Rental Property - Thinking About the Future

Dear Sophie,

Last week, your daddy and I made an offer on a house on the Kansas side of the State Line near the Prairie Village Shopping Center, and last night, we received a call from the Realtor that our offer was accepted.  The sellers are hoping to sign the paperwork on Monday.  Assuming a good appraisal, financing process and inspection, we'll be owners and managers of a rental property.  Someday, this investment may be used to help pay for your college tuition.  Of course, Daddy and I are really hoping you'll earn some scholarships too!

As of today, I have a little over three weeks left of my maternity leave with you, and then Daddy's "paternity" leave takes over.  He will stay home with you for two weeks.  After that, you will be going to day care at the YMCA.  I've been dreading this day ever since you were born.  I have come to learn exactly what mothers meant when they said it's hard to go back to work and send your little one off to day care.  I figured I'd be ready to go back to work....and in some ways I am....but mostly, I'm going to miss the time with you.

I love mornings with you the best.  You always wake up in a good mood, and even though I may be tired from sleep interruptions during the night, I'm happy to wake up with you.  Sometimes we have our bath together.  Sometimes, we just lay in bed talking to each other.  Sometimes, we play, read a book or listen to music in your room, where the sun shines in with the brightest natural light. 

You're not always in a good mood during the day though.  One day last week, I ran out of ways to entertain you and keep you from fussing.  As a last resort, I put you in front of the TV to watch an episode of Veggie Tales.  Apparently, you "like to talk to tomatoes."  You intently watched a full 30 minutes and you even laughed several times.  I caught one of your chuckles on video.

Love you!

Mommy

Little Miss Chatterbox

Dear Sophie,

This morning you woke up bright and early. Daddy took his turn to change your diaper. Usually, you go right back to sleep, but this time, you were a little chatterbox and you were wide awake! We've been very excited to see you develop new ways to communicate with us besides crying.

This past weekend, you had many visitors. Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Ginny visited you. We hosted a barbecue dinner at our house and invited the Messick relatives. Aunt Kathy, Cousin Kayla, and Cousin Melissa traded you back and forth. Everyone wants to hold you!

Activities this past week:

• Your first parade - the Kansas City St. Patrick's Parade - with cousins Kayla and Zach.
• Your first (of many to come) trips to Loose Park (or "Lucy's Park" as second cousin Lane calls it) with cousin Melissa and second cousin Lane.
• A visit from mommy and daddy's friends Dan Merker and Stacy Gerdes.

And this is all I have time to write as you are now beginning to become bored with your activity gym.

Love you very much!

Mommy

Breastfeeding Struggles

2 weeks and 2 days old.
Photo by Rebecca Peters Haas

Dear Sophie,

Last wednesday morning, your daddy woke up, kissed you on the cheek and wished you a happy one-month birthday.  Even though it has only been one month, I have marveled at how you've grown.  At one month, you are 21 inches in length and 8 pounds and 13 ounces.  You've added 2 inches and a little over a pound since your birth.  You have also grown your little personality.  Sometimes you smile back at us when we talk to you, and occassionally, as you are drifting off to sleep, you let out a laugh.

Motherhood has been absolutely wonderful, and I adore you.  But this first month has not been without its struggles.  Most of our struggles have been with breastfeeding.  In the first two to three weeks as you were learning to latch, I developed cracked nipples.  The pain was so bad that I would have to muster up courage before each feeding.  By  the end of three weeks, with the help of Lansinoh Soothies and a whole bunch of lanolin, my nipples healed and I no longer dreaded feeding you.

In the fourth week, however, just as my nipples had healed, another problem developed.  You began struggling with the fast flow of the breast milk.  After about 5 to 10 minutes of vigorous and loud swallowing, you would yank yourself off the breast, gagging or choking on a mouthful of milk.  I would sit you up immediately, and we both would cry in frustration.  To make matters worse, your gagging experience would make you hesitant to try again.  This would then result in repeated instances of you lustily latching on (because you were  hungry after all), sucking even harder, realizing the milk flow was still too fast, and then rejecting the nipple again with loud cries and milk spilling out of your mouth.

The first occurence of the problem happened when I was home alone with you one evening (we had a social obligation that I encouraged your dad to attend).  It seemed like I spent the whole night attempting  to feed you.  You and I both spent the night crying as I was afraid you might be starving.  Your dad came home around midnight when I had just resigned myself to giving you a bottle of breast milk.  I said some grouchy things to your dad as he walked in the door, and this must have clued him in that my exhaustion had peaked.  In response, he simply took over and sent me to bed.  I woke up six hours later (!) to find you both asleep in the living room.  Your dad had taken the night shift for me so that I could get some sleep.

We are still in the midst of the struggle, and your pediatrician said that you will have to "grow into it."  Fortunately, your dad tries to help me as much as he can.  After he wakes up in the morning, he changes your diaper.  As soon as he comes home from work, he takes over your care so that I can get a breather.  And perhaps best of all, when it's apparent that I'm very tired, he encourages me by telling me I'm being a good mommy to you.  This is a salve to my  soul.  What a good daddy you have!

Love you!
Mommy

Activities in your first month:

• A trip to the Fed so that your dad can show you off to your co-workers (you were just a week old!)
• Your first professional photo shoot at 2 weeks and 2 days old
• Lunch with your Aunt Kathy, who used lunch break from work just to come visit you
• Sunday lunch with Grandma Jo Ann, Grandpa Bob and the Newmans
• A trip to Topeka to visit Great Grandma Ruth and Great Aunt Velma
• Hanging out with Uncle Chris before his big trip to work in Afghanistan
• Phone conversations with Lola Aida, who calls you her Princess
• An outing to the dog park with Lucy and Uncle Chris

New developments:

• From day one, you were good at holding your head up and looking about
• Smiling when talked to
• Laughing at random
• Following a voice with your eyes (especially mommy or daddy's voice)
• Following a colorful toy with your eyes (you love watching the "flying fish" circling above your head while you swing)
• Not crying during bath time
• Listening intently to the baby music we play for you in your room

Funny moments:

• You farted just as mommy put her nose down to see if you needed a diaper change
• You peed on your daddy while he was changing you

Who you look like:

• Almost everyone says you look like your dad
• Uncle Chris said you look a little like your second cousins, Corrine and Kelela

Comments from your dad:

• You poop alot.