A Letter from Mommy- Genevieve

Dear Genevieve,

It is crazy to think that you have officially been a part of our lives for 2 months already. You arrived 5 days early, although I was ready for you to arrive a week or so ahead of that.   You must have thought that I needed a pedicure, because you waited until after a girls day at the spa with Grandma and Aunt Megan.  The nurses commented on my pretty colored toes.   Although the contractions were hard, your delivery was quick (10 minutes of pushing!)   You were a big baby, although not as big as your older sister.   Like Eleanor, you were born with full head of hair that everyone comments on.   You gave us a little scare with your umbilical cord wrapped around your neck, but you were fine once you got out.   With only 10 minutes of pushing, you did not wait for Aunt Megan to arrive so she could be there during your birth.  You can tell people you had your first visitor in the middle of the night (Aunt Megan could not wait to meet you and was there at 2AM).   I loved having you in my room during the hospital stay, it gave Daddy and me time to get to know you before we took you home.   Your big sister was really excited to meet you and has loved you since day one.   She always wants to help in any way she can, and lets Daddy and I know if you need anything.  

The first month was a little rough since we were dealing with your reflux.   You were eating every 2 hours during the day, pretty much all the time in the evening and waking once or twice in the middle of the night (sometimes wanting to eat off and on for 3 hours).   By week four I needed a change, so we went to eating every 2.5 hours during the day.   It was amazing the difference that made.  You started sleeping longer at night and are now sleeping 7-9 hours straight!  You may not have been as good of a sleep as your sister in the beginning, but you are at the same point she was at this age.   It is like you knew I was heading back to work and decided to take it easy on me.   I do miss our middle of the night cuddle times... sometimes.

You are a great eater and it shows!   Breastfeeding with you has been a breeze from the first time. You are pacifier specific and did not want to take one until you were a month old.   I think you surprised the doctor at your 2-week appointment with how much weight you had gained.  Growth has not been an issue with you.   Like your older sister, our guess is you will be topping the charts on weight and height.

You are like your cousin, Liam, in the sense that you don't always like to be held and you are not a fan of being swaddled.  You like to lay down and check things out on your own, with your legs and arms free to explore.  You love your changing table and crib.  Your changing table is your 'happy place,' if you are not happy there, you are not happy anywhere (including Mommy and Daddy's arms)   The fan and mobile are some of your best friends. Like your sister, car rides put you to sleep, but you would rather not be in your car seat if you don't have to be. You are a long baby, enough so that none of your 0-3 month clothes fit (and the majority of them have not fit in a month).   You have slept in your crib since night one and have never had a problem with it.   I love cuddling with you after your morning feeding, I have missed it since going back to work in the mornings.  

The smiles you started giving us a few weeks ago have melted our hearts and make our day. It thrills your sister when she can make you smile... your Mommy and Daddy love it as well.  Your day-care providers have loved you from day one and miss you when you are home with Mommy in the afternoons.  They will be happy to have you all day starting next week.  You sleep in your crib like a champ at day-care, and have initiated two of the three providers with your reflux issue.  

You hardly cry and are content with being dragged around from place to place.   That is a good thing since your big sister does not like to stay at home.  You do pretty well when I put you in the Moby or Ergo baby carrier, this helps a lot!

You really are a great baby and we could not have asked for a better second child.  Your sister set the bar very high, and you have managed to top it!

I love you more than I ever dreamed imaginable, and look forward to watching your grow-up (but not too fast please). You are the greatest gift God could have given to your Daddy and I.

Love,
Mommy