Month 5

Dear Amos,


Today, you are five-months-old. It's really hard to believe that you have been here this long, yet sometimes it feels like you have been in our charge for years. I think I've known your smile as long as I can remember my own, or maybe I've lost so much memory from lack of sleep that I barely remember my own life.

You've made HUGE strides this past month! Instead of sitting calmly for your bath, now you splash like a madman. I come away from your bath completely soaked. Your father and I tend to wrestle over who gets to give you the "spa treatment" after your bath - a baby massage with chamomile hydrosol and organic lotion. You kick and smile and coo during your spa time. Your happiness makes us love you more and more, as if there could actually be room for more love in our hearts.

Your personality is showing more every day. You need to learn a bit about cause and effect, as you talk and complain to your binky because it is in your hand instead of your mouth. If you would put the binky IN your mouth, there would be no need for fuss. Instead, you yell at your hand and the bad, bad binky for not getting into your pie hole where it belongs. Sometimes, stuffing three fingers in your mouth soothes your distress, or perhaps a shard of glass.

We've had a heck of a time trying to get you to eat. For the most part, we have licked this problem by singing to you, flailing your arms around, showing the sign for 'milk', and standing on our heads. Once we have performed the first act of "Our Town," you start eating. You are so cooperative.

Amos, you almost attended the World Series, but the Colorado Rockies didn't believe in letting a baby see possibly the only World Series to ever grace our fair city. We threatened to throw flaming soiled diapers at Coors Field in your honor. Perhaps we'll save that for when your throwing arm is working so well that you can throw the flaming diaper fast enough so that all three of us can run away without getting caught.

You rolled over! You are starting to sit up! And good grief, boy, you are attempting to get your legs under you during tummy time so that you can crawl. We're teaching you baby sign language, and you are already practicing the signs for 'mama' and 'dada.' It's all too much, too soon.

Here is the sign for 'mama'. Sometimes you prefer to put your thumb in your mouth rather than perform the sign properly, but time will allow for more graceful movements.

There is more to say about your accomplishments this month, such as the way you now grab things with such purpose. You are really learning how to pull my hair out with fervor. Your father is less than enthused about your newfound amusement in pulling his chest hair. However, it's time for all of us to go to bed so that we can catch a flight tomorrow to Pennsylvania. You will be seeing your paternal grandparents for the first time. They are SO excited to meet you! Your father is giddy with anticipation, so much so that he fretted over what you should wear tomorrow.

I wish you could remember everything that is happening to you now, but I'll do my best to preserve the memories for you. Keep growing and smiling, my boy. Mommy kisses.