Dear Baby J

Dear Baby J,

You came to us as a six week old that we anticipated having for two weeks – a month max – and nearly five months later you’re still a part of our family. Sometimes life is like that kiddo. We are definitely glad you’re still with us.

You’re growing into quite a big boy! At your last check-up you weighed 18 pounds and were almost 25 inches long. You’re growing really well – except you still haven’t really grown a neck yet, J!  You’re wearing the same size diapers as your big sister, which is mind blowing but very convenient!

Speaking of your sister, S still thinks you are her most favorite toy ever. She loves giving you a kiss (and asks to do so first thing every morning)! She brings you toys when you whimper and makes you fist bump her an average of 7 times a day. You are starting to pay attention to her and your eyes light up when she pays attention to you.

You’re sitting up a little on your own and will roll over from your back to your tummy. We’re trying to give you more opportunities for tummy time but you don’t like it very much. You’re also starting to make more noises. You’ve started making the “mamamamama” noise which is adorable. You suck your lips in while you do it and look just like an old man! We’ve been trying to feed you baby food but you REALLY don’t want to eat – or can’t. You seem like you want to and then have a hard time getting it down. We know you’re “tongue tied” and we’re going to ask the doctor next week if that could be making learning to eat harder for you.

You sure do like sucking on your fingers. You shove the first two fingers on your hand into your mouth the first chance you get. Miss Shannon at daycare HATES this, which you think is pretty dang funny. I think its fine if you know how to calm yourself down, and no one has to keep track of a paci! In the big scheme of things kid, you sucking your fingers is WAY down on the list of things I’m worried about for you.

You should also know that you’re the fifth kid we’ve cared for in a year. That may explain why there are fewer letters to you and less information about what’s been going on. (You’re also still a pretty little baby who just doesn’t do that much, no offense or anything.) When we got C, our first foster kid, we were SO excited about every milestone and getting to do things with her “the first time.” For example, she ate baby food much earlier than you have. Four kids later, we are somewhat over this excitement but did realize this month (thanks to your WIC vouchers) that it is time to start giving you baby food. We even managed to photograph feeding you for the first time with a real camera, which felt like a MAJOR accomplishment!

So you may be getting baby food a little later and there may be fewer pictures or Instagram posts featuring you, but you are loved no less than any of the other kiddos we’ve known this year. We’ve learned so much this year about taking care of babies and about ourselves as parents. You are the first boy we’ve cared for more than a weekend and the first baby we’ve had that didn’t mostly look like us. We are grateful for the lessons we are learning from you and we are grateful you are such a chill baby. You’re a great sleeper and really just are up for anything. You’ve really fit right in.

You have your Bubbie wrapped around your little finger and she adores you. She came home last night from class and barely got in the door before you started whining for her to pick you up. And of course she joyfully obliged. We’re not sure what’s all happening with your family, but it looks like you may be going to stay with your grandmother soon. Until you leave us, little one, we will do our best to love you and take care of you. You will never remember these days you’re spending with us, but you should know that you spend these days and weeks and months with people in a family that was safe and loving and adored you.

Love,

Meggie

12 months - One WHOLE Year!

Sweet S,

It has been one whole year since you came to live with Bubbie and me. We celebrated with a little front yard BBQ last Friday night.

You’re still a growing girl and getting taller and taller. Yesterday I realized you’ve outgrown almost all of your socks! You’re learning more and more words and trying to repeat most anything we say. 

You are still really liking being a big sister. You still ask to see and kiss him every morning when you wake up and you worry about him when he’s crying. You like trying to crawl in his seat with him and touching his hair. Sometimes I worry about your heart breaking when it is time for J to go home. I want you to know though, that sometimes it okay to love things (and people) completely even if you aren't promised forever with them.

Since I last wrote a lot of things have happened!

Uncle Jar celebrated a birthday and we went to Atlanta to surprise him at a Braves game. It was your first and you loved it. Of course you like all the people to watch but you also like the music and clapping dancing and the fireworks!

You also really liked seeing our friends. Aunt Missy went with us to the game and there we got to see Sarah and Kristen, Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jar, and some other people you liked playing with.

The very next weekend we went to Frontier Days in Bubbie’s hometown. We had lots of fun watching the parade.

You and J had adorable outfits to wear!

You really liked seeing PawPaw and MawMaw again. It was good to be together.

There was a petting zoo where you got to see lots of animals. Your favorite this time was a rabbit.

You also got to ride a pony!

You got to play on toy tractors while there was a tractor race happening. (Apparently the purpose of this race was to see how SLOW the tractors could go without cutting off – so it wasn’t as exciting as one might think.)

Bubbie found her dream car!

We got to watch a pig chase. It’s a cultural experience. Boys and girls and men and women in various age categories chase greased pigs and whoever catches it keeps it (or sells it back to the pig farm). Its pretty hilarious.

We also got to spend some time at Bubbie’s uncle’s house. Their cat recently had kittens which you loved. You carried one around for a long time!

We went to a pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins. You like the pumpkins and riding in the wagon!

We also went to the state fair this month. We spent a whole day there with MaeMae and Steve. You liked seeing the animals.

And walking with Steve to see more animals.

You ate yummy food.

You also got to ride a carousel with me and then a train with Steve.

We were there so long you and J took naps!

We can’t believe you’ve been with us for one whole year. It is amazing to watch you grow and learn about the world.  Sweet girl, this month we got to sign some papers that hopefully bring us one step closer to you being with us forever. We are anxious for more of this process to happen but have to remind ourselves every day that this is most important day and that we’re not just waiting around for something official to happen. We want to live life with you – and we are loving living life with you – everyday. This time of year it seems like there are so many things to show you and talk to you about. Last night we ate dinner outside downtown and looked at beautiful sky above the river. You pointed and said “ooooo” and then watched the birds fly. It’s a wonderful world, Baby Girl. I am delighted every day to share it with you.

Love,
Meggie 

11 months!

Sweet S,

It has been 11 months since you came to stay with Bubbie and me. This past month has been a busy time!

We went to the doctor yesterday for your 18 month check-up and it seems you’re growing and healthy. You weigh 23.1 pounds and are 31 inches tall! 

You are using more and more words we understand. You've learned more body parts and always seem to be talking about your “belbow.” This was a little confusing when we went to see Sesame Street Live last weekend. We told you we would see ELMO and all the time you pointed to your elbow!

You also still love to sing and dance. You love “This little light of mine” because you get to yell “NO!” on the second verse about not hiding it under a bushel and you get to blow on the third verse about not letting it get blown out. I can’t wait until you start to sing more of the words.

You’re still enjoying being a big sister. You get worried when he cries and try to make him feel better. Soon you will learn that climbing on him to kiss him doesn't really help.

Matching outfits! J only got to wear his once because he's growing so fast!

Sometimes you get a little jealous of people paying attention to J and not to you and you especially don’t seem to like it when Steve holds or plays with J. You want Steve all to yourself!

Steve and Mae Mae have turned into quite the grandparents. You’ve got them wrapped around your little finger. Here is Steve giving you ice cream at 8:30 at night when we had to go to their house because our electricity was out!

MaeMae also picked out a purse for you and filled it with goodies. You've insisted on carrying it a couple of times. Here you are in Publix one night you wanted to bring it in. In your purse you have your phone, keys, tissues, and chapstick!

You're  quite the little mama. You love baby dolls and are really starting to take care of them like we care for J. We used this scarf to help you wear your baby like we wear Baby J (and you!) sometimes. You walked around like this for a long time playing and taking care of your baby.

One morning when I went to get you out of bed you had taken off your pants and put them on your baby doll’s head! Now you’re sleeping in one piece pajamas again!

You are starting to be able to put on your pants and shoes by yourself. Big girl!

You also are starting to like books more and more. You’ll sit and read and point and ask questions about books now which we love! (Here I think you are “reading” Rolling Stone with Bubbie.

We’ve had several trips this month. Towards the end of August we went to Savannah with Sarah and Kristen to celebrate a birthday and an anniversary. We had such a good time. Aunt Missy kept Baby J at home so it was just us girls. You were a trooper in the car there and really liked being with Sarah and Kristen. 

On Saturday we went to a train museum and you got to see lots of old trains and train stuff. You learned a train says “choo choo” and we got to ride on an old train in the area of the museum.

We got to eat icecream at Leopolds (which of course you loved)!

You enjoyed walked on River Street and people watching. We got to see several ships go by. You also loved playing in this ship in the sand.

We also went on a trip to Atlanta this month. We saw Sesame Street Live at The Fox Theater and went to Zoo Atlanta. We also stayed in a hotel with a great pool and got to go swimming!

Here you are at The Fox. 

We also got to eat at our favorite restaurant in Atlanta. You were a big fan of the chips!

Here are some pictures from the zoo. You LOVED petting (and kissing) the sheep and goats!

(Here are you are yelling "no no no" at Willie B!)

We had a wonderful time with you and love watching you learn about the world. You are such a sweetheart and a good trooper! You love an adventure and are so flexible with whatever comes your way. Its hard to believe its been almost a year since you've been in our home. I hear from your first mom occasionally and she says to be sure and tell you hello, give you hugs, and make sure you know she loves you. 

We're off tonight on another adventure. We love everyday we get to spend with you. 

Love,

Meggie

10 months of Sweet S!

Sweet S,

You've lived with me and Bubbie for 10 months now and sometimes it's hard to remember a time you weren't a part of our family.

You're growing, little one! You're saying more and more things that we understand. You've started telling us "no." We knew this was going to happen soon! You also shake your head (sometimes a lot!) when you say no. You don't say "yes" yet but you do nod your head when you mean "yes." You still get the most frustrated when we try to help you with something you don't want help with - like putting on your shoes or eating with a fork. You're strong and independent. I don't want to break that in you. But I want to help you learn that most of the time when we say "no" its because you're about to hurt yourself or someone else!

You've also started whispering "Whazat!!" like "What's that?" When you say this your eyes get wide! You do this at the funniest times. A couple a weeks ago while I was changing your diaper you tooted and promptly said "Whazat!?!?!" It was quite funny.

One of my favorite things you do right now is sing. You sing "happy happy happy" often and to whatever tune is in your head and heart. You also have this super dramatic singing face that you employ. You squint your eyes and bob your head emphatically and move your mouth. It's a lot like what Bubbie looks like when she sings! It's hilarious!

You've also started exploring a lot more around the house. You still enjoy playing by yourself mostly and don't mind being left alone to play. Recently you discovered the Tupperware cabinet!

You're a pro at walking and are almost a pro at running. You've had several falls this month - as a result of stairs, and once you fell out of the baby swing (you're also a sly and quick climber). These black eyes and bruises hurt me and Bubbie probably more than they hurt you. You're tough. One Sunday when we went the nursery to get you after church your had a bloody skinned knee. I asked Ms. Martha what happened and she said we brought you in there like that! We remembered you'd fallen in the parking lot, but since you got right up and kept running we didn't think it had hurt you. Now we've learned our lesson!

You are still eating well. Your favorite food still seems to be peas. You always want to feed yourself and use a fork or spoon. This is hard to do with peas!

You're still a great big sister for Baby J. You get so worried when he cries and still want to hug and kiss him first thing when you wake up. You're doing this with baby dolls, too. You feed your dolls and try and change their clothes and rock them. I love that you're so nurturing.

One of your favorite things right now is this pair of pink sparkly boots. I bought them from another mama for winter, but you want to wear them now! You put them on every chance you get and even wore one to bed one night!

We got to go to church at First Baptist this month because I was there for work. Lots of people were excited to see you in person and you really enjoyed your time in the nursery with Mrs. Ann and Martha!

We are still so excited and thankful for the decision your first mom made this month. I've talked to her several times on the phone and through Facebook, and every time she tells me to tell you that she loves you and to give you a big hug. She hopes to get back to town to see you soon.

Last night we had dinner downtown. After dinner you and Bubbie walked around (and had a frozen treat) while I stayed in the restaurant with Baby J and talked to friends. She said as you walked around you were careful to say "hey" and wave to everyone. We talked about how happy we are and how refreshing it is that you have absolutely no prejudices right now. No matter what people look like or what they're doing you smile and wave and say (or yell) "hey." The world is full of things that will get in the way of that soon. The thought of that makes me sad. So right now I'm committed to making sure you know the world is full of wonderful people and things and wonder. I want you to keep the spirit that makes you wave at everyone and don't want you to see me act like some people are worth waving at and some aren't. Everyone is worth waving at, kiddo, and I appreciate you reminding me of that.

You are so smart and strong and brave and beautiful and I am so glad I get to be your Meggie.
Love,
Meggie