Dear Livia,
Today you are four months old!
You are a child who loves to be engaged in this world. I noticed that you fell asleep while playing on the floor a few minutes ago—a bottle and a bath just wiped you out!—so I picked you up and put you in bed. Did you stay asleep? Oh no. Those few seconds, from floor to crib, offered precious moments for you to take in every bright object and every loud noise around. Though quite sleepy, you craned your neck and straightened your spine to take in your world. You like to stretch out instead of being cuddled, you’d rather lay flat on your back than be pressed up against someone’s neck. You’re the “stretchiest” kid I’ve ever known and you’re the only baby I’ve met who sleeps with her hands behind her head like she’s vacationing in Baby Club Med.
This past month has been full of new developments. First, you found your knees and ankles, then your feet. Just last weekend you even managed to taste the feet on your sleeper; your own toes were centimeters short of your gaping mouth. You discovered the joy of playing with toys and now your play gyms (yes, you are spoiled by having two) offer all sorts of fun. You like to bang the living tar out of the little dangling animals or grasp their legs so tightly that I can almost hear them begging for mercy. Daddy is now “Mr. Funny Man” to you and I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that, yes, sigh, Daddy is much more fun than Mommy. We picked him up for some fine dining at the food court in the mall last week; he loved seeing you in the middle of an otherwise normal workday. I came around the corner to find out what he wanted to drink and he was singing and dancing in the middle of the food court. You and I both laughed out loud at that one!
Last weekend you joined me and a whole team of Aunties for our girls’ weekend at Belmont Lake in Minnesota. You are the first babe to join our fun and I’m quite proud of your positive representation for the world of babies. Together we learned that you can sleep just about anywhere, you can certainly eat anywhere (even in brisk breezes with raindrops falling on your face), and you can play, on your back of course, just about anywhere. I am slowly learning that you are quite durable and that I can, even as a first time mom, be flexible.
We love you tons, my sweet little Boo! (Remember this come Thursday when we’re allowing an unknown nurse lady to stick needles in your sweet baby thighs for your 4 month shots. I’m sure it’s one of many moments where hard things will occur and we’ll all cry together.)
Love you,
Mama
10 Comments
Haley Sep 7, 2004 3:44 PM
Rebecca, love the pictures of your so-sweet baby. I will send you the ones I took in Minnesota as soon as I pull them off the camera. What a joy to see you and get to know your little laid-back Livia. I miss you both already.
Rebecca Sep 8, 2004 10:04 AM
Haley, we miss you, too! Just let me know when I need to start perusing the Lincoln Journal Star for journalism and hacker jobs… Hee hee.
Big news: Yesterday, on her 4 month birthday, Livia’s toes indeed made it into her mouth. It was a momentous occasion, angels were singing and beams of sun fell upon her delightful infant head. Okay, well, maybe not. It happened on the changing table, sans diaper. That little bit of extra wiggle room was all those teensy toes needed. Um, ew.
dena Sep 8, 2004 10:55 AM
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy brthday dear livia,
happy birthday to you!
:)
thanks for sharing, rt…
sarah Sep 8, 2004 12:02 PM
beautiful pictures, thanks for posting them, rebecca.
Sarah B. Sep 8, 2004 12:04 PM
First, i read your comment about Livia sleeping with her hands behind her head, like at a “Baby Club Med.” Then, I kept scrolling down and saw the position you were joking about and i literally laughed out loud! She truly must be the only baby that does that, cause I’ve never seen that before either.
We loved getting to share cheesecake and conversation with you guys last night!
Anne Sep 8, 2004 1:06 PM
Agreed. Fabulous pictures. I especially like that last one (laughing babies just can’t be beat!).
Rebecca Sep 8, 2004 1:23 PM
i’m working on a photo series of livia’s uber-relaxed baby pose. it is pretty funny and unusual.
when it comes to livia, i’m a crazy photo-shooting fiend! glad you like the pictures, friends. (cuz there’s more a’comin!)
andrew Sep 8, 2004 10:16 PM
i like your pictures, but i like the real thing more! she’s way cuter in real life, that is if she isn’t crying. btw, you should really represent her overall disposition better with a couple crying photos. maybe one with her little pout right before she cries. i would pay for that one.
Rebecca Sep 9, 2004 8:45 AM
I’ll do what I can, Noon. That little pouty face *is* funny. Yesterday her crying was not funny, though. She went into one of her inconsolable cries (we’ve only had 3 in 11 weeks; not too bad). The only way to solve it is to get her to fall asleep in the car or stroller. Fortunately Jeremy was home to do the honors!
Sarah B. Sep 9, 2004 12:10 PM
I’ve always felt a little guilty if I’ve had the urge to take a picture of Calvin while he’s fussing or crying, even if it is cute. I guess I was paranoid of mocking him, in a way, like “Ha, ha, you’re really unhappy right now, but Mommy’s going to dance around you and capture your distress for a lifetime!”
But that’s just me.