1 Month Birthday Letter

Today Belle, you are one month old. I want to start a tradition between you and I where I write you monthly letters for the first year of your life. Then after that, I'll probably just commit to yearly letters. These letters will be my little recap of what you've been up to and what milestones you reached that month.

So, here we go.

Dear Belle,
I can't believe you are one month already. It really does feel like your dad and I were just in the hospital waiting for you to arrive. You came into this world via c-section, thanks to your inability to sit still. My guess is that you being a wiggle worm will come up in many many more letters to you because now that you are out of mama's stomach, you are just as much a wiggle worm as you were in my stomach! Your birth was one of the greatest moments of your mom and dad's life. The day we found out we were pregnant we already loved you more than we could describe, but to actually hold and touch you for the very first time was something so special it's so hard to put into words. Carrying you for 40 weeks and 6 days I felt we had a strong connection. I talked to all the time and you, well you kicked me. All of the time. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take your dad and you to connect though. He talked to you every night and I remember seeing no greater joy on his face than the first time he had his hands on my stomach and felt you. I had no need to worry about your connection with your dad though because you were only about 2 minutes old when your dad walked over and was able to cut your umbilical cord, talk to you and help clean you up. I was still on the operating table and could not see either of you, but I could hear your dad talking to you and calming you down. Only you two know what was said, but whatever it was, it was very clear to me that from that moment on, you were going to be a daddy's girl. I myself baby girl am a daddy's girl, so I am perfectly ok with you being a daddy's girl as well. Stick with me and I can teach you a thing or two about getting things from that dad of yours!!! :)

Everyday of your first month has been a day of learning for each of us. Your dad and I took a ton of classes before you were born and even after all those classes when we brought you home we still felt so unprepared. Thankfully we all survived your first month. Truthfully, after your first week, you were winning. Have no fear though, we are figuring it out and you won't get the upper hand on us for much longer!

Thank you for being such a good baby. Your dad and I know how lucky we are. You can continue to spoil us with sleeping 6 hours throughout the night anytime you want! So far you've only done it once in this first month of life, but I am very grateful for the extra sleep!

We are so in love with you sweet Belle. Not just your mom and dad, but  all 4 of your grandparents and your aunties and uncle! You amaze us everyday with your good nature and your strength. You are one strong newborn! You are already holding your head up by yourself and when you get those frog legs of yours going, you look like you are already ready to walk. Don't grow up too fast little one. Your mama and daddy are trying to soak in every moment with you.

We aren't sure if you're going to be a red head or a blondie, or if you're going to have green eyes or blue. Only time will tell. Right now our days are just spent feeding you, changing you and kissing on you every chance we get. Speaking of feeding you, one day when you're older and you understand breast feeding ask me to tell you about my experience breast feeding you. I really hope when you have children of your own, you don't have nearly the difficulty that I've had with you. If you do, know that I will feel really really bad for you, but I will probably tell you a number of times that you made me pump every two hours because you will not (even after a month) breast feed correctly. I'm still holding out hope that someday soon, you will just get it. Everyone tells me that day is coming, but just so you know, you are winning on this one too. I'm trying really hard to not let you beat me, but you are wearing me down. But really, I'm a tough cookie to break, so game on. You're going to get this whole breast feeding thing if it kills me. And it just may. So, if your children are just as difficult as you were, keep trying. You'll be stronger than they are, I know you will be.

Thanks for a wonderful first month Belle. We'll keep loving on you next month just as much as we have this first month. All we need you to do is keep growing and to stay healthy. Leave the hard work to us.

Love,
Mom and Dad