Dear Dean - One Month

Dear Dean,

Wow!  We made it!  Not only did we finally get to meet you, but we also got to enjoy you for one month so far.  After being pregnant with you for 10 months, I was very anxious to finally meet you.  You were stubborn though and weren't ready to come out.  Your due date was on October 16, but it came and went without you.  Your dad and I decided that we would schedule an induction to try to force you out after we waited an extra week for you to come.  Your dad said you were being served your eviction notice.  After 32.5 hours in the hospital, we finally had you. 

You are perfect.  You have big blue (for now) eyes, ten fingers and toes, and are really tall.  I thought you would have a lot of black hair like your daddy, but you were born with very little light brown hair.  You are the perfect mix of mommy and daddy.  You have your daddy's eyes and nose with your mommy's lips and chin.  We can't tell who you will look like yet, but I bet you will look like your dad.  He's pretty cute, so I imagine you'll be just as handsome.  Your dad loves to dress you.  He loves to pick out your outfits.  He hates when I pick out stuff that doesn't look cute enough and will go pick out something new. 

You have the cutest little cry, but that little cry can also be very loud.  During this first month, I felt so bad when you would cry so hard.  When you were upset, you would turn bright red from your head to your toes.  Sometimes when you would cry, I would cry too.  Your daddy would tell me that it is normal for you to cry, but I hated it.  In the first few days, you would cry so hard when you got your diaper changed.  I would make your daddy stop so I could pick you up and comfort you.  Even though I still want to pick you up to stop your crying now, your daddy was right.  It was a lot easier to fix you up first and then comfort you.  (Don't tell Dad, but sometimes I still pick you up before finishing your diaper change!)

You have the cutest smile when you are falling asleep and waking up.  We first noticed it the day after we brought you home from the hospital.  It seems like you are in Heaven while you sleep and that there is something that you really love about it that makes you smile so much.  We love to watch you sleep.  You look like an angel.  We slept with the light on in our room every night because we wanted to make sure we could see you.  We didn't get much sleep, but I didn't mind too much.  We also played lullabies for you at night.  I'm not sure if you cared for them, but they were comforting to your daddy and me.  The hardest thing for me to figure out was your naps during the day.  You hated to be put down to nap, so I would have to give in and hold you.  Not that I minded, but I thought you would get used to be holding you and never want to be put down! 

You started cooing at the end of this month.  We love to listen to you talk to us.  You don't do it all the time, so your dad and I always get really excited when you do.  We could stare at you and listen to you all day.

You eat all the time.  You like to eat every three hours, which keeps your mom pretty busy!  You will wake up to eat and cry really hard until I feed you.  I keep telling your dad that I want you to slow down and stay small because you are growing so fast!

You had lots of visitors this month.  Everyone couldn't wait to come and meet you.  Your grandparents, Grandma Great, and Auntie Christina and Uncle Parker were your most frequent visitors.  Your Auntie Tina would take you home if I let her.  Everyone takes turns holding you when they come and you are rarely put down when a visitor is here.  You love it!

This month was really challenging.  We are new to being parents, so we are learning as we go.  Sometimes I would cry because I wasn't sure if I was doing things right.  Your daddy would always comfort me and tell me that we were doing a good job.  I was so nervous to bring you home.  I was afraid that I wouldn't know what to do with you, but we have survived your first month.  You seemed to be pretty happy, so I think we did a pretty good job.  We are getting to know each other pretty well now.  I am getting to know your cries and have a better idea of what you need.  Your dad and I have learned a lot about being parents already.  We will continue to learn as you get older.  There are still times where we cannot figure out what exactly you want, but we definitely try!

We give you lots of love.  You are showered with hugs and kisses all the time.  Like I said, you are cute and perfect.  We can't imagine life without you.

Happy one month, Dean.

Love,
Mom