on being sick for the first time

Dear Luce –

I’m so sorry that you’ve been sick this week! It stinks to have stomach bugs and especially when you’re experiencing your first cold. I just wanted to write you to tell you how sweet you’ve been despite feeling under the weather.

You are the sweetest baby ever. Even the nurses at Doctor Donohoe’s office say so. You make being a mom – or a doctor/nurse – easy jobs to do. When you cry, it’s only because you need something. You’re truly a dream.


Today marks seven days of being sick. I think you’re definitely getting better, which is in line with what DD says should be.


Love you,
Mommy

Lucy -

I cannot believe it has been 4 FREAKING MONTHS! You are more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed of. You are expanding your world everyday by seeing new things, going new places and interacting with your surroundings more and more. Here are a couple highlights from this month:

1. You grab everything. When you get a grip good enough, you put whatever it is in your mouth.
2. Joanna thinks you may be starting the teething phase. Time will tell!
3. You NEVER go in the swing. Dad says there is a way to turn the seat upright, so this may change.
4. You spend everyday w/ joanna and Adam. You walk almost every day around noon, take your last nap around 2:30 and awake in time for a bottle and a couple hours of playtime with your parents.
5. You LOVE Will I Am's "What I am" song from Sesame Street. I know you shouldn't be looking at screens, but when you're sad, I give into the urge to make you happy with youtube's version.
 6. You have your first cold today - 3/28/12.
7. YOU ROLLED OVER for the first time last Friday. You did it three times for Joanna and me. You did it again on Sunday night.
8. Your mat is your happy place.
9. You went out for dinner for the first time ever. You went to Callo with Joel, Sherry, Mom, Dad and Grandpa Bruce. You were an angel.
10. You took a walk to Wrigley Field with Grandpa Bruce. He took a pic of you and Ernie Bank's statue.
11. You are growing out of your 3 month clothes.
12. You continue to sleep through the night - not one night has been otherwise.
13. You had a playdate with a new friend, Abby. Joanna loves Abby. She's 2 years old.
14. We went on our first family trip. The Goodmans invited us to Twin Lakes, WI. You slept in the pack and play and were perfect! Joey was a good host.
15. You held hands with a boy for the first time. You guessed it...Joey Goodman!!
16. You are getting closer and closer to holding your own bottle.
17. You love watching Adam run around the house.

I love you. So much. More and more every minute of every hour of every day.

Mommy

Tonight I'm Sad

Dear Lucy -

I planned poorly this week. Three nights I will be out! Terrible. Ugh, can't believe I didn't plan better! Last night I took clients out for dinner and tonight I worked out with clients. Honest to god, it was fun both nights, but nothing will ever compare to the time I'm with you.

We did a boot camp tonight. Each sit up I spelled out another letter in your name - L-U-C-Y-H-A-N-N-A-H. My co-worker Angela said, "do it for Luce," and suddenly I had a ton of energy. I'd do anything for you, you know that, right?

This weekend it is the four of us and the Goodmans in WI. Leave your cell at home - it's family time!!

I love you more than sleeping in, butterspray, talking on the phone and no chip manicures. And yes - I will watch you in the monitor until I fall asleep. Hopefully you'll wake up at the crack of dawn for our daily 6 AM playtime.

Mommy

Marry Someone Who Will Paint Your Toes

Dear Lucy -

When you're old enough, make sure the person you marry will paint your toes. With everything going on right now, little time is left for pedicures. Spring suddenly sprung this year, so I haven't yet had the chance to get one...I'm sure I'll do it this week. Tonight when I asked your father if he would paint my toes, he said, "sure," without even thinking twice. Is he the sweetest, or what!?!

I can't wait until we can paint yours!

Thanks for an amazing weekend, Luce! Love you!
Mommy

On Missing Grandma

Dear Lucy -

In case you aren't aware, I talk to Grandma Sherry a couple times a day. I tell her almost everything. Now that I'm a mom, I respect mine a lot more. Did you know that being a mom is perhaps one of the most difficult and rewarding things you can do?

Grandma Sherry encouraged her children to see the world beyond Cleveland, Ohio. While her heart was and always will be in NY, she supported my move to Chicago in 2006. Perhaps she was dissappointed that I was going west instead of east with her other kids. Perhaps she thought it was temporary until I started a family of my own. Maybe, however, she just wanted me to be happy. Yeah, that's defenitely it. Not once has she insisted that I look back. She knows I'm in the right place.

Grandma Sherry loves us so much, Luce. Did you know that Grandma Sher taught me that indepedence is imperative, the world is bigger than our own and that education and judism is worth the committment. You'll notice that I share those values and will work to pass them along to you, too.

I miss her every day. You will too...once you know how much you love her. I guess the point of this letter is to let you know that I miss her so much right now...usually I think about her but once in a while it hurts. Today is one of those days. I had to tell someone. In just a couple of weeks, though, we will head to Cleveland to celebrate Passover and three generations of beautiful women will reunit again.

Until then, we have the phone.

Love You,
Mommy

Fake it 'Til You Make It

Dear Lucy –

I knew it would happen at some point, I just didn’t expect it to be the same day I banged your head against the wall. I’m sorry.

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and just did not feel like leaving you today (not that I really ever do!). Perhaps it was because, as I explained to you, yesterday was a weird day at work – could it have rolled over a whole day? I told you about my day when I got home. As usual you didn’t say much – I cannot wait until I know what you’re thinking. I explained my whole “fake it until you make it” theory. Sometimes you just have to smile and put one foot infront of the other. That’s what I did today. Eventually someone or something will “make it.” Today it was your dad. He emailed me twice to remind me how much the three of you love me.

I hope your day is going well. I just got this pic from Joanna, so it looks like you guys are welcoming Springtime with open arms…no surprise given that you always have your arms stretched open to the world. Keep it that way, Luce.

 I’m going to the gym tonight, but will be home right after. Defenitely in time to kiss you and put you to sleep. If not, don’t mind that breathtaking woman peaking over the rails of your crib…she’s just gushing over the best work she’s ever done.

I love you,

Mommy

Meet Joanna!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Lucy,

Your father and I truly believe that yesterday marked the beginning of an era. The Joanna Era. On HER birthday, she started caring for both you and Uncle Adam. Promptly at 7:30, Joanna walked in with a gift for YOU (adorable socks with a big shiney bow) and a smile. On your first day together, you spent almost two hours walking, you played fetch (well, one of you did), ate, did tummy time, played, read books and napped. We returned home at 5:32 (two minutes late) to a one worn out pup and a relaxed baby. We were thrilled. Eh, more like beyond happy.

We love Joanna and hope that you do, too. We love her because she cares about you, how you see the world, how you develop and even building your character. She takes pride in your health, cleanliness and grooming. She's FUN!! She's social. She's hilarious! She's engaging. I am slightly jealous that you get to play with her all day. I'm so excited for you! I just know you're going to have a blast. I would never leave you for so many hours if I wasn't confident that you were in the best care possible.

Be extra kind, Luce. She just left a family after over 6 years. Her heart is filled with love and pride for Olivia and Gracie, but we know there's room for you and 'Adash', too. Oh the fun you three will have. Make sure she sends me lots of pics.

I wonder what you guys are doing now... Whatever it is, just know that I'm 8.5 hours away and then it's weekend - just for us four!! Yeah, baby!!

Love you!
Mommy