Dear Jonah,

You’re five months old! Where has the time gone? I think that everyday: how are you growing and changing so quickly? It’s so awesome, but just like every other parent in the world, I want to slow down time. I want to soak every minute of you up. We’re doing our very best to do that!

Since you turned four months old, Mommy has started a new job! She works weekends and one weekday so that we can be with you all the time. You never go to daycare or a nanny, though we’re about to get you a sitter for the one day a week Mommy works and I go to school for a couple of hours. Since she started this job, you’ve been lucky enough to spend those days with grandparents! Nana has come up a few times, and Grandpa Stu and Maymie were here one week. They all love spending time with you, and you get a real kick out of spending time with them!

You’ve started eating solids, which thrills you to no end. I’m pretty sure you’ve come to expect something on a spoon in your mouth every day, because without it, you fuss at bedtime and wake up in the night for a bottle. Rest assured that we’ve gotten the message loud and clear: you’re HUNGRY! We won’t be skipping any days again. 🙂

Your poop is different. That’s all I’ll say about that. We need to install the diaper sprayer: STAT.

You started rolling over a couple of weeks ago, and as of today, you can successfully roll from your back to your tummy AND you can get that smushed arm out from underneath your torso! We are so excited that you’re gaining physical independence and getting stronger.

This last month you’ve started to curl your toes from one foot onto the other. I love it when you do this so much. Your sweet little feet are so CUTE. I can hardly stand it! I nibble on them all the time. The other day you started grabbing your feet! You were sitting in your bouncer, and BOOM! Foot-grabbing ensued. It was a sweet little moment.

You are SUPER chatty lately. Babbling, yelling, cooing, laughing – it’s all adorable. I love watching you try to form sounds with your mouth. What are you trying to tell us? Stories, I bet. Facts, ideas, thoughts, questions, whatever. We’re listening.

You went to the doctor for two shots today. You weigh 15 lbs, 15 oz! Whoa, buddy! That’s impressive. You’ve gained 1 lb, 5 oz in the last month. We’re so pleased that you continue to grow and flourish.

Your personality is so sweet and kind. Your snuggles get better and better with every day, if that’s even possible. You don’t particularly love to nap on your own, but we don’t mind much – napping with you is a highlight. Naps are great in the first place, and in the second place, you cuddle like no other. Quite simply: you are a snugglebug.

I imagine that these little notes to you will be pretty repetitive. “You’re great… You make our life so much better… How can you be this awesome? You’re so cute. You’re growing! You’re developing! Changes! More changes! Milestones!” I don’t really care. Let’s face it: these are more for me than they are for you. I want to remember how I felt during these first years of your life (or however long these letters last; monthly, semi-annually, or not). Your life is the most remarkable thing that has ever happened to me. I will never be a new mama again, so I’d like to remember exactly how it feels. It is 99% joyous and 1% fear and worry. This is an incredible ratio for me, because I am generally VERY anxious. But not about you, my sweet little love. Being your mama is the very best thing.

All my love,
Mama