Dear Henry,

I made it. Right on the 6th I’ m writing this to you. Your ol’ mom may be getting the hang of this two children life.

Today Charlotte asked to hold you. I had her sit back and I used a throw pillow to support your head that doesn’t really need supported anymore. After a few moments she said, “He is getting really big, Mama! Can you take him now?” I laughed as I relieved her. That was the understatement of the month.

Son, you are well over 15 lbs. I suspect you are already 16 lbs. We’ll know for sure on your 4 month check-up next week. That means you have doubled your birth weight in 4 months. We get a good arm workout carrying you around. You can already wear your size 6 month clothes. Your baby chub is delicious and adorable! I’m sure I’ll embarrass you with that tidbit one day.

Your fourth month was a blur with big snow and ice storms and everyone in our house getting sick, but you stuck through it, all smiles. I have been loving all the one-on-one time with you. You are sweet, happy company. When you’re not eating, you’re smiling, giggling and trying to roll over. You rolled over once, but it was kind of an accident and you haven’t done it again, so I’m not counting it, yet. You love being with me in the wrap or the carrier. At the grocery store you like to face out and smile at everyone. Literally. There is not an aisle of the store where you aren’t stopped and admired.

You have been sitting in your Bumbo chair everyday. You are strong and push up with your legs when we hold you up. The cutest thing was your amazing foot discovery. You found your right foot, then your left and you haven’t let go. We chuckle at how you want to hold your feet all the time. You have started to show interest in rattles and baby toys, mostly by putting them in your mouth. Your sister loves to take them from you or aggressively cram one of these toys in your face. She means well. Most of the time.

Watching your relationship with Charlotte has been wonderful this month! Sometimes, if you get fussy and can’t be soothed, we put you in your bouncy seat in front of her while she plays and you calm right down. She tickles you and and you laugh. She smiles and you grin bigger than ever. That’s when my heart feels like it’s going to burst. Daddy and I love seeing you together.

Your few, fleeting nights of sleeping 6 hour stretches were right when I wrote your 3 month letter. Yeah, you slept like that for maybe a couple nights. Mama spoke too soon. We’re gonna have to figure out something to get you to start sleeping through the night.

You make the exhaustion worth it. You are such a good, sweet baby. I love every moment with you. I love you, my sweet, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama

Dear Henry,

I’m a little late with this month’s letter. You were 3 months old on February 6. No longer a newborn, you are officially an infant. Your third month was an eventful one for our family! I went back to work and you started staying with a sitter who was your sister’s old teacher. You had a great time with Miss Danielle. The toddlers she also keeps greeted you with smiles and a big “Henny!” every time they saw you.

But, I missed you Henry. I missed you and Charlotte. I decided to come home and spend more time with you. It’s the only time I will have with you as a baby. Every day that we snuggle on the couch and you smile at me as we doze off is amazing. You are soft and warm. We giggle at your cute baby chub. You are a whopping 13 lbs. 10 oz. Daddy and I love kissing your cheeks and making you smile.

Charlotte loves being with you and making you laugh too. She loves you so much, she’s even willing to share her germs. Yep. You got sick for the first time at 2.5 months old. It started with a cough and runny nose before a fever and ear infection. One day we even went to the doctor twice. You took it all in stride. You smiled the whole way through it. You laughed at us as you spit out the pink medicine we desperately tried to get you to swallow. Rascal.

Your cousin was born. You and he are 2.5 months, or 11 weeks and one day apart. Our family is so excited to see you grow together.

Your most fabulous feat? At 12 weeks you found your circadian rhythm! Oh, son! It was  so wonderful to have you sleep for 6 hours. Your sickness set you back a bit, and you’ve been waking up again. I’m hoping the irresistible beat of the circadian rhythm will lure you back to sleep for longer stretches soon.

You’re such a sweet baby We can’t believe you’re 3 months old, yet it feels like you’ve been part of our family for so much longer than 90 days.

I love you, my sweet, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama

Dear Henry,

On Monday you were two months old. I took you in for your two month check-up and the doctor and nurses kept trying to make you smile. That is all anyone wants to do lately, make you smile.

You smiled at us for the first time this past month and you haven’t stopped. You flash your gums any chance you get, melting the hearts of everyone around you. Your grandparents, your sister, and mostly mama and daddy. Your grins have given us a glimpse of your sweet personality. You are a very good baby. Everyone wants to snuggle you as you try to hold your head up and coo.

Your second month marked your first Christmas! You got more presents than any baby would ever need. Your big sister loved opening them and showing them to you. Every family event and Christmas party meant you were passed around and adored.

We watched you grow this month. And, boy did you grow little boy! On your two month birthday you weighed in at 12 lbs. 9 oz.! All that nursing you do is paying off. You don’t love taking a bottle. We have to coax you into it. If I’m in the room, forget about it. You are not interested. You want it from the source!

You are becoming known for more than  your smile. You’ve gained notoriety for your activities at the other end too. Your epic gas and the noisy way load your diaper is hilarious.

Henry, when you smile at me I feel like I can do anything. You make every day better for our family. Thank you for helping make this holiday so special. More than that, thank you for coming into our lives and making our family so happy! I love you, my sweet, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama

Dear Henry,

Welcome to the world, son! You have made us a family of four. You have made us the parents of two children, “somebodies” parents, if you will. You were one month old on Friday.

This month we have listened to your grunts and coos. You are warm, round, sweet and floppy. We have snuggled and gotten to know you. You have snoozed in our arms and looked at us with your dark blue eyes. We love watching you get a little more alert each day. You are a very good baby. You’re not giving Mama and Daddy a ton of sleep at night because you are so hungry nearly every two hours.

You love nothing more than to eat. We have watched in amazement as you seemed to grow by the hour. The doctors have been shocked at how much weight you have gained. You already graduated from newborn to size 1 diapers. You can wear newborn and 0-3 month size clothes, but 3 month sizes will fit you very soon. We are pretty certain you are more than 10 lbs., up from 8 lbs. 2 oz. at birth.

You are already a patient little brother. When your big sister gets a tad zealous with her love and and excitement, you take it in stride, never crying when she kisses and hugs you a little roughly. We giggled when she shared her princess stickers with you. She likes to show you your baby toys, even if you are deep in sleep and can’t see them.

When you were born you had so much hair, including some down your back and on your arms. Everyday you shed a little more and get a little more bald up top. We laugh at your balding and wonder if this means you will be spared male pattern baldness as an adult. We wonder what color and texture your hair will grow in when it comes back.

We are so excited to see you grow and spend our lives with you. Thank you so much for bringing joy to our family. We will never forget your first month. I love you, Henry,  my sweet, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama