Three Months

Dearest Meredith, Happy three months! You have continued to grow and change so much. As you father would say, “you’re such a little person!” It seems like each day you grow and learn something new. I am in awe of you.

This month, like the last, we did much traveling! I am so thankful that you are well behaved in the car because you have allowed us many wonderful experiences as a family already. Our first big trip took us to Elmira College for reunion to meet Mommy’s friends and you got to visit your Grandma and Grandpa Fiske’s house for the first time. I had been waiting with excitement and anticipation for this trip long before you were born. You see, these friends mean the world to me. It was strange and difficult to go through the whole experience of being pregnant with you, preparing for you, and getting to know you without sharing some of that with them. So, to finally see you in their arms, smile at them and they at you, filled a spot in my heart that had been waiting for that experience. For an even greater blessing, we got to see many of these friends again at Jess’s wedding! You behaved phenomenally and we were able to celebrate this awesome day for Jess and Steve. I hope for many wonderful things in your life Meredith, but one specific hope I have for you is that you have friends like these.

The same weekend as reunion was Fathers’ Day! We had a lot to celebrate little lady! Not only did we spend the day with your amazing Daddy, but we traveled, with your Grandparents, to your Great Grandpa Fiske’s house to spend the day with every generation of Fiske Dad. It was awesome to see you with your Great Grandparents and to celebrate these important men in your life.

I am so amazed at what you have learned to do this month. It is astounding. While at the end of last month you were beginning to be able to bear some weight on your legs, you can now stand for long periods of time just holding our hands! You love to stand so much that occasionally you will throw a small fit if we dare to have you in a different position. Your daddy put together one of your jumpers for you and you LOVE it! You seem so proud to be able to “stand” with out either of us holding you (we are proud of you too!).

Last month you learned to smile, this month you began to laugh! You are such a happy baby and your smile and laugh bring so much joy into our lives. The first time we experienced your laugh was when you were playing with Daddy. You found his laugh so funny you couldn’t help but laugh yourself, then he laughed at you, and you back at him. This went on for a long time. I couldn’t stop watching the two of you as you cracked each other up – it was hysterical and touching at the same time. For a few weeks you wouldn’t laugh at anyone but him (you two have always had a special bond) but now you will laugh at my silliness as well. I look forward to much silliness and laughter in our future.

You made a great discovery this month – your hands! These provide (almost) endless entertainment. Sometimes you slowly move your fist in front of your face and watch it with great interest – it seems to take a lot of concentration to move your hand where you want it. Other times you fold your hands in front of you as though you are praying. Recently you have found great joy in sucking on your hands and fingers. Whatever you do with your hands you always look at us like, “Can you believe that these awesome toys are attached?! I am so lucky!”

With the discovery of your hands and some knowledge now of how they work you are able to enjoy more of your toys. On your play gym you can catch some of the toys that hang and shake them and try to eat them. You are now also able to enjoy some of the other toys that we have for you. You can hold them and shake them – you love that YOU control whether they make noise or not and that you can get them into your mouth! This new fascination in toys allows us new activities to do together, which is proving to be much fun.

Ok, this next accomplishment I can hardly believe myself. I almost don’t want to write about it for fear that I will jinx it, but at the same time I am so overjoyed and proud that I can’t help but share it with the world. You sleep through the night! You no longer need to eat in the middle of the night or need to sleep in our bed. You fall asleep between 10 and 12 (so we don’t really have a schedule yet, we are working on it!) and you sleep until at least 6:30 – some mornings as late as 8:30! There have been some days when you wake up, eat, and then go back to sleep till 10 or 11. It is crazy – but wonderful crazy! I love to get you in the morning when you wake. You are usually all smiles, and when I pick you up you nuzzle your face into my neck as if to say “Oh how I have missed you” then we cuddle on the couch for a peaceful breakfast complete with lots of smiles and coos.

You still prefer to nap in my arms – but I will trade daytime productivity for a good night of sleep any day! The naptime thing could be my fault. While I am thrilled that you sleep on your own at night, part me misses you dearly and so when I get snuggle time during the day I am reluctant to give you up. What has made this harder for me, is that we have transitioned you to your own room (until this week we had you in the bassinet in our bedroom) and you seem so far away at night time (I know, its just across the hall.) For so long we slept so close – and therefore now, during the day, I still rest my cheek against your head and hold you close to my heart.

There is so much from the last three months that I cannot put into words. How do I properly describe the light in your smile, or the softness of your head, or the scent of your neck as we snuggle? How do I write about the feel of your fingers around my pinky as you eat, or the puzzled look on your face when we wash your hair, or the sounds you make as you sleep? Or how to I convey to you how you have completely transformed my heart and soul in ways I cannot comprehend. To simply say that I love you is an understatement, yet that is as close as language allows me to come. Being your Mommy is the very best thing I have ever done and I am so blessed by you every day.

Here’s to all the giggles, smiles, silliness, and milestones to come. Our days are better because of you.

Love, Mommy