2 months

Colter man,

I can't believe 2 months ago you came into this world in all of your red hair glory. 2 months ago we sat in a hospital room wondering how in the world we were going to figure out how to care for you. Everything seemed so hard from breastfeeding, to your frenulum being cut, to

circumcision- there were days where I honestly felt like I was not meant to be your mama because I felt inadequate. You would stare at me with these big blue eyes with no expression and I would stare back with questions swirling through my mind- is he rested enough, did he get enough to eat, when will he smile, what do I do during awake time? For weeks I tried lots of activities with you and got little reaction from you.

Then finally one day, about 6 weeks into your life, you gave me this gift.

I can't tell you what it feels like to get one of your big grins and a little coo from you. It's amazing how you can be crying like the world is ending one minute and then talking and smiling away the next. You are more and more awake and we are able to interact with you more and more.

There are still struggles that I am sure we are going to look back on one day and laugh about. You only take 45 minute naps. I can time them with a stop watch. The funny thing is- you don't just need 45 minutes of rest, you want much more. So, mama scoops you up (yes, you are still sleeping in the bouncy seat-sorry Dr. Walsh) and puts you in the ergo for another hour or so. People wonder how I have dropped the pregnancy weight so quickly, I tell them it's the ergo diet. I bounce and bounce and bounce. I know this will pass, and some day I will give anything to have you snuggled in so close to me.

Having you in our lives has made your daddy and I love each other even more. There is nothing I can think of that is sweeter than watching your daddy come in the door and barely get off his tie before he scoops you up.

I have to remind him often that you spit up quite a bit because he likes to fly you all over the place and toss you up in the air. Even if it does make you spit up, I'm sure you love it. Your daddy is so amazing Colter. He will do anything to help me out. Just the other night, he fed you a bottle in the middle of the night, but it wasn't quite enough so you had a hard time going back to sleep. I heard him bouncing you on the ball for about 45 minutes, so I snuck into your room to offer some help and boy did I surprise dad. He just about fell off the ball and was so scared. Now I know to announce my presence a little more.

We have taken you on quite a few adventures that you have slept right through! Birthday parties, a walk around greenlake, play dates, and a beautiful stroll around the Edmonds waterfront when it was 65 degrees! I know you love to be outside because that is when you sleep the best!

Some things you love to do right now is listen to my voice through the paper towel roll, look at the toucan and lion on the toy bar of the bouncy seat, shake your rattle that you don't even know is in your hand, look at your monkey and Dallas Cowboys bear, and read books.

My favorite time of day is when you and I take a bath together. You LOVE the water. You kick your legs like a frog and stare up at me.

When your hair is wet, you look exactly like your dad when he was a baby.

Everyone says you look just like dad... but I'm still claiming the dimple chin. Your hair still gets comments every where we go "look at that hair!" "What incredible hair" It is cute now, but I imagine you would not like having a red fro at your senior prom. We'll see how it changes over the coming months, but for now, it does not seem to be falling out or changing colors, just getting longer (I even asked dad at what point we should give you a hair cut and he was definitely not interested in having the conversation.)

We love you SO much little man.. all 12 lb. 5 oz. and 23 inches of you.