Letters to a daughter from her parents, starting from before she was born

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

9 weeks

Ada,
Right now you're napping with your father. I guess a ever present desire to sleep as much as humanly possible is something you both share. I keep going back over your pictures and am constantly shocked by how much you've grown, and changed. You keep getting longer and leaner, and absolutely lacking desire to roll over for me on camera.  I do have video of you cooing on camera though. I had to remove a bunch of the pictures I'd been taking of you from my phone because it was slowing the entire system down. You're a cute kid, I have to take lots of pictures!

Smiles!
This past Saturday your grandmother came, and she's getting lots of snuggles in. She's also insisting that we change you into more cute outfits.  You've however, decided that this is the perfect week to start spitting up on said outfits. There was even one rather hideous cheetah print outfit that you loved so much that you pooped all over. I think that one lasted maybe two hours. I agreed with your assessment.  Excellent fashion sense, young one.

Newton continues his campaign of indifference.  He sees me sitting on the recliner, and tries his hardest to get on my lap without stepping on you.  He rarely succeeds, and is generally annoyed that he's relegated to the bottom of the chair, but he survives.  Lately he's been sleeping with your grandmother or in dad's sock basket.  One day your father is going to be at work and spend an embarrassing amount of time picking white hair off of his socks.  Henry, not to be one upped, decided he needed to get to an even higher shelf in our closet to sleep. It's very disconcerting to have a black cat meow at you from six feet in the air.
We took our first stroller walk. 

And here for your viewing pleasure are more of the expressions of Miss Ada.


And you passed out

And you saw yourself in the camera and tried to touch it.

That's you wrapped in a blanket. If Henry knew you were there...
he probably would not have stuck around

There is SUSHI on her shirt. I <3 it! 

I keep trying to get pictures of your eyes. So blue!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

8 weeks

Beautiful girl,

Happy Naw Ruz! It's the Persian new year and the first day of spring. I can't wait for nice weather to get you outside daily. I still haven't put you in your stroller. Maybe I'll break it out on Saturday. I love wearing you though.

I didnt have a specific St. Patrick's day outfit, but I did have a beautiful teal colored onsie for you. I think it's getting too short for you though,  because instead of pants, the legs are knee length.

Time does fly. I'm loving your new little sounds and awesome smiles. My new mom support group started on Tuesday and I'm really looking forward to getting to know the other women better.

Your grandma is flying in on Saturday. She hasn't flown in decades, so I'm praying this flight is easy and quick. She'll never want to take the train again! Im looking forward to a fun visit and restocking our freezer again.

Love,
Mom

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Baby smiles

Beautiful girl,
These make our day. Every time you finish eating and wake up you're full of smiles and gurgles. It's pretty awesome.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Seven weeks

You look like the most colorful caterpillar in the world.
All the work I put into this blanket was totally worth it.
Ada,
This week you're continuing to make new cooing, or in your case gooing noises. It's pretty cute to see you and your father playing 'the nose game.' Whenever he rubs your nose, you make a happy noise. We're also getting more smilies.
Every couple of days you seem to throw up...not spit up, but regurgitate everything you've eaten. It's gross but serving as a excellent excuse for a bath. We know you're sensitive to eggs and we're experimenting with dairy. I'm leery to completely cut out dairy (cheese is all I have) if you're just fussy at your normal time in the evening. Only time will tell.
I really hope I can make it to the store and buy you an adorable St. Patrick's day outfit. I'm enjoying all these photo opportunities, but we really need to get some professional pictures done. You've changed so much in two months, and I long to be that obnoxious parent with too many pictures. I'm slowing killing my phone by having too many pictures on it, and I can't decide which one to take off, because I like trapping people and making them look at every picture I've taken of you..since you were born.  Speaking of that, last night dad and I looked at all of the birth pictures that Cara took, and there are some really awesome ones.

Ready for a walk! I like to spread the passes over you to keep you extra snug.

After a few wonderfully warm days, it's suddenly gotten really cold again and I don't want to take you anywhere. We'd been going on walks every day when it was warmer. I love wrapping you, and you love it too. You generally sleep and occasionally wake up to look around and go back to sleep. I'm not entirely sure what is going on with my goofy smile,but you were so comfortable that it was worth it.  

Thank you little girl for being pretty darn wonderful.  There is so much going on right now that could potentially be cripplingly stressful, but it's not.  Maybe it's you, having you, smelling you, holding you, just makes everything that much better and more manageable.  

Love, 
Mom (and Dad)
Find the baby!
You're starting  to like playing, and looking in a mirror
I didn't pose you. You're actually sleeping like this. It's a little creepy

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Dear Ada,
Today is your dad's 41st birthday. I slacked on getting a present,  so I turned you into one. He was very happily surprised when I asked him to change you this morning and he found his present.

Love,
Mom

Dear Aaron,
Happy birthday my love. This year is going to be crazy, stressful, incredible and full of adventure.

Thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity to be a mother to this amazing little girl. She's a little of you and a little of me and a lot of amazing. We are so blessed. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and together we'll make this our best year yet.

Love,
Eileen

Friday, March 7, 2014

6 week smiles

My love,
Every day you're developing and changing. This week you're smiling and responding so much more.
Highlights
*grandma and grandpa headed back to Oregon. You decided 4am was a great time to be up so we were able to say goodbye. I've been sending your grandmother's pictures of you every day.
*Dad fed you your first bottle. You, unsurprisingly didnt seem fazed, as long as you were fed.
*we went on a long walk today. I wrapped you up and you slept the entire time. You love being wrapped, and I'm getting loads of practice lately. Dad and I watched YouTube videos on babywearing yesterday. He can put you in the Moby without help.
*Today you also met all of the Harriman family. There were lots of hands to hold you!!

I'm tired, so I'll leave you with pictures. Tomorrow you're meeting Jason and Audrey amd their son Zeke and my aunt Kim. It's a big day.