Firsts

Dear Carolyn,

You’ve got your first cold – we think you caught Daddy’s cold. It’s been a rough couple of nights, since you can’t get to sleep without your binky, but you can’t breathe well with it. You seem to be bright and cheerful this morning, though, despite not sleeping much last night, so we’re going to go see Santa in a little while.

I also think you may have rolled over for the first time on Sunday. It’s hard to say – you weren’t on a level surface, so it may have just been an accident. It was also from your back to your front, which isn’t quite the way babies are supposed to do things. Then again, you don’t seem to do anything the way you’re “supposed” to.

Anyway, I hope you feel better tonight, if for no other reason than I don’t think I can take a third night where I only manage to get 4 or 5 random hours of sleep! (Well, that and it makes me sad to hear you sniffle so much.)

Love, Mommy

Last night Carolyn went to her first Christmas concert. It was very odd for me to be in the audience instead of the band – although I did get to hear how we sound to everyone else. (That would be good, but loud. The mall is probably not the best venue for a band concert…)

I figured it was appropriate to dress her in one of her Christmas outfits. These will probably be her pajamas on Christmas Eve – I already had a dressy outfit and another backup playsuit-type-thing, but this was too cute to pass up at Target.

The one part you don’t see is the headband I went back to buy so I wouldn’t have to answer the “girl or boy?” question so many times…

Dear Carolyn,

Today was your first Thanksgiving. We watched some of the parade on TV in our pajamas, and then we got ready to go to your great-grandmother’s house for a big feast. Everybody was there, and so excited to see you. Your cousins Benjamin and D.J. were there – they’re only a few months older than you, but they’re so big and active already. You, on the other hand, slept almost the whole time, which amazed everyone. (It worries me, because I’m not sure you’re going to sleep at all tonight!)

You didn’t wear your adorable “My First Thanksgiving” outfit for very long – we had a slight wardrobe malfunction requiring a whole new change of clothes. Thank goodness for large, well-stocked diaper bags! You also insisted on sitting at the table with us for dinner – the only time you were wide awake was while I tried to eat. That’s OK, though, this is probably the first Thanksgiving that I haven’t eaten too much…because I hardly had time for firsts, let alone seconds!

I’m looking forward to all the rest of your first holidays so much. Except from now on I’ll remember to have a backup holiday-themed outfit…just in case!

Love, Mommy

No, no, no, we didn’t really get Carolyn’s hair cut today, but she did come with me to the salon. My mom, grandmother and I all had appointments at the same time, and of course Carrie slept through until it was my turn. Oh, well. I nursed her in one of the massage rooms and then my mom showed her all the pretty mirrors and fascinating lights until I was done.

Now my hairs are shorter – which is silly, I’d like to grow my hair out but I keep getting it cut – and Carolyn has had her first introduction to the salon.

Dear Carolyn,

Although you’ve been smiling in your sleep since the day you were born, and you’ve even smiled while awake many times in the past couple of weeks, today was the first smile I think you truly meant for me. You were making your little “oh” face, where your eyes are big and surprised looking, and your mouth forms a cute little “oh” shape. I made it back at you, and you smiled the biggest smile, and let out a little giggle-shriek. You really are the cutest baby ever.

We also went to our first Sit & Knit tonight. You wore the pretty purple jacket Lisa made for you. You were convinced you wanted to nurse, but since you had just before we left, we tried the binky instead. I hate how blissed out you look when you have that in your mouth – it’s like a baby drug. But you love it, and we only use it once or twice a week, so I guess it’s ok. You had a good time staring at all the lights at Starbucks. I never realized how fascinating lights are until you came along. You flirt with the halogen lamp in Grandma’s living room. Did I mention you’re the cutest baby ever?

Love, Mommy

Dear Carolyn,

We went to the mall today. It started out that we were just going to the post office for stamps. Then I realized I really needed gas. Then, you were sleeping so nicely in the car (you were a little fussy all day and hadn’t napped much) that I thought about taking you somewhere else. So, we went Christmas outfit shopping. I think I found something for you to wear, but I didn’t buy it yet.

Who knew there would be so many logistics? Managing a stroller through a door by yourself isn’t as easy as it looks, and can they put the clothing racks in the stores just a little closer together? But it worked, and I’m sure it will get a little easier to go out alone with you every time I do it.

Love, Mommy

Dear Carolyn,

Today you had your first real bath.

You weren’t all that certain at first, but you quickly made friends with the faucet and the water, and seemed to have a good time. (We won’t mention that the instant you hit the water, you, um, added to it.) You really like your hooded towel, and we put you in your Winnie the Pooh robe for a little while after.

I can’t wait until you have a little better head control and take a little more interest in toys, because I bet you’re going to love bath time!

Love, Mommy

Dear Carolyn,

Today we went shopping! (Actually, your very first shopping trip was this past Thursday, when we went to Target – you looked around with your eyes wide in amazement the whole time.) We went to Tom Wahl’s for lunch. Someday, Great-Grandpa will have to introduce you to their “good milk”. I fed you in public for the first time, although technically it was in the mothers’ room at Babies ‘R’ Us, so it wasn’t really all that public. Oh, and we got your stroller out for the first time, too. It’s actually pretty easy to use.

You did really well, but I am exhausted. Sometimes I wish I could crawl into your carrier with you and take a nap while someone else carted me around!

Love, Mommy

Dear Carolyn,

Today was the first day we spent all by ourselves. Daddy was at work, Nana and Poppy and Great-Gramie all left yesterday. It was a hard day. I haven’t quite figured out how to be somewhat rested, fed and dressed all at the same time yet. You, on the other hand, are perfectly clean, full, and have slept for most of the day – just not for long enough periods for me to do much of anything.

OK, I take that back, it’s really just that I can’t stand to put you down long enough to do much. It’s not that you can’t sleep in your cradle or pack & play, it’s just that you’re so snuggly, and you won’t be not quite three weeks old ever again. I’ll figure it out eventually, I’m sure.

Love, Mommy

Dear Carolyn,

Today was your first time at church. It was kind of strange for us, because it was so…normal, but so different, too. We sat in the cry room, although you slept soundly through the entire mass. Of course, sitting in the cry room meant that even though we were a teeny bit late it didn’t matter so much. It’s much harder to leave the house at a predictable time with you. Especially when mommy insists on putting you in a pretty dress with frilly socks. (Don’t ask what I wore – everyone wanted to see you, not me!)

After church we went out to brunch. You slept right through that, too. Although, you did that very cute thing where you smile and chuckle in your sleep. What do you dream about that makes you laugh? I wish I knew. Promise you’ll let me in on the joke someday?

Love, Mommy