4 Months
Dear Zoe,
Oh my gosh, you're four months old. Your dad and I just can't get over how much you've grown and changed, and how fast! I know, it's like a broken record: "The time goes so quickly!" But, darling, it does.
Last Wednesday--the day before your fourth-month birthday--I set you in your exersaucer to play. Like every time before, you put your feet down but couldn't seem to keep from leaning forward in the seat. Your arms reached out, but you didn't know what to do with them; they were simply wet noodles that occasionally stuck to something nearby. On Thursday, when I set you in again, all of a sudden you had this strength. You were able to actually play with the toys and use your arms to balance yourself upright! Literally overnight something clicked in you. Now, you can really bounce in that thing and spin yourself around.
You have discovered the rest of your body in a way that puts your father and I in total stitches. Your feet are like secondary hands to you, now. Not only do you grab them with your hands, but you use your toes to curl around things you want. You even enjoy grabbing my arm between your feet when I change your diaper. Dad and Momma's little monkey! I swore that I would not buy you anything pink (everyone else has given you plenty!), but I had to get the pink outfits at Old Navy for you because of the monkeys on them. Your father even speculated that the little dimple you have at the top of your bottom is where your prehensile tail failed to grow.
Given your joy for all things edible, it is no wonder that mealtime is the highlight of your day. From the moment you had a bite of my mango sorbet, you have gobbled down everything I set in front of you. We've now tasted rice cereal, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and nectarines. All delicious, all gone in seconds flat. This evening, when you'd finished your cereal and I got up to rinse the bowl, your dad caught this look of . . . grief in your eyes. Where was I going with your food? But, of course Ms. Chunkalicious, you still must have your milk every couple of hours as well. We would not want you to waste away!
Our greatest sorrow this month--having to say goodbye to Nala--went hand-in-hand with one of our greatest joys. You are this active, alert, giggling, smiling, rolly-poly little girl. We can't set you down but five seconds later you've rolled over onto your tummy. You're still not sure what to do once you get there so the fuss starts. We can't help but laugh. I said it when you were only a newborn and it hasn't changed: you are so eager to GO, that it frustrates you when you can't quite do it. Your naps have been interrupted lately because, darn it, "I'm on my tummy again! Come fix it!" Don't worry, Zoe-baby. In just the past few days you've become an expert at propping yourself up on your elbows. So see? You'll be off and running in no time.
But, most of all, I am enthralled at the social being you've become. You are a total flirt with everyone who meets you (a coy smile and then, quick!, tuck your head into my shoulder). And you seem truly joyful when you see your dad and I. My favorite time is when we're lying in bed in the morning, and you start to wake up. Your eyes open and you look around sleepily until you see me, when a slow smile spreads across your face. Today I think you finally realized that you can make me laugh. You were lying on your back in your gym, kicking a rattle, when you grabbed onto it with your monkey toes. I, of course, laughed out loud. You leaned your head back, looked at me, and giggled. Then, eyes on me the whole time, you began kicking your legs like crazy. And, every time I laughed, you smiled and kicked more.
It's going to be so difficult to leave you during the week and go back to work next Monday. I am so blessed to have had these four whole months (and a little more) to spend with you. I am going to miss our sleepy mornings (who knew--those dreams became a reality!), our babbling conversations (you are more expressive than I could have imagined at four months), and simply playing. Our time together so far has been such a roller coaster, hasn't it? Thank you for teaching me that one twinkling smile is the best reward for the hardest thing I've ever learned to do.
Love Always,
Momma
Oh my gosh, you're four months old. Your dad and I just can't get over how much you've grown and changed, and how fast! I know, it's like a broken record: "The time goes so quickly!" But, darling, it does.
Last Wednesday--the day before your fourth-month birthday--I set you in your exersaucer to play. Like every time before, you put your feet down but couldn't seem to keep from leaning forward in the seat. Your arms reached out, but you didn't know what to do with them; they were simply wet noodles that occasionally stuck to something nearby. On Thursday, when I set you in again, all of a sudden you had this strength. You were able to actually play with the toys and use your arms to balance yourself upright! Literally overnight something clicked in you. Now, you can really bounce in that thing and spin yourself around.
You have discovered the rest of your body in a way that puts your father and I in total stitches. Your feet are like secondary hands to you, now. Not only do you grab them with your hands, but you use your toes to curl around things you want. You even enjoy grabbing my arm between your feet when I change your diaper. Dad and Momma's little monkey! I swore that I would not buy you anything pink (everyone else has given you plenty!), but I had to get the pink outfits at Old Navy for you because of the monkeys on them. Your father even speculated that the little dimple you have at the top of your bottom is where your prehensile tail failed to grow.
Given your joy for all things edible, it is no wonder that mealtime is the highlight of your day. From the moment you had a bite of my mango sorbet, you have gobbled down everything I set in front of you. We've now tasted rice cereal, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and nectarines. All delicious, all gone in seconds flat. This evening, when you'd finished your cereal and I got up to rinse the bowl, your dad caught this look of . . . grief in your eyes. Where was I going with your food? But, of course Ms. Chunkalicious, you still must have your milk every couple of hours as well. We would not want you to waste away!
Our greatest sorrow this month--having to say goodbye to Nala--went hand-in-hand with one of our greatest joys. You are this active, alert, giggling, smiling, rolly-poly little girl. We can't set you down but five seconds later you've rolled over onto your tummy. You're still not sure what to do once you get there so the fuss starts. We can't help but laugh. I said it when you were only a newborn and it hasn't changed: you are so eager to GO, that it frustrates you when you can't quite do it. Your naps have been interrupted lately because, darn it, "I'm on my tummy again! Come fix it!" Don't worry, Zoe-baby. In just the past few days you've become an expert at propping yourself up on your elbows. So see? You'll be off and running in no time.
But, most of all, I am enthralled at the social being you've become. You are a total flirt with everyone who meets you (a coy smile and then, quick!, tuck your head into my shoulder). And you seem truly joyful when you see your dad and I. My favorite time is when we're lying in bed in the morning, and you start to wake up. Your eyes open and you look around sleepily until you see me, when a slow smile spreads across your face. Today I think you finally realized that you can make me laugh. You were lying on your back in your gym, kicking a rattle, when you grabbed onto it with your monkey toes. I, of course, laughed out loud. You leaned your head back, looked at me, and giggled. Then, eyes on me the whole time, you began kicking your legs like crazy. And, every time I laughed, you smiled and kicked more.
It's going to be so difficult to leave you during the week and go back to work next Monday. I am so blessed to have had these four whole months (and a little more) to spend with you. I am going to miss our sleepy mornings (who knew--those dreams became a reality!), our babbling conversations (you are more expressive than I could have imagined at four months), and simply playing. Our time together so far has been such a roller coaster, hasn't it? Thank you for teaching me that one twinkling smile is the best reward for the hardest thing I've ever learned to do.
Love Always,
Momma
posted by Kate at
8:35 PM
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