiet, lazy day turned into a party! I guess they wanted to celebrate your one week birthday. Abba even brought cake! Everyone wanted to see you, hold you and check out your room. You were such a good boy and didn't fuss a bit as they passed you around. Our little condo was never so crowded!! Now we are waiting for Uncle Eddie to bring some us some dinner and then I think we will all sleep well tonight!

Cluster Feeding!

Dear Caleb,

You were a very skinny baby. By the time we took you home from the hospital, you were only 6 pounds! Your size, however, was no reflection on how much you ate! For the first 6 weeks of your life, we were feeding all the time. Morning, noon, night! You almost never went more that 1.5 hours without having a snack. Many, many times I thought I must be doing something wrong, because you never seemed full. Nana and Auntie Erin suggested that I should try some formula to fill you up, but I was determined to keep nursing. Your weight gain was slow, but you were gaining. More important, you were happy and healthy! As long as that was the case, I didn't want to make the change. Plus, the nursing gave us an excuse to spend lots of time cuddling on the couch while Daddy waited on us!

It Just Keeps Getting Better!

Dear Caleb,

I thought the day you were born was the best day of my life. Little did I know that each day would be better than the one before. Your daddy and I had so much fun getting to know you in the first days of your life. And we weren't the only ones! You had lots of visitors on day one, and even more on day two! This was the day you met Cousin Dillan for the first time. You also met Auntie Linda, Cousin Kate, Auntie Nancy, Auntie Jackie, Auntie Mazie, Uncle Brian, Cousin Ari, Cousin Jake, Kelli and Kara. Such a popular boy!!

In between visitors, Daddy and I took turns holding and staring at you. You were so perfect- tiny and beautiful! You slept a lot this day, so we also caught a few naps. When you were awake, you and I practiced feeding. By the end of the day, we were pros. I loved nursing you from the very beginning and you seemed to enjoy it too!

After the last visitors of the day left, Daddy and I decided he should go home for the night to get things ready for your homecoming the next day. We left the house in a hurry so Daddy wanted to straighten up, do some laundry, things like that. Even though I knew he would be back early the next morning, I was so sad when he left. I could tell he was too- he didn't want to leave you! After he left, I fed you one last time and sent you to the nursery until your next feeding.

I had barely fallen asleep when they brought you back. You were a hungry boy!! I changed you and fed you. Then fed you some more. Changed you again. Fed again. Over and over! No matter what I did, I couldn't get you back to sleep. You were happy when you were eating and I was holding you, but as soon as I put you down, you would start to fuss. I was so afraid I was doing something wrong! Finally, at around 6 in the morning I brought you back across the hall to the nursery. I explained the situation to the nurse and she assured me I was doing everything right, that in the first few days babies nurse alot. She said she would take you for a bit so I could get some sleep. When I woke up, Daddy was back. Boy, was I glad to see him!!

They brought you back from the nursery and we took you to a baby bath class. We learned how to clean you and give you a massage. Then it was time to go home! We got you all dressed up in the outfit Nana brought special for your first car ride and waited for the nurse to give us the okay to leave. We waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, at about 3:00 they let us leave. We carried you carefully out to the truck. After three days in the hospital, I thought it felt great to be outside. You weren't so sure! It was very sunny and cold- you didn't seem to like either. You fell right asleep in the car, though, and we were home in no time. Daddy and I were so happy and proud to bring our beautiful son home. The first part of the adventure was over, but the best was yet to come!

The Best Birthday Cake Ever!!!

Dear Caleb,

When last we left off, you had been whisked away to the nursery! I thought you'd like to know what we did in those first two hours of your life and the days to follow while we got to know each other at the hospital.

Since I didn't have any drugs during your birth, the nurse told me I could do whatever I wanted while we waited for you to come back from the nursery- eat, shower, sleep, move to the room we would share- whatever I felt like doing. It had been a while since my last meal (the fancy one in Boston felt like ages before) so I opted for some lunch. Daddy called down to the caf to order it and we sat back to wait. While waiting for my lunch, he went down to the cafeteria to get his own. He came back with a giant piece of birthday cake. I'm not sure if it really was for me, but I decided it was and ate the whole thing while waiting for my lunch. It was the best piece of cake I have ever eaten. This might not seem like a very important story to share, but I wanted to make sure you knew that even on your very first birthday, the day you were born, I ate cake. Yum.

After lunch, I took a shower. When I got out, Abba had arrived. I'm still not sure how she finally heard the news, but she was there and so anxious to meet you. She helped us pack up and walked with us as we went to our new room. We called for you from the nursery and Abba got to meet grandkid number 9. She was so happy and couldn't believe how much you looked like your Daddy. She was the first person to say this, but certainly not the last. That was pretty much the common consensus! I saw it to and it made me so happy. My two handsome boys.

Abba was your first visitor on day one, but certainly not your last. Throughout the day, you met Auntie Emily, Cousin Aiden, Uncle Pat, Auntie Fallon, Auntie Erin, and Uncle Sean. It was a busy day so after dinner we decided you should go to the nursery for a little bit. I didn't want you to leave, but I hadn't slept in a long time and knew I should get some rest. I was a little sad, not only to send you away even for a short time, but because Nana and Granky hadn't seen you yet. When you were born, they were ten hours away, in Baltimore. I knew they were trying hard to get home to see you, but it was a long drive for them. As we were getting ready to bring you to the nursery, the door opened and in came Nana, Granky and Auntie Jeanie. They had made it afterall and were so excited to see you. I guess Nana wouldn't even let them stop to use the bathroom, she was so anxious to see you. It was such an awesome feeling, seeing my parents hold you. They stayed for a short while and when they went home, we all went to bed. Your first day was over, the most amazing day of my life.

I Think We Need to go to the Hospital!!

Dear Cal,

For nine months, we waited, dreamed, hoped and planned. In about 13 hours, all our waiting came to an end and our dreams came true with your arrival.

As I've already told you, I had my last doctor's appointment on Thursday, March 13th and the nurse practictioner didn't seem too hopeful you would be arriving anytime soon. I was pretty disappointed after this appointment, because I was hoping you would arrive in time for Easter, which was the following weekend. I went to school on Friday feeling fine. I left at the end of the day planning to be back on Monday. Happily, I was wrong!

That night, I had made reservations to take Daddy out for dinner. His birthday was coming up and I wanted to make sure we got one last date in. We went to a fancy restaurant in the North End and had a delicious dinner. After we ate, we toyed with the idea of going out for bit longer because I felt great- not tired at all! We decided to go home instead and headed back to the Q. As we got into the elevator, I felt a little something, but didn't think too much of it. We got upstairs and were sitting on the couch playing Guitar Hero when my water broke. Not a big dramatic gush like you see on TV and in the movies, but enough so I noticed! I told Daddy that I thought my water had broken and he asked what we should do next. I told him I had no idea and he suggested I call somebody. I called Auntie Nancy and she told me I should call the after hours line for the doctor. I did and the midwife called right back. She told us to head right to the hospital so we got our bags together. I had actually packed our bags a few weeks ahead of time. I had read lots of lists of things to bring to the hospital, stocked up on the things I thought we'd need and packed and repacked. I had stuff for you, for me and for daddy. Despite being prepared in advanced, I basically unpacked and repacked before I was ready to go. Nerves, I guess! We called Nana, Abba and Auntie Erin, hopped in the truck and off we went.

I couldn't believe how calm and collected your dad was on the ride to the hospital. I was not in any pain- no contractions yet- but I was so scared. After months of waiting, the time had come and I didn't know what to expect. Daddy kept me calm, though, by saying funny things and playing our "car game." We arrived at South Shore Hosptial in no time, although we did have a bit of trouble finding the right door and then the maternity ward. We checked in with the midwife and were sent to wait at labor and delivery. We had to wait a few minutes before getting into a room, but I still wasn't having any contractions so the wait wasn't so bad. The funny thing was, as soon as we sat in L&D, my nerves went away. I knew we were where we were suppose to be and that we would be meeting you soon!

We were taken back to a room and the very nice nurse told me to change my clothes and get ready for the doctor to come in and examine me. A few minutes later, Dr. Shakr arrived. I couldn't have been any happier than when I saw he was the doctor on duty. He was my favorite from the practice and I knew we were in good hands. As he started the examine I got a little nervous again- not about labor or anything, but because Daddy hadn't been in the room for one of those kind of exams yet. I got over it quick though, because he assured me it wasn't a big deal. Dr. Shakr confirmed pretty quickly that my water had broken. He did an ultrasound so we could see how you were doing- our last glimpse of you on the inside! Unfortunately, even though my water had broken, I wasn't actually in labor yet, so he order some drugs to get the ball rolling. He predicted you would arrive late on Saturday or early on Sunday. That seemed a long way away, since it was only around midnight on Friday night! I got an IV (ouch!!) and some monitors and Daddy and I settled in for the night.

I was feeling fine, so Daddy went to sleep. The nurses were in and out checking on things so it was hard for me to sleep. Plus, one of the monitors was recording your heartbeat, and I couldn't stop watching it. I wanted to make sure you were doing okay and that your heartbeat stayed steady!

Shortly after Daddy went to sleep, I began having contractions. Yowzer. They were not pleasant. Within no time, they were coming fast and hard. At one point, the nurse came in to ask if I was feeling them, since they were showing up on the monitor, but I wasn't making any noise! I told her I was indeed feeling them, but I was trying to pretend I wasn't, hoping that would make them less painful! At that point, she stayed for a few minutes and we talked about pain medication and what I wanted to do. I was really committed to trying to NOT take any medications, especially not an epidural. The nurse, who's name was Pat, said that was fine and she would help me in any way she could. She gave me a few pointers for dealing with the pain and said she'd be close by if I needed her.

Sometime not long after, Dr. Ekhardt came in to check me out (Dr. Shakr had gone home.) She said I was more than half way there and that things looked good! No one could believe things were moving along so quickly! Because things were moving so quick, Pat stayed with me in the room. I didn't realize ahead of time that I would have my very own nurse. I thought they would just come in for the grand finale, but Pat stayed with us for almost the whole time. By this point, it was early in the morning and Daddy had woken up. We filled him in on what was going on, but I don't think he realized how much pain I was in because he started to complain about his back hurting. He figured out quickly it was not the time to complain and as soon as he realized what was going on he was by my side. I can't tell you how awesome your Daddy was (once he woke up!) He helped me through the contractions until around 9:30. I didn't know how much longer things would last and the pain was getting the best of me, so I finally caved and asked for an epidural. Pat asked if I would mind if she examined me first, since we had to wait for the anesthesiologist anyways. I agreed and she told me we were almost ready to push. I was pretty glad to hear that news and I went back to my original plan- no epidural. No time later, I knew I had to start pushing. Dr. Ekhardt came back and things got exciting. I started pushing. And pushing. And pushing. It felt like I was pushing forever and, man, was it hard work!! Daddy was right there through it all, encouraging me! I said some silly things at this point. I even announced to the room that you were evicted. Everyone thought it was pretty funny. Everyone but me, that is. I just wanted you out and in my arms. An hour later, I had my wish. With one last big push you came rocketing out!

The first thing I noticed was your red hair. I hope its still red by the time you read this. You were put right on my belly and I helped the nurse to clean you off. I can't find the words to explain what it was like to hold you for the first time. You were so unbelievably beautiful! They let me nurse you for a few minutes before they took you off to the side to clean you up, weigh you, all that stuff. You took to it right away and again, I can't tell you how amazing that was. I didn't want to give you up to the nurse, but I knew they had to check you out. You passed all your first tests with flying colors! You weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and you were 21.5 inches long. My tall, skinny boy!

They took you away to the nursery shortly after you were born and Daddy and I made some phone calls. I called Nana and Granky first. They were driving as quickly as they could home from Florida and were so excited to hear the news. Daddy called Abba but he she wasn't home! We then called all your Aunties and Uncles and sent text messages to our friends. We were so excited to share our news and everyone was very glad to hear it!

So that's the story. Nine long months, 13 crazy hours and you were hear. I was your Mommy and I couldn't have been happier or any more in love.

Your pregnancy, 9 months in review!

Dear Cal,

I can't believe you are here. I can't believe my time carrying you went by so fast! Here's a quick review of the time you spent in my belly. There are more details in the pregnancy journal that Abba gave me, but this letter will give you a quick summary!!

The story begins in July of 2007. Around the middle of the month, I began to feel pretty lousy. Daddy and I went on vacation with a few friends, and I felt awful the whole week. I started to get a little suspicious after an easy hike up Mt. Willard totally wiped me out. When we got home, I took a few tests, all of which said yup, you were coming. I called my doctor to make an appointment, but there wasn't one available for a few weeks. I was pretty nervous to make sure everything was okay, so I made an appointment for the next day at a clinic in Dorchester. I just wanted someone to check me out and let me know you were okay. Daddy came with me to this appointment- he was a little scared because the clinic wasn't in the best neighborhood- I think he was worried that was were I always went to the doctor! He had quite the time in the waiting room while I was being checked out by the doctor. There were a few women waiting with him who gave him the third degree. At one point, a nun came in and offered to get him something at Dunkin Donuts!

The people at the clinic confirmed we were pregnant and doing well. I was still so nervous, but Daddy was great. He made me feel a lot better. After the appointment we went home to do some talking and planning. All of a sudden, we had a lot of decisions to make. When would we tell people? Who would we tell first? Where would we live? What would we do for daycare? Would I keep working or stay home with you?

Since we were only about 7 weeks along, we thought we had plenty of time to make these decisions. Boy, were we wrong. The next 7 months flew by! I had doctor's appointments (after the first appointment at the clinic I went to my normal doctor at Crown Colony) at first once a month, then every two weeks, then every week. We heard your heartbeat and saw you on the ultrasound screen for the first time at 12 weeks. We had three more ultrasounds after that, but Daddy wouldn't let us find out if you were a boy or a girl. At each appointment, the doctor assured us you were doing great, and over time I stopped being so nervous and started being very, very excited.

There was lots to do between the appointments to get ready for your arrival. We had to tell our friends and family, who were so excited that you were on your way. Auntie Erin, Nana and Abba planned a great baby shower for us. All our family came, even Auntie Lauren from Virginia and Auntie Susan all the way from Seattle. They were so generous and you got so many great things. The pile in our living room was gigantic and we couldn't wait until you got here to use all the new things! The ladies from school had a shower for us too, and the pile grew some more. We realized how very lucky we were to have so many generous, loving people in our lives!

All in all, our pregnancy time was pretty uneventful! We both were healthy all throughout. I tried really had not to gain TOO much weight. I hated wearing maternity clothes and craved Doritos. We decided not to take any classes and instead read a lot in books and on the internet to get ready for you. I loved feeling you move in my belly (which was a good thing because you were quite the acrobat) and everyday I got more and more impatient waiting for your arrival. I counted the months, weeks and days. As your due date got closer and closer, I got more and more excited. Daddy and I talked and thought about you all the time!

My final doctors appointment before you came was on March 13th. I saw the nurse practitioner, who didn't seem to think you would be arriving anytime soon. As a matter of fact, she made me make an appointment for AFTER your due date, which I wasn't too happy about. You came a lot sooner then she thought, but that's a story for another letter!