One Month Old

Dear Junior Birdman....

I know, weird that we call you that. We have called you that since you first came home....you know, like "Where's Junior Birdman?" "Oh, he's in his room, reading a book" or "Hey, have you seen Junior Birdman?" "Oh, he's online again, researching colleges"...

I want to start documenting your progress by the month. So, I am late for this month...but I regret not doing more documentation when you were in my belly, so I really want to make up for it here.

Being your mom has really been amazing. And crazy, different, insane, and rewarding. I remember saying in my Prenatal Water Aerobics class: I can take such good care of him now, inside my belly, but when he comes out, what the heck do I do? Well, I quickly found out that the answers are inside. And it just comes naturally as I look at your sweet face.....

This month you have made a lot of progress....like, learning how to eat. Wow that was painful. But I think we have a hang of it now, and it works pretty good! If I don't immediately read your hunger cues and take care of business, you freak out. You get that from me. So I totally understand why hunger=total freak out. You LOVE your food. Which is definitely reflected in the fact that you are chubbing RIGHT OUT. You wore Newborn clothes for the first few weeks. Then all of the sudden you started gaining weight and busted out of those. You are definitely getting Roundish! At your five day check up, you weighed 8 lbs. One Week Later: 8 lbs, 13 ozs. 13 ozs. in ONE WEEK. It is expected for newborns to gain 6 ozs a week. You are totally The Newborn Valedictorian of Weight Gain.

And you follow us with your eyes now. It is fun to see you interact with us a bit, since most of the time you are sleeping....

Sleeping: You do that really really well. You are a NOISY sleeper. So LOUD. Grunting and groaning and sighing. We swaddle you at night, and my favorite part of the morning is when we unwrap you and you take ten minutes to stretch. You throw your little arms above your head and S-T-R-E-T-C-H your little heart out. We used to take naps together in the morning on my bed for a few weeks, but I can't nap anymore because you are so loud....sometimes I put my hand on your belly so you know I am close and you usually quiet down. I like to think it is because you know I am there, but I think it just distracts you from whatever you are dreaming about and grunting at.

You hold your head up like a champ. If I hold you upright on my chest and you aren't feeling restfull, you will hold your head up and look at me, or look around.

You like Tummy Time. You like to eat. You like to be cuddled. I love Cuddling you and couldn't put you down for the first week I had you all to myself. I just sat on the couch and cuddled you. Your little chair or swing didn't see much action that week. I barely got a shower.

Your grandparents LOVE YOU. On both sides. They love to hold you and kiss you and love you. Your Grandma and Grandpa Kieffer came to visit after you were born and they couldn't get enough of you! How can you blame them? Grandma Jensen loves you so much and misses you and Grandpa Millard just holds you and looks and looks and looks at you....You are definitely the star of the show and I have learned, it isn't about me any longer.

You are the best baby. I am so excited to be your mama. And, as I keep telling you "Mama Loves You".

Love,

Mama