Let the Sleepless Nights Begin

Dear Eli,

Let me begin by saying that the last few nights, you've slept all the way through! You're such a big boy now (almost 4 months old)! You were kind of a cranky butt last night, but I forgave you when I woke up at 8:00 this morning and you still hadn't made a sound. Your daddy and I got up and almost ran into your room, afraid that something was wrong, but you were just laying there, looking up. When you saw us, you smiled so big that my heart melted right there in my chest.

Dear God, thank you so much for this child!

I left off with bringing you home. I mentioned that your father picked out your hat.  I guess you could say that the brainwashing began at a young age... like... birth. Your Grandma and Grandpa were still in town and were there for your first few days. The first night at home I was scared that you would wake them up all night long when you cried, but they slept through it all, thank goodness. Your daddy and I weren't so fortunate.

You liked to eat. A lot. I'd estimate that you got up four to five times every night for the first few weeks. Your daddy and I were like the walking dead. I was crabby, he was crabby, you were hungry. I was lucky enough to have your daddy home with me for three weeks after you were born. The Monday he went back to work was hard. Super, super hard! The following day, Tuesday, I had a small nervous breakdown. Your Grandmommy and Poppa came over and watched you so I could sleep. I remember talking to your Grandmommy on the phone and just sobbing. She told me they would be there ASAP, and not long after we hung up, they were there. I went to bed... and slept... and slept... and slept. It was GLORIOUS. Your Grandmommy would later tell me she had just finished reading a story in the newspaper about a man who had climbed Mt. Everest, but when he was younger, he was charged with manslaughter after shaking his baby out of frustration. I guess she could detect a hint of hysteria in my voice?

Of course I would NEVER shake you. EVER. But something had to give, so I went out and bought a book on Wednesday called On Becoming Baby Wise. I read it cover to cover in one day, and on Wednesday night, we implemented the schedule the book suggests. You only woke up twice that night... I'm pretty sure that book saved my sanity.

So you continued to grow and get stronger, and your personality began to develop. When you smiled at me for the first time... the first REAL time, not just a gassy smile... I wanted to cry. The first time you laughed, well... that was just... wow! But with all that growing came the time for your two month doctor's appointment. And with that appointment came shots.

I'm not sure who took those shots harder... you or me. The nurse had you on the table, stripped down to your diaper. You were looking up at me like, "What's going on, mommy?"

And then she stuck you.

And you SCREAMED.

The look on your face broke me. Your eyes locked with mine and the look was one of "Why did you let them hurt me?!"

I cried. You cried. We all cried. Ok, so the nurse didn't cry, but she didn't judge, either... I guess she had seen that kind of display before.

When we came home, you wanted snuggles, and by golly, you got them. This was how we spent the day:

After that, I told your daddy he'd have to take you for the next round.

I've got to go take a shower now, but in my next letter we'll discuss some of your firsts... like your first bath (Yes, there will be pictures!No, they aren't anything that will embarrass you when your first girlfriend comes over to meet us), your first photo shoot, and your first bite of real food. Plus anything else I think of.

I love you to the moon and back, Eli James.

Love,

Mommy