Dear Miss Leyba,
Because February is a day short of your one month birthday (Feb 30), I am writing you today instead. You are already four weeks and two days old and I just can’t believe it. We hardly remember life before you, but at the same time the past four weeks have flown by so fast. And you’ve grown so much.
It seems like just yesterday that we were wondering when you’d arrive!
The day before you were born, we all went for a walk in the park. We knew you’d be arriving soon, but we didn’t realize just how soon. Here are the last few photos we have with you still in me:
See how happy I am? That’s because I was thrilled to be carrying you and so excited to meet you.
Our labor started later that evening, with Mama’s water breaking at around 3 am. You were born at home, in our bed, approximately eight and a half hours later. Two incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and kind midwives guided us through our birth and your dad was an incredible trooper and the most supportive, loving partner your mama could ever wish for.
As soon as you were born, our midwife put you on my belly. Here’s our first family photo — look carefully for your hand!
You entered this world with tremendous strength, your arm raised high like Wonder Woman. From day one you could lift your head, roll from your back to your side, and move your arms with purpose. Now you can easily lift your head and usually do when we’re holding you, so you can look up at us. When we lie on our backs with you lying on us, tummy to tummy, you lift your head up and watch us as well. You frequently reposition yourself, both when you’re awake and asleep, so you get a better view or to feel more comfortable. You especially like to prop your head up with your hands.
You recognized our voices from day one. On your natal day when you were just an hour old, dad was holding you in the living room adjacent to the bedroom and you instantly quieted and turned your head to the bedroom when I called out to you. Now you turn your head towards the door when Dad comes home from work or look towards me when I talk to you from across the room.
You adore time on the changing table, looking around, kicking and stretching your legs out straight. You also really like staring at the headboard on our bed and the wooden beams on the living room ceiling. You love breastfeeding and it is the ultimate way to comfort you. You frequently latch yourself on now, without my help. And you now look up at me while you are feeding too. Sometimes you like to talk to me when you are latched on too — it’s a blast to chat, but not so fun when you gulp lots of air in the process! You sneeze several times a day and still frequently get the hiccups (sometimes several times a day!), just as you did in utero. Occasionally you fall asleep while you have the hiccups (I don’t know how you do that!) and that frequently seems to stop them. You also have such big yawns…
We already have such a bond. In your sleep you’ll move your arms around rather frantically until you find (feel) me and then you’ll settle down again and keep sleeping. If you fall asleep on me, you inevitably wake up when I put you down regardless of how soundly you are sleeping. We’re both pretty codependent on the other and that’s just fine. In fact, that’s how it should be. We are completely in tune with each other and I love it.
In the last few days you’ve started spontaneously smiling at us, which completely melts our hearts. You’ve also started cooing and vocalizing — such fun! We are so excited to see how you grow and change. Every day you’re a little bit different and we understand each other a little bit better.
Darling, your father and I love you so much. We didn’t think it was possible to love you as much as we do. We could never have imagined that we’d care for you so fiercely and be so protective of you. You make our lives so much richer, with much more purpose and meaning. We feel tremendously lucky to be your parents and have you in our lives.
Love, Mama