Dear Peanut,
Today we had two milestones. You are officially one month old and I celebrated my 36th birthday. With you joining me and mommy in our lives, I can truly say that this is the happiest time of my life. It's hard to believe that you've only been with us for such a short time!
It was a beautiful Fall day in New York today so we took you out for a long walk downtown. You love being in your stroller. Once you're bundled in, you fall asleep immediately. If we stop walking for even a minute, you open one eye and give us the Korean Death Stare to let us know we better keep moving. Though you're only one month old, it's already clear who's going to be running the show. You truly are Daddy's little girl.
You're such a healthy baby. You look much older than your age and sometimes your mother and I swear that you're going to get up any second and start walking. Like all members of our family, you're a true foodie. Though you've yet to experience the joys of sushi or a great steak, you suck down breast milk like the well is going to run dry. Subsequently, you then make me and your mother laugh hysterically by burping and farting like a truck driver. Sometimes, you're so hungry that you don't even bother waking up to eat.
You love sitting in your swing and staring out into space. You like it when Diego comes up to you and licks your ears. You love being held and listening to 80's music. You love taking baths but you hate getting out of the tub. You hate being swaddled. We could wrap you tighter than a Cuban cigar and you'd still find a way to get out. You also love your grandmas. Sometimes when you're crying and your mother and I can't console you, we'll hand you off to one of your grandmas and you'll stop crying immediately. Your mother and I can't figure out how this works. Maybe it's some sort of grandmother pheromone.
Peanut, I don't want to appear biased or swell your head but you truly are a beautiful baby. Your mother and I spend hours staring at you in amazement. The general consensus is that you resemble me but I'm always amazed at how you have the same exact beautiful lips as your mother. Recently, you're using those lips by learning how to smile. It's funny because you usually prefer frowning. Sometimes you look like a grumpy old man. But once that smile comes out, your mother and I just melt. Your smile is the most life-affirming thing we've ever experienced and give us a greater meaning to our lives than we'd ever known existed.
Everyone told us before you were born that our love for you would be unlike anything we'd ever experienced. And though we heard this a million times, we didn't truly understand it until you came into our lives. In fact, I don't think there's any way to ever understand it until you someday have a child of your own. Your mother and I love you with all our hearts, Peanut. We love you so much we could cry. You are the world to us. And I hope you always know how much we love you (even when you're a teenager and we're the bane of your existence).
Anyway, Peanut....we're pretty new at this parenting thing and we're sure to make some mistakes along the way. We apologize in advance. But don't worry. We'll get through it all together. Because with you in our lives, we've come to appreciate that true happiness is not the destination but the journey. Your mother and I are cherishing every minute of it so far and are looking forward to the rest of the trip.
Happy birthday to us, Peanut! Thanks for being the greatest gift a father could ever ask for!
Sorry, I hit enter too soon.
Beautiful letter. And the grandmother thing is so true. I don't know how they do it, but I welcomed it with open arms those first three months.
Posted by: Terri | November 09, 2004 at 11:55 AM
Happy Birthday to you both!
Posted by: Busy Mom | November 09, 2004 at 12:18 PM
Good job, thanks
Posted by: Olimpic webdesign | April 19, 2005 at 05:52 AM