Flip

Today you flipped over! You've been turning to your side for a while now. Today, when you woke up from a nap, you flipped over to your back. Nine Roza wondered if I flipped you, but to be sure, she came upstairs where I was working, and asked. I ran downstairs to your room, and as a proud mama, I took pictures of your smiley face.

Little Echo is 3 months old

My tiny Echo,

Nine says that I treat you as though I had a baby for the very first time. That's exactly how I feel. Having had our Zoe first, didn't diminish my excitement or my love. I adore you. That is the word. I look forward to your happy smile, your gaze, your ever moving legs. I look forward to holding you, lifting you and kissing you all over. You are a happy baby. But I like to think that you are even happier when you see me. I took a job that allowed me to work from home, so I can be with you more. I'm grateful that I can nurse you and bounce you during the day. Still, I feel the right thing to do is to spend all day together. I want to see you crawl and walk, but I don't want you to grow. But you will. And until then, I want to enjoy every bit of you.

As a second born, you don't get to taste undivided attention that first borns do. It makes me a little sad that even when nursing, I don't always sing to you or talk to you, because I also want to pay attention to your sister Zoe, if she is in the room. On the other hand, when we are all together, you lock your gaze on Zoe. You open your eyes and mouth wide, in a smile of amazement, evidently fascinated by her presence and energy.

Today you are three months old. You look and act older. You are about 5.5 kilos and about 55cm.

And you started flipping to your side already.

Tonight we'll have some cupcakes or chocolates to celebrate your 3 month long life and Zoe's sisterhood. I want the months to pass fast, as reassurance that you are prospering, and I want them to pass slow. I love you, my little honey bee. Welcome to my life.

Mommy

Your first camping trip

My Dear Echo,

This weekend we went on our first family camping trip. More like a low-cost hotel stay than a union with nature. With Zoe not wanting to hike and getting easily bored, and you spitting so much, going all natural would have been unpleasant. We picked a campground with bathrooms, a pool and a laundromat, about 2 miles outside the "Bavarian" town of Leavenworth, created by non-Bavarian Americans.

Nights in the tent were cold. With one warm sleeping bag and two thermal pads, we took turns as needed, and snuggled tightly to keep each other toasty. Twisting in the narrow bag for nursing required skill which we acquired on the go.

 

Days were hot... We played games and told stories to entertain your sister Zoe, and longed for the peaceful moment to sit back on the lounge chairs, overlooking the river, and sip a glass of wine. 

We walked down to the river with clear waters ice cold from melted snow and giant round rocks decorating the shores. Zoe dipped her legs, and papa and I went for a quick swim. Next time you will go in as well.

I love holding you and making you smile. 

On the drive back home you cried. I think you are having hard time falling asleep without nursing. So I moved to the back seat and nursed you, hoping that a police car would not drive by. 

Your sister watched a video of a little boy protecting his baby sister. Now she thinks it is her responsibility to protect you. It's very cute to listen to her talk about it. I tell her that it is also your responsibility to protect her.

Love,

Mommy

Achievements

My Little Echo,

August 19, 2014. I looked over the green play mat where you were napping, and saw your little body propped up on elbows and lower arms. Your little head, with your big eyes moved from side to side, observing your surroundings. This is a big achievement for a two-month old little girl.

You poop only once or twice a day, but it's big and pressurized.When it's out, it makes you smile. Usually it stains your onesie and the car seat, if you are in it. Last week, you pooped while on your changing table, and it shot two feet far, hitting papa's hand, and from there, it bounced onto your crib and the floor.

You started reaching to things with your dainty hands. You try to hold my hands so I lift you up on your feet. today I was making funny sounds with my mouth. You focused with laser eyes on my lips, lifted your hand and caught my lips, to understand what they were doing.

The days of peaceful Echo are behind. You are still smiley and sweet, but you are up and awake and ready to play. You don't want to be left alone, and if I'm late at feeding you, you get angry and yell "Aeh!" I don't know if you can't sleep or resist sleep. Nine (she came to visit us and take care of you while I work) says that I don't let you sleep. I disagree. I just don't want to force you to sleep if you want to be awake and have fun with mama. I want to stimulate your shiny big eyes, and smart little brain, and I want to see that trusting wide smile - not pictured in the photo below, with Nine and sister Zoe.

Love,
 Mommy

You are older than you are

My Dear Echo,

You shared your first smile when you were one week old. It was a conscious smile, intended for me. Within a week or two, you started imitating my face - you stuck your tongue out, as you watched me stick out mine. You pursed your lips into a kiss, as you watched me do the same:

You are happiest when you push yourself up to standing with our support. You look down at your legs with a smile of achievement that's different than your other smiles, and then, into our eyes. We can tell you're proud of yourself, and you feel even more proud as you notice our amazement and congratulatory remarks. You're not even 2 months old.

You also started "talking" to me with consistent sounds. I reply with regular language, and so we carry a conversation only a baby and mommy can share.

You are calm, so you give yourself a chance to observe your surroundings, quiet, and with eyes wide open - your eyes are so big! - and you are amazed at what you see. We wonder what crosses through your mind.

You are too young for all this.

Wherever I go, people from every age and gender stop me and comment on on you. "You probably hear this all the time, but you have the cutest baby." "Your baby is adorable." "Aww, so cute." "She looks so grown up." "She is so alert." In return, you give them your beaming smile.

You had a rough day yesterday, with 4 vaccines. 3 shots in the legs and 1 drop in the mouth. You were sleepy, a little cranky, and had some fever. It's hard to be a baby. But you made it through. My lovely little girl.

Kiss,
Mommy

Welcome to the world, Echo

My Echo,

We've been waiting for you to complete our family. You kept us waiting for three extra days, and those felt like weeks. I was worried that you'd be too big to come out easily, your dad wanted to meet you already, and your sister was getting sad that her baby and playmate was not here yet. When you did decide to arrive, you came quickly and quietly.

A sunny June 18 after days of rain. I was on the couch, surfing and casually timing the contractions I've been feeling for the last 2-3 weeks. "Not strong enough for labor" I thought. Following that thought, an unfamiliar pop and painful wetness. My water never broke with your sister, so I was totally unprepared for this horrible sensation. "Not on the carpet" I whispered in my head, and dragged myself on my knees to the hardwood floor. The phone was left miles away on the couch, and  knew papa might not hear it ring as he was picking up Zoe from school on the bike.

Doctors tell you to time your contractions to know how close you are to delivery. But once you have given birth, you know from the degree of pain how close you are to the end, and I knew I had no time. Before this moment, I told myself that if I can't reach dad, or if he is farther away, I'll just suck it up and drive myself to the hospital. Crouched on the floor, that was not going to happen. I reached for the phone and pressed the single button it takes to dial dad, hating the traffic that must have trapped him. "Is it time?" he said as soon as he picked up the phone. "Yes, how far are you?" "We're very close" he said, and I heard the garage door open.

Something stressful about driving to a hospital during rush hour traffic. Thirty minutes later we were at the hospital door. 60 minutes later, at 7:11PM Pacific time, you were in my arms. "Mom! A baby just came out of your snooch!" your sister declared. "She is so small,"I said,several times, worried. "Is she preemie size?" I asked. "She is just fine," they said. I had hard time believing. 'Is she breathing?" I asked? "Yes" they said. "Why is she not crying?" I asked. "Why is the doctor not smacking her?" I thought. Nobody seemed to understand why I was worried. You looked so small and you were so quiet. Why didn't you cry? Only in the next few days, as I got to know you I understood... You are just a peaceful baby. Your presence sooths me. I'm so lucky that you are mine.

Papa and I were surprised that only after a few minutes, you opened your eyes. you looked like a mini human who's been through life. We positioned you on my chest, and you nursed for two long hours until the nurse came to take your vitals.

You were born 6lb 12oz (3.65kg) and 19.5 inches (almost 50 cm). You have been making us smile ever since.

Love
Mommy