Getting to know yourself.
It’s been a good while since I’ve written to you and I feel I’m overdue. My heart is overflowing with moments I want to capture paired with ever-evolving and growing love for you, so let me get you up to speed, my little love.
You’re almost 11 weeks old now and just starting to discover your hands. Today, while exploring them at Nana & Papa’s, I think you found them equally entertaining and frightening, almost like you didn’t yet accept them as your own. It was fun to watch. Your motor movements are still jumpy and so you can be found punching yourself in the face a few times a day, but you no longer seem to mind. The odd time I’ll find you connecting your hands in front of your face, turning them over maniacally, and you’re even connecting them to your eyes, rubbing them when you’re waking up or tired. And those tiny baby fists…need I say more? The utmost in adorable.
You’re a body in motion. When you’re fresh out of a nap and have all the energy in the world, you just have to move. Your legs are kicking, toes are gripping, arms are flailing, and mouth is talking up a storm! It’s in these moments that you’re the most entertained and entertaining at the same time. You’re definitely practicing for days to come. Your tummy work has gotten to be more impressive too, with your head up and looking around for minutes, rolling your body over, and pushing up a bit with your arms. You’re even trying to sit up when tilted back in someone’s arms. It’s fairly impressive and I can see you’re going to be eager to move as soon as you can.
My most favourite developmental update so far, though, is your facial recognition. You’ve already been a smiley and talkative baby, but as if overnight you’ve taken to staring at myself and others in a loving gaze with your widest smile, transitioning seconds later into uncontrollable giggle-cooing, almost like you’re breaking your gaze in a fun staring contest - you’ve lost, but you’re not the least disappointed about it. Melts my heart every time.
It’s beyond epic to watch a little human’s soul grow into their body. I used to assume that when a baby is born they would have all their wares and would just be a smaller functional version of their future adult self. Not having experienced babies up close and personal yet, my brain hadn’t made the connection. I, too, was evolving as I am now watching you figure yourself out. Even though you’re not the first little human we’ve experienced up close and personal, your evolution is still just as exciting and eye-opening as when we watched your sister become herself. It’s not something you tire of, at least not easily, especially because you are both so unique in your personalities. ‘Same same, but different’, as we say.
Equally as entertaining is watching myself evolve alongside you. Your sister paved the way in my motherhood journey, making me much more comfortable taking care of you than I was her. I didn’t know a lick about what I was doing, nor had I sussed out how I wanted to parent yet (it took a while), so I was constantly freaking out and maybe not able to enjoy myself as much as I could have…but I had such a fun time raising your sister before you were born, no doubt about it. This time, though, it’s just easier. A layer has been lifted and not much scares me about watching over you. I know you sense that and are playing into it very well. We know our roles and have accepted them with grace, much like during your delivery. It’s our turn. This time, I’m more relaxed and fun so you can be too.
