A Christmas Letter to Mommy

Dear Mommy,

I was thinking and thinking about what I could give you for Christmas that would be super special.  But I realized that none of the ideas I came up with worked because I can’t wrap presents yet.

Then I asked myself, “What’s the BEST thing Mommy could have?” and then I remembered…

It’s me!

So, I asked Amma to help me put together some pictures for you, so you could remember what it was like my very first Christmas.

You know how I’m ‘talking’ more and more?  Just think how fun it will be when you can understand what I’m saying to you!!

But sometimes I just like to listen, especially when you tell me how ‘big’ I am.

  

Mostly I just like to hang out with you because you’re a lot of fun.

Well, it’s time for me to say goodnight because it’s Christmas Eve, and I know I have to go to bed before Santa comes.  Besides, I’m getting kind of sleepy…

And because it’s Christmas, Mommy, I’ve let Amma dress me in this reindeer outfit.  Even if she insists on having me wear this hat…

And even though it’s tough to be very manly when your feet look like this…

And sometimes that flash from the camera is just so bright!

But I do it because I love you THIS MUCH…

Merry Christmas, Mommy!

Love,

Bently

Goodbye, Bubba

I know that one of my biggest regrets in life is going to be that you weren’t old enough to get to know your Bubba.  We lost her 5 days before Christmas.  We had known since earlier this year that the cancer was terminal, but it didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.

In the time before she passed, we got you over to see her as often as we could.  She kept remarking what a good baby you were.  She enjoyed your smiles.  My favorite memory is the day we were over there, and we were all sitting in her TV room with me holding you.  She started adjusting her position - something that was difficult for her sometimes, but once she got situated, she patted her lap and said, “Bring him here”.  She sat talking to you with you cooing and smiling at her.

We’ll miss you, Bubba.



With you at the hospital





Here with your cousins, Maddie and Lily



Kitty Love

When she's not out chasing down mice and bringing them inside, Oreo does like to show you a little kitty love now and again.

Sometimes you don't see it coming...



The Crazy Kitty

Just in case you should be awe-stricken and amazed as an adult at what strong and independent women raised you, you should be aware that your mommy and Amma are really very... girly.  Case in point...

Oreo Kitty has discovered mice in the garage.  And rather than playing with them OUT THERE, she likes to capture them and bring them in the house to play with.  This has resulted in several incidents of your mommy holding you and sitting on the back of the couch and your Amma 'staking out' the last known location of said mouse with a broom and a box.

Oreo has now been banned from coming in and out of the kitty door at will until we can get the critter situation under control in the garage.

Meanwhile, you don't seem to have an opinion on the subject one way or another...



Just let me at 'em, Mommy!  I'll protect you!!





Napping with Mom

We are trying to convince you to spend more of your sleep time in your crib, but given how often you eat, sometimes this is where you wind up instead!

Monkey Boy!

As hectic as life always seems to be, sometimes it's nice just to hang out and play pat-a-cake, or dance, or introduce you to new toys.  Here you are with your little monkey, which is also a rattle.  And when teething time comes, it will come in handy since the feet have little plastic tabs for you to chew on!



That smile just melts everyone!



That Elusive Thumb of Yours

You are just SO CLOSE to figuring out that thumb of yours.  Now you at least seem to realize that it needs to stick out to be able to suck on.  The next step will be to figure out how to keep it in!

See, Mom?  No worries.  I'll get there!



An ambidextrous thumb sucker, perhaps??



Your New Coat

Six weeks old now, and you’ve been officially introduced to your ‘theater family’.  Amma and Mommy both are very involved in community theater, and in spite of all of the chaos in our lives right now (or maybe because of), we’re jumping back into another show.  Amma was cast in ‘Curtains’ (very excited since it was a show I saw with the original cast on Broadway), and your mommy is going to help backstage.  They’re even going to set up a room in the dressing area for you and the other little one whose mom is in the show.

For the first rehearsal, you debuted your new coat, which your mom found and ordered for you.  Little fuzzy monkey coat, which is just adorable on you.  And perfect timing, too, because the temps have been dipping into the 20s, although we have had beautiful weather during the day (although still chilly - only in the low 40s).

You were fussed and cooed over by everyone at the theater - and of course, you slept through most of it!

Trip to the Doc

We’re still trying to work out the insurance fiasco, but you were due for an immunization, so off to the doctor’s we went.  It was just starting to get dark, and the lobby was FREEZING, but you were contented enough hanging out in your car seat.  When they finally got us in, we went through the usual routine of getting you stripped and weighed (which you really seemed to enjoy)…

Getting all of your stats measured and recorded…

At this appointment you weighed in at 10 lbs, 13 oz and were 22” long.  That put you in the 77^th percentile for height and weight.  Didn’t catch the actual measurement of that head of yours, but it landed you up in the 99^th percentile!  Just think of what that big ol’ brain of yours will be able to accomplish!

Things got a bit dicier after that.  You were hanging out (literally, since you were naked!) while we waited for the doc to show up.

Once he did, he didn’t make you very happy.  He performed all of the tests he needed, then plopped you on your tummy to see how strong you were.  You did fine, but it definitely made you unhappy.  Things only got worse when he checked your reflexes by lifting you by your hands and then plopping you back on the table.

And then, of course, just as we got you kind of calmed down and dressed (after peeing on your mommy), you had your shot.  Poor baby!

The Fashion Files

It will be interesting to see how your own style evolves as you get older.  Will we be shaking our heads over your insistence upon wearing cowboy boots and Spidey pajamas here in a couple of years?

Heaven knows that at this point, while you have zero say in your attire, you are certainly a very stylin’ baby.  Yes, we picked up all of those very practical nightgowns and pull-on pants, but we also couldn’t resist adding a few more style-centric pieces to your wardrobe.

The latest craze in the baby clothing world are these…

Yes, we are now forcing brand-new babies to relive the 80s and putting them in legwarmers.  As funny as the idea is, though, I have to admit, they do have practical applications.  You can use them on your legs OR arms, which means we can keep you warm even when wearing onsies.  And those gowns with the elastic bottoms?  I don’t know how many times you’ve wiggled your way free of one of those.  So having your legwarmers on just means we can keep you toasty - even when the house isn’t.  And the temperature has been dropping into the low 30s here lately.  I imagine they’ll come in even more handy when you start to crawl.

Ok, so we can at least try to convince ourselves of the practicality of the legwarmers, but I have to admit that sometimes it’s just fun to dress you.  Your mom expressed an affinity for sweater vests, and I was able to find a couple via an online ‘thrift’ store.  But you’re still a little small for those.  So when we were at the mall last weekend, and I ran across one in your size, I couldn’t resist.  And don’t you just look so handsome!

The Prepmeister

See, even YOU seem convinced at how cool you look…

Yeah.  I look good.

And then there were the shoes.  Your mom INSISTED that it’s silly to put shoes on a baby before they can actually walk.  But I’m afraid she was overcome by the cute factor of these…

I mean, really.  Who wouldn’t be??

And I have to say, what self-respecting fashionismo would want to share the spotlight?  Go away, kitty!



Yeah.  Dude.  You're in between me and the camera.




Mommy!  Make it go away!!