Emmett...Ode to an Easy Baby

Dearest Emmett,

Thank you. I can't say thank you enough for what an amazing baby you are. Ever since you were born, you have given me at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Granted, for most of those nights those 7 hours were split into 2-3 chunks, but that's nothing to scoff at! You have been so generous to grant me so much rest and I thank you profusely.

Also, I gotta say, you're not much of a crier. You cry, but only when you need something specific. And it's always either a burp, hunger, or a poop that you're working out. And once in a while you're a little overstimulated. But really, that's it! You also tend to fuss for a while before the actual crying starts, which lets me try to figure out what it is you need before you have actual baby tears running down your face. Those tears are heartbreaking, baby. Also (and you get this from me) you turn beet red. Which is cute, except for the screaming and sweating. Which, again, happens so rarely that I can't even start to complain!

Your face is basically the best ever. It is symmetrical in all the right ways, your button nose is adorable and you are cuter than the Gerber baby. No lie. You're just the right amount of chub without looking like you can't move your head, you're long, you have great hair (since the day you were born!) and your eyebrows carry so much expression. I think my favorite part (right now) is your mouth. Every part of you has been my favorite at one moment or another, but right this second you are resting on your Boppy pillow on my lap and I can't stop looking at your mouth. And those eyes. And your fingers. See? I can't pick one favorite. But back to that mouth. I crave baby kisses. I kiss that mouth and you either move away or you start looking to suckle. I don't mind. You might a little, since you ain't getting any milk from my lips, but it feels sorta like you're kissing back and I will take it.

Your smiles. Oh my goodness your smiles. You give them freely and often, usually with only a high pitched "hi baby!" or some other variation of baby talk. You respond to my voice, which makes me feel like 60 million bucks (ask me about that amount some day). You also love to hear your Maymay's voice. Even over Skype you turn to the screen when you hear her talk to you. It's precious. You love it when you're laying on your back and I'm playing with your feet, miming riding a bike or going on a baby run. You gots ta get your exercise babe!

You play with your hands. They're always up at your mouth. I'm gonna have to watch that once you're older. I have a feeling I won't love it as much then as I do now. You hold on to the breast with both hands when you're eating. Like if I were to hold up a whole watermelon to my face and devour it. It's so absolutely precious. You make these desperate noises like you can't possibly ever eat enough, you little piggy. I love it. You're a ravenous little baby and I'm so glad that you're getting bigger and bigger. And I'm also devastated by it, but whatevs.

Your toes are often curled under or spread wide. I can see your pleasure in your toes. When you're eating or playing you stretch them as wide as they can go. I hear your pleasure in your giggles and gurgles. I see your contentment in your relaxed hands, in your coos and baby talk. You make little baby owl noises with your who-who-who-ing. Your yawns are massive and your sneezes end with a little moan. It's my favorite thing to imitate.

Sorry, I had to take a break to kiss you.

Your morning stretches are my favorite photo opportunities. I unbind you from your swaddles and sing "streeeetcheeees" in our little way. You throw those arms up in the air like you're a referee and the team just scored a touchdown. But not like any team, like you're a secret fan of that team and it's your favorite thing ever that they just scored. But you're a ref, so you're not supposed to be rooting for either team. But too bad, you are! And you're the most excited ever!

Or maybe you're stretching those arms up like you forgot you had arms! And once that velcro rips open you remember and you throw them up like they're the best part of life. I love the way your lips make the duck face when you're stretching. You look like a 13 year old girl taking a selfie. And I'm obsessed.

When you go to bed at night, you NEED to be listening to "Baby Got Colic" womb noises. You don't have colic, but you LOVE the baby music we play you! It's kind of eerily magical sometimes. You can go from fussy or screaming to calm and wide eyed in a manner of seconds when we play this for you. It sounds like heartbeats mixed with stomach sounds mixed with trains and helicopters and is somewhat unsettling, but I've gotten so used to it that I almost need it to sleep too! (Hey mom, I guess I still need to hear womb sounds too. Miss you and your insides!)

But nothing, and I mean NOTHING puts you to sleep like a nice car ride. When you're warm and when the sun is not hitting your eyes and when the road is just the right amount of bouncy, baby you are OUT. What a blessing. You sleep in your bassinet, co-sleeper, crib, swing, Boppy, anyone's arms, and sometimes just our bed with a little blanket on. Thank you for letting me get so much done during the day. I'm sorry that sometimes I waste that time to watch Hart of Dixie instead of doing laundry. My bad.

I think our only struggles are tummy time and the occasional massive booger that I pull out of your nose when you're crying hard. And that's nothing to complain about.

You are amazing, Emmett. I adore you, as I'm sure you know. I am going to finish up this post so I can shower you with some goodnight kisses. Be like this forever. But also grow up and talk to me. I want miles and piles of you!

BTDubs, happy three months, love of my life!!

|| Posted by Kate ||