Letter to a Three-Month Old on His Birthday

Dear Dax,

Happy Birthday! You are three months old today. You are unfortunately very sick. It's almost cute though because you aren't really fazed by your watery red eyes, your atrocious cough, and your house-shaking sneeze. You sneeze and then you smile at us in your happy baby way.

Last night I got more sleep than I have since you were born. Your father, bless him, made me go to sleep early and he watched you. I think you guys play video games together, but I told him 'no violence' and he agrees so you're safe. He'll turn you away if he's about to knife some bloke.

I can't believe it's been three months already. In some ways it feels like we've had you FOREVER. In other ways, I feel like such a newbie. Yesterday when I went to the pediatrician, I didn't want to wake you so I carried your sleeping self in you car seat up through the clinic doors and into the elevator. In the doc's office, the nurse said I was "brave" to go sans stroller. I realized that when she said "brave" she meant "stupid." And I realized I didn't even think of the stroller. Amateur. 

You are so smiley and laughy. We can't get enough of it. You laugh really hard when we touch your head or your nose. You have this crooked smile too, like you have some secret joke going on, especially when you start sleeping, you kind of half-smile and I imagine you must be chasing puppies or rainbows or something lovely like that.

You still love to nap in my arms, like right now. I am typing over you. The laptop is in my lap and your head is just pancaked on my chest. If I try to peel your self from me, you stretch your arms up high and then you start to fuss. You want no part of your crib for naps. I suppose I could try harder to get you there, but sometimes I love to just lean down and smell the top of your head. Plus, even as a newborn you hated to be away from your dad's and I's arms. We'll have to get better at that as time goes on, because you're getting so big!

You are almost 16 pounds now, which I guess is pretty impressive for a three-month old. Your father says I must be dispensing half-n-half at 400 calories an ounce! You are so long though, I think you're going to be a tall boy!

You already love books. We read to you all the time. Your faves are "Brown Bear, What do you see?" and a book of animals. You start to kick and coo when you see the pictures. Your favorite though is anybody's face. When someone talks to you you crack up!

You also love chaos as evidenced when we went to visit Nana Kay and Auntie Stacy and cousin Nova in Minnesota for Christmas. The more noise and activity, the more relaxed you became. You even fell asleep, sounds as ever, in the middle of it. I realized my chill self may not be enough crazy for you. I might need to have another child sooner rather than later to appease your desire for more activity!

Anyway, we have the whole day in front of us. I am so blessed to be able to stay home with you. I love you my adorable son!

Love forever and ever and ever and ever and more,
Your Mommy