To Nora on her 4-Month Birthday

Dear Nora,

Oh my goodness Sweet Girl, today you are 4 whole months old! It is trite and cliche to say, but I will say it anyway - the time simply flies by. It really does seem like only yesterday we were bringing you home as a wee newborn, and now, here you are, babbling, laughing, making your desires known, and growing growing GROWING.

Let's talk about your growing for a minute, shall we? At your 4-month check-up with the Good Doctor, you weighed in at 15 lbs, 7 oz. and 25.5 inches long, putting you in the 95th percentile for both weight and length. Wow, just wow is all I can say. When I think back to your first three weeks and the frustration and tears spent trying to get you to eat correctly and gain weight, all I can be is grateful for this complete turnaround. Your delicious cheeks, perfectly round tummy, thigh rolls, and wrist dimples are all proof that we're doing something right. It's probably no coincidence that as your eating and weight increased, so did your hours of sleep, making a tired Mommy and Daddy very, very happy.

As you've grown in size, your funny little personality has started to develop too. When you greet me in the morning with a smile, my heart simply fills to bursting. And when you look at me with a wide, open mouth, you make it perfectly clear that you'd like to eat now, thank-you-very-much. You've done that for several weeks now and it cracks me up. You just know that the Mommy will feed you as much as you want, and all you have to do is open your mouth in my general direction. Smart girl!

Don't get me started on your smiles and laughter. Really, two of my very favorite things at the moment. Pretty much if someone is engaging you (Mommy, Daddy, but especially big sister) you are smiling. I think you're going to be a little social butterfly like your big sis, as you love talking and babbling to others, and also seem to really enjoy when they answer back. You've recently started laughing and squealing. Usually this happens when you know milk is coming your way but hasn't quite hit your lips yet, making me laugh as well. You also laugh and squeal when you're full and feeling good and someone is tickling you, eating your delicious cheeks, or making silly faces at you. Your sweet baby laughs are the happiest music I've ever heard. Indeed baby laughs cover a multitude of sins.

It's so fun to see how much you've changed in these past 4 months. I know the next 4 will bring even more growth and change and I'm excited to see more bits and pieces of who you are. Know this always, dear Nora Johanna, you are loved and cherished more that you can imagine. Your Daddy and I longed for you before we knew you were on your way, and we were so, so excited this time last year when we learned I was pregnant. A year ago you were a little bundle of rapidly growing cells, but you were already known and already loved. Daddy and I are so glad we get to be your parents and so grateful you are our daughter.

Love you always,
Mommy