Dear Mack - Month Two

Dear Mack-a-doodle,

On Friday, you were two months old. You celebrated this milestone with a trip to Paradise Cove in Malibu for a beach day and a stroller tour through a local farmers market accompanied by myself and your Aunt Jen and cousins Bailey, Ashton, Beaux and Bella who came all the way from Texas (and got to miss 2 days of school) to meet you.  It was a fabulous time and you seemed to enjoy it too.

Some factoids of the month for those keeping track: 

- You weigh 11 lbs, 4 oz and are 23" long and growing well

- You now love the bath (see more info below)

- You are starting to not like the car seat and are very vocal in your disapproval of being in it.

- You have taken your first nap in your crib and several since then and even slept in there for a few nights for a while until your tired momma took you back to bed with her.

- Sleep experiments are underway - results are mixed

- You are very loved!!!

- You are starting to smile more though we still have to work for it.

So, my Mack, as the second month of your life draws to a close and the third begins, I would like to officially concede that I have absolutely no idea what you're going to do from moment to moment, much less day to day. Motherhood, I am finding out, is one giant guessing game. And you just love to keep things interesting. Because you see, a few days after your performance in "Mack Sleeps Through a Long and Tiring Excursion with Aunt Lori and Uncle Dean" you treated me to the world debut of "Mack Screams for Half and Hour for No Apparent Reason on a Random Sunday Evening While Hacking." As with your diaper changing drama performances, you were stunning. At least I was certainly stunned.  Aunt Jen later diagnosed your behavior as ticked off baby that does not want to get out of the bath because you love it so much.  She was right.  Your inconsolable cry was that of your very first temper tantrums from being taken out of the bath you now love.  You were just plain MAD!!!

Another time, you spent a whole 48 hours being so unbelievably cute I could hardly stand it.  On top of that, one night you slept for EIGHT whole hours, which meant that I got the longest stretch of sleep I've had since your birth. You haven't done it again since.  But that, too, fits in with my new theory that mothering you is going to be a lot like playing charades...in the dark.  Maybe when you start verbalizing in words we'll be able to work out a more reliable system of communication, but in the meantime, I think I'm just going to have to roll with it and know that some days will be good, and some will just be really, really hard, and there may not be any good reason for that.  I promise to work at being ok with that plan.

You see, this Motherhood business is going to be a tad bit challenging for me, because if I love anything in this life, it is order and a plan.  I love to know what to expect. I love to know why and when I should expect it. I am the kind of person who makes little lists of things to do every day and takes great pleasure in ticking the boxes off, one by one. Thus, it makes me feel totally incompetent that when it comes to you, my lists with the pretty boxes and planning ahead are mostly completely useless. I think you know this one some level, and you are laughing a maniacal little baby laugh at night plotting how to spend the next day in another completely random way unlike any of the days before just to see if I can keep up.

You had your first smile this month though they are currently fleeting ...I cried - It was sooo sweet....although making me cry is not that hard to do these days when it comes to you....I simply find you the most fascinating thing and I spend even the hardest times reminding myself to savor every moment of your life (even the fussy ones) and reminding myself often, that you can't stay awake or cry forever....although you have given it a good
try on several occasions.  I salute your efforts on that front.  Your cousins were very instrumental in capturing some of these elusive smiles on film. (or digital - whatever...)

You met your Uncle Dean, Aunt Lori and Cousin Austin for the first time as well this month as they arrived early in the month on their white horse to save me from utter exhaustion and so I could tend to long overdue doctor, dental and nail appointments (hey, a girl has to keep her nails done!).  They were a true godsend.  I am trying to convince your Uncle Dean to come be your nanny as he has quite the touch when it comes to you.

One of my favorite things about their time here was seeing how your Uncle Dean really wanted to hang out with you.  I did not think he would be so excited about a baby not his own.  After all, he is one of "those" guys.  He drives trucks, drinks beer and hunts deer.  He is one of those manly men. And he was putty in your hands.  Baby-talking, face making, catering to your every whim putty.  He put together your 4th swing and talked me into a new playgym that we are trying out.  It was super adorable to see them all with you and having them here gave mommy a much needed break.

For the majority of this month between your Uncle Dean and Aunt Lori, your Aunt Jen and your harem of cousins - Bailey, Ashton, Beaux, & Bella, you were pretty much held, adored, and spoiled rotten for most of the month. I spent plenty of time wondering how you would react when you were left home with just boring old me for entertainment, but I mostly really enjoyed seeing you get to know the people I love.

We celebrated St Pattys Day and Easter with me dressing you up in corny cute outfits which I am sure you will hate someday, but as you cannot yet express your disagreement from such endeavors, I win....for now.

We heard stories how your photo is cherished in the Jenkins home and carried around in a blanket as Chloe and Ella have taken quite a fancy to you.  Your cousin Bella made you a special decorated cookie on the family Spring Break Vacation and was most dismayed when she had found it eaten.  Aunt Jen has promised Bella that she will make you cookies when you are old enough to eat them.  Hold her to that...she bakes a really good cookie!  Your fan mail continues to grow as we are blessed with very special family and friends who keep us in their thoughts and prayers as we journey through our unpredictable days.

Just so you know, I absolutely adore the bursts of chaos and unpredictability you've brought into my world. I'm finding that waking up every day and finding out what is going on with you is much more fun than anything I would come up with on my own, even if I never know what to expect on any given day. I hope you are having fun, too.

Love,
Mommy