Dear Avery at One Month

Dear Avery,

You arrived in this world very competent at the one thing you needed to know how to do - breastfeed. You latched on right away and have not wavered from the task at hand. In the hospital between feedings you would lay sprawled across my chest warm and tiny. All of the nurses commented on how comfortable you appeared. You still prefer this position and now just about any warm body will do. You love to be held. In fact, you will cry your now famous cry until someone takes pity and scoops you up. None of us really mind though. There is nothing more cozy than lying down on a couch with a newborn heavy on your chest. You spent your first month in the arms of either your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather. And, over the fourth of July holiday you spent lots of time in the arms of your grandmother Mary and Auntie Annika.

There has been a lot of commentary on the sound of your cry. Your grandfather thinks you sound like a hawk at times. It is indeed loud and shrill. I hate to admit it but I at times I enjoy to hear your cry. It is so dramatic it is almost comedic. You sound as though you have been humiliated and injured at every last fiber of your being. The funny thing is you go from a zen silence to a shuddery wail and back again to a place of deep calm all within a few minutes. It is as if you are consciously turning on the waterworks and sound for effect and then off again once we have brought you to our chest.

There is definitely a Southern Belle side to your personality. You will sit quietly in your bouncy seat with your long fingers draped across your pink blanket looking at us as if we are a bunch of uncivilized hooligans. I suspect your little frame houses a fairly old soul, a feminine one at that.

I do not want to paint too pretty of a picture here. Although you are most definitely a dainty little thing, you also let it all hang out when passing gas or a poop. Almost after every meal you bear down with all your might groaning until your diaper shudders with the force. Your upper lip often curls up slightly as you concentrate on this momental passing. I love the contrast with your delicate demeanor.

Welcome to our family little girl. You have already brought a new, welcome energy into our family. I think of lightness and brightness. You are asking us to stop and slow down and to see everything before us. Even your little brother is having to soften his breakneck approach to life. You are part of us and you complete us.

Love,

Mama