Dear Jack: Months 4 and 5 (Belated)

Home is wherever I’m with you…

September 27, 2011

Dear Jack,

Five months!?! Where has the time gone? I had the best intention of writing you a letter for your four month birthday, but life changed significantly in August and the letter slipped out of my grasp. I went back to work and have struggled to find the time to get much done besides the necessities of our day-to-day routine. So, here we are, looking back on the last two months of your amazing life.

You got to spend most of September with Papa at home. You and your dad were the most amazing pair. You took daily walks, did the grocery shopping, cooked meals (well, Papa did and you watched), sang, danced and rolled over (well, you did, Papa watched). Your daddy really cherished that time with you. Towards the end of September he helped introduce you to your first school experience and now you are attending school (daycare) full time.

Our days fly by, yours at school with Teacher Nicole and Daddy’s and Mama’s at work. Daddy drops you off every morning and Mama rushes from work to pick you up every afternoon. We have a lovely little routine with our lovely little family every evening: playtime, feedings, bath time, chat time and bedtime stories. Time with you is so precious, we savor every moment. It is always difficult to say good night to you because I just want to hang out for a little bit longer…As I write this, you are asleep in the other room. It is taking all of my strength, not to scoop you up out of the crib and give you a big hug and kiss, but I know you need your sleep.

In August, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Amy came out to visit and they brought along a special visitor, your Great-Grandma Irma! She was so smitten with you. You two (well all four of you) had a great time playing on the floor together and smiling at one another. It was very special for me to introduce you to my grandmother.

Just a few weeks later your Great-Aunt Barbara flew out from New York to see your red head and cute smile. We met her at Great-Uncle Dick and Great-Aunt Patricia’s house, where you also got to meet your cousin Jenny. Yet again, you won hearts. 

Great-Uncle Rick and Great-Aunt Karen also came to Oregon to see you. We all went out to dinner and Great-Uncle Rick gave his take on what sports you would play after you mastered walking. We had such a nice time visiting with them!

You continue to be the baby that can go anywhere. You love to visit the store, restaurants, the library and the park. Jack, you are so interested in other people and have really started watching people and trying to mimic them. This past month we took you on your first trip to the river. You slept the whole time, but your best friend, Kya, was ecstatic that you got to join her on a trip to one of her favorite places. That same weekend you took your first swim at our local community pool. You took to the water like a little fish, kicking, splashing and smiling away. We even let you dunk under twice and though a bit startled, there were no tears. I have a feeling you will love the freedom of the water, just as your mama and papa do.  

At five months old you continually impress us with your independence and determination (man, are you determined!).

These were some of your amazing accomplishments this past month:

• You are a rolling machine! It is now hard to keep you on your back. As soon as you are placed down, you roll yourself over and push yourself up. You are working so hard to coordinate your push-up position and knee-inching. You will get there sooner than later…
• You reach for anything in your path and put it ALL into your mouth. We think you may have begun teething, but seem to have taken it all in stride.
• You started to eat rice cereal once a day around five months. It is a big hit with you. You love working with the spoon and try to spoon the cereal into your mouth independently. You continue to nurse like a champ and are very satisfied with your simple diet of breast milk and a bowl of rice cereal.
• Each night after your bath, you have SO much to share with us. You lay down on your blanket and make long drawn out noises, engaging in a conversation about your day. When Mama or Papa make a loud playful noise, you mimic it in the most amazing way.
• You are sitting up! You can sit straight up for a few seconds by yourself and are definitely working on mastering the tripod sit-up.
• You have the goofiest laugh. It doesn’t come out every day, but when it does, it continues to make your mom and dad laugh too. Your favorite thing to laugh at lately is when we make fake gagging noises. Not sure how we discovered this…but one night when your Auntie Rachel came to visit, we made fake gagging noises all the way home from McMenamins in the hope of getting you to laugh. It must have been quite the sight, two women, gagging over a moving stroller.

Some of your favorites from Month 4 and 5:

• Papa played a lot of old standards for you while you two were home together. You seemed to really enjoy Harry Belafonte. So much so, that Auntie Andi named one of your favorite toys, a stuffed elephant, Harry Elefante.
• You also seem to like to listen to your parents sing songs from our childhood, BINGO and Old MacDonald are big hits with you!
• Your favorite book this month was definitely, On the Night You Were Born. We read that every evening as you fell asleep.
• It seems you have really discovered how to interact with Kya in the last few weeks. You reach out to pet her and she loves to give you big kisses on your face. When she walks by, you start to wiggle and kick, trying to catch her attention. She is going to love following you once you find your crawling stride in the next few months!   
• You are a family guy. You really enjoy having your grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles close by and they seem to enjoy showering you with attention. We are truly lucky to be surrounded by such love! 

Our time together is not as it once was. Our evenings are short and treasured. I drive quickly across town each evening and find myself feeling very anxious to get to you, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel…Home, let me come home, home is wherever I’m with you. I slip through the door of your school and look for you. You always have a sweet grin for me when you realize I have come to pick you up. When I see that smile, I am home. No matter where we are, you are my home now. You, your papa and Kya, you are my home.

Home is wherever I’m with you,

Mama B