Letter 4: A Cherished Moment

Hadley,

You are a very routine baby. I learned very early in your life that you need a routine. You don't do well with sleeping all over the place and you don't do well with inconsistency. So, as much as I tried to make you an "on the go" baby, it just wasn't hap-nin! So, when I embraced a schedule I found that it made everyone's life so much easier. You are happy all the time (unless you are overtired-which I do my best to avoid) and we both know what to expect from our day. You eat at the same time everyday, and you sleep at the same times everyday with little deviation. As a matter of fact, you have been sleeping 12 hours a night since you were about 8 weeks old! It works for us, and I love it. You are early to bed and early to rise! 6:30 pm to 6:30 am like clockwork. :) I love it! Did I say I love it? Honestly, though, the schedule is the best thing I did for you, and I'm writing that here so I don't forget how awesome it is for your future brothers or sisters that I hope you have someday.


Tonight after our bedtime routine of what we have lovingly come to call the "Triple B's" (bath, bottle, bed) you were still awake. This is a rarity. You are usually either sound asleep or so sleepy that you are fussy and ready to be put down in your crib. Tonight however, when I took the bottle out of your mouth you were still staring up at me with wide eyes. So I just started talking to you softy and kept you close. I said, "Hello sweet boy." and you smiled so BIG! I kept talking to you, saying "Mommy loves you. Mommy will always love you no matter what. Nobody loves you like Mommy loves you" and you would just smile and laugh! It was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. I could have held you there all night long talking to you that way.

You have brought joy to my life that I have never known. Your Daddy and I are so richly blessed by you. When your dad and I met and got married, we weren't sure if children would be in our future. We were enjoying married life and didn't know if kids were for us. However, we prayed that if children were in our future that God show us and give us that desire. Well, I can so happily say that I am glad He placed the desire for babies on our heart. You are truly the reward that the bible promised you would be!

I love you so much, my sweet angel boy. I will always love you. I hope you carry that with you forever. Nobody loves you like I do.

Oh, and here's what you like this week- Your 19th week of life!







Love,
Momma

Letter 3: Lessons to Learn Early

Bubbies,

You will probably come to dislike that I call you bubbies. I just want you to know ahead of time that it's okay with me if you don't like that pet name and it might embarrass you. I'm still going to call you that. Anyway, that's not what this letter is about.

Today you are 16 weeks old! To the rest of the world, that's almost 4 months. In 11 days to be exact. I try to read to you everyday at some point. I don't feel all that bad when I miss a day because you are only 4 months old, after all! At your first doctors appointment when you were 8 days old the doctor told me to read and sing to you because it will make you smart. So, I read and sing to you everyday since then. I sing to you about everything we do. Literally, I have a song for everything. Daddy even sings along, too. ;) My favorite book to read to you is, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Suess, of course! It was my favorite book growing up and I love to read it to you. You really love the bright pictures and you love to grab at the book and squeal with delight when you finally grab it. While I was reading it to you this morning for the 50th time, an excerpt from the book brought something to mind. Here is the aforementioned excerpt:

"Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't.
Because sometimes you won't.
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you."

Things like this are lessons that are best learned early. One day, not far from now, you will come to realize that life is sometimes disappointing. People that you love and trust will disappoint you. Your own Mommy and Daddy will certainly disappoint you. Expecting perfection from people will always yield more disappointment than realizing that perfection is unattainable. Jesus is the only person who will never disappoint, and that is why He is God. Set your standards high and don't settle for less than what you want, but don't lose heart when things don't always turn out to be what you expect. Life is a balancing act. You win AND you lose. And it's okay.

There will come a day when you realize that, as much as I will try to make you believe it, I am not Superwoman. And your dad isn't Superman. I am going to do my best to be a good mother to you. I will do everything in my power to raise you in The Word, to protect your innocence, to make you feel loved, to teach you what matters in life, to guide you, to make you feel wanted and needed. However, I am certain I will probably fail you in each of those areas at least once. I'm going to go ahead and apologize in advance.

It's always easier to learn from someone else mistakes. There is nothing wrong with saying, "No." It's just the opposite of yes. If someone is always encouraging you to do things that get you in trouble then you should consider removing that influence from your life. People like that will always get you in trouble, and your parents discipline isn't the worst that is out there. Trust me.

If you have to lie about it then you shouldn't do it. If you feel ashamed of it, reconsider it. If you are bossy then you will find that you play by yourself A LOT. If you are rude, you will find that you play alone A LOT MORE. When you walk into a room full of people, speak to them. Especially if you know everyone in the room. If you don't, that's the fastest way for people to think that you think they are less than you. Even if you are just shy-get over it.

It's really fun to play games and sports, but its okay when you don't win. Learn to lose gracefully and people will always invite you play along. Become a sore loser, and you can bet that you won't lose much. But you won't play much, either.

Learn to forgive people that disappoint. Life is easier when you don't hold grudges. Learn to forgive yourself when you blow it. Learn to ask for forgiveness from others. Especially from God.

Those are just some things that are on my mind for you today. I love you. Nobody loves you like I do!

Love, Momma