2 Months Old

Dear Zachary,
Two months ago today, I had no idea that it would be the day you would come into my life and change it forever. But you were ready. It was if you couldn’t wait another second to become the final piece in our family puzzle.

In the past month, you have grown so much, both physically and socially. Your “unofficial” 2-month weight is 11 pounds. Alex stood on the scale and weighed 40 pounds and then he held you on the scale and weighed 51 pounds. You have started to laugh out loud. When you hear our voices you turn and look into our eyes, waiting to see what we will say or sing to make you smile and laugh. When you aren’t looking at us you are staring at the ceiling fans and lights!

It seems as though I may have created a monster…You hate to be put down. You want me to hold you all day. You love to snuggle, and I love holding you. You are now strong enough to push back and hold your head so you can look at me.

You are my little sidekick. You go everywhere with me. Ladies Lunches, BUNCO, book club, ballet, karate, Wegmans. We have been blessed with some warm weather so we have been able to take some long walks in the neighborhood. We have only been apart for a few hours. In fact, you are in the bassinet right now fussing because you want your momma. It was the first nap you took in another room and it lasted a whole ten minutes! That’s okay baby because I missed you too.

Alex calls you Zacky. He needs to hold you every day. He hugs and kisses you each morning before school and each evening before bed. He reads you books. Last night he read Put Me in the Zoo. He told me yesterday, “Mommy. I don’t want Zachary to get bigger.” Me neither, Alex!

Isabella calls you Zack-a-Rack and she has a song that goes with it. Pop Pop taught it to her and she sings it all day every day! She says you are the cutest person in our family. She asks me all the time when you are going to be able to eat real food.

Daddy calls you his little buddy. He loves you so much. He holds you at night and you watch television together. He says you look just like him. I see it too!

I call you perfect. Happy 2 Month Birthday my sweet perfect baby. I love you so much.
Mommy

Half Birthday!

Dear Isabella,

Today is your half birthday! You were so excited to tell everyone that you are three and a half. We celebrated with green egg (cookies) and ham at school yesterday since your half birthday fell on the same day as Wacky Wednesday. Today we went to the playground and your best friend, Kaitlyn, even gave you a half birthday present – you lucky girl.

Another six months have gone by and you remind us every day that you are getting bigger. Daddy and I hate to hear it. I love the age you are right now even if at the end of the day I am exhausted from keeping up with you. From morning to night, you go, go, go. You talk, talk, talk. You are busy, busy, busy. You are so independent and can entertain yourself for hours. You love to play Lalaloopsy, Barbie, Dress-Up, and My Little Ponies. You pretend you are a mommy, and you take such good care of your “childrens.”

And even though you are happy playing by yourself or with me, you are happiest when you have friends around. You love to have play dates and are already asking to have sleepovers. You are really becoming such a good friend. You are learning to share, you care about others, you are compassionate, you like everyone. You describe everyone you meet as your “friend.” Your incredible imagination makes for amazing games and adventures. Your little friends are lucky to have you in their lives.

I was so nervous six months ago when you started school. You had just turned three, and I was worried because you seemed so young. It seems my fears were completely unwarranted. You love school and everyone in school loves you. Your teacher, Mrs. Poe, describes you as empathetic, kind and spunky. You have learned so much. You know most of your letters and sounds, you can spell your name (and Alex’s), and you are learning to write it. You can count into the 20’s. I am amazed at all the wonderful things you are learning about plants, Eric Carle (you told me he made the pictures in his books using tissue paper), music, and manners. Your favorite part of school is playing outside with your friends and fingerpainting.

You are such a great sister. You have such a perfect spot in our family – bookended by boys who love you so. Today you wanted to play with Alex and all his friends. He took your hand in his and included you in their game. It is so sweet how he takes care of you. Zachary – you call him Zacky- looks right in your eyes when you sing to him. You are a wonderful helper. If you hear him fussing in his swing or bassinet, you go over to him and give him his nippy and talk to him. He always stops crying when you are near.

Beauty and the Beast is still your favorite movie. You make Pop watch it with you every time you see him because “it’s his favorite movie too.” You went with Grandma, Pop and Sophie to see it in 3D at the movies.

You love stuffed animals, and you have so many of them. You play with them all day. Everywhere I look is another stuffed animal taking a nap on a pillow, sitting in the stroller, lined up in the playroom. And I think you have a dozen giraffes and you have to sleep with them every night.

You love going to My Gym, Ballet class, the Bug Playground; wearing dresses, jewelry, and your red cowboy boots; taking bubble baths; watching “girl shows” on TV; drinking hot tea with two sugar cubes; eating lunch at Panera and Jason’s Deli; shopping at Greetings and Readings; listening to bedtime stories; and doing art projects.

At three and a half, you are head strong, smart, hilarious, and my sweet girl. My heart melts when you want me to lay with you at night. When I ask you to close your eyes, you say “I just want to look at you, Mommy.” And there is nothing better than hearing you say, “Mommy, you are my best friend.” I am so blessed to have you as my daughter, Isabella Grace. And even though I cannot stop you from getting “bigger and bigger,” I can cherish these moments and look forward to what the future holds for you... I have no doubt it will hold the best life has to offer, because YOU won’t have it any other way!

Love you with all my heart, my best girl…Mommy