One Month: A Letter

Dear Lucas,

Wow! Yesterday was your one-month birthday! What a month it has been!

Since the day we brought you home, it has been an emotional rollercoaster! You were in our home only an hour when you had your first fit! You cried non-stop for over an hour. Mommy tried to breastfeed you to no avail, to change you, and do everything she knew how (after only 2 days of actually being a mommy) and nothing worked! Finally, we stripped all your clothes off and you started nursing. Ever since then, our lives have been all about trial-and-error.



We had our first real scare when you were only 5 days old. Mommy had been nursing you, but it didn't seem at all like it should. You would suck for over an hour and act hungry again an hour later! Mommy was getting worried. You would fuss between those times and you never really slept! It was consuming our entire day and you would get so frustrated! We called the doctor after you hadn't pooped in 2 1/2 days. The doctor didn't seem too worried about your poop, but more worried about your pee! She asked if you'd been peeing normal, and Mimi and I didn't think you had. She said you were probably dehydrated and we needed to bring you to the emergency room. Mommy freaked out! She started digging through your diapers from the past 24 hours and she did notice a little pee on the gauze from your circumcision, so we decided to not freak out just yet. Mimi told Mommy to try to pump to see how much milk she was producing and she didn't get an ounce total out of both sides! Mimi told Mommy to give you some formula and you drank 2 ounces in 5 minutes! Mommy had been starving you. She didn't know it and she was so sorry. You started peeing normal after that and within an hour you had soaked 2 diapers and pooped! You've been on formula ever since. Those first few days of breastfeeding, you did get all the good healthy milk and you helped Mommy lose weight quicker. You and Mommy did bond those first few days and she wouldn't have changed it for the world, but it was about your health now and we wanted to do everything we could to make sure you were happy and content.



You now sleep 5-7 hours/night straight after your 10p feeding and 3-5 hours more after that. You started sleeping in your crib when you were 2 weeks old because Daddy is a very light sleeper and he would wake up to every sweet little noise you made. We do love those little coos you make, but Daddy has to get up early for work and Mommy will have to soon, so it was best for us all.



You eat 3-4 oz every 3-4 hours during the day and at your two week check-up, you weighed 7 lb 6 oz. They didn't tell Mommy how long you were then, but she will find out at your next appointment. Daddy weighed and measured you when you were 4 weeks old and you weighed 9 lb and were 22 in long. You are a growing boy!

You take a pacifier like a champ and you love your baths now that you can soak in the water. You hated them before your chord stump fell off:( You are so strong and can lift your head up when you have tummy time. You also turn it from side to side a lot! You are starting to smile at us, too, and we can't wait until you are able to look us in the eyes and grin from ear to ear:) You have to have your arms up over your head to sleep. We know you are totally relaxed and in deep sleep when you do this. They were like that when you were in my belly and we absolutely love it when we see this:)



You have been to Pryor a few times and the first time, you got to go to Grandpa Doug's wrestling tournament! It was so fun, little man! They annouced over the speaker that Doug Rial's first grandson was there and that you were born on his birthday. Everyone was so excited for us!



Valentine's is your first holiday! We went to Sho Gun last night (just like we do every year) with the Rials for Cuz-aunt Megan's birthday. Aunt Cassie got you a Valentine's shirt and you looked so cute! You also got to stay with Mimi, Poppy, Aunt Cassie, and Uncle Cal this weekend so Mommy and Daddy could go on a date. This was the first time we had left you and we were really sad, but you did so good! You also went to the nursery for the first time yesterday and they said you were wonderful:)



Even though this letter is a day late, it is totally appropriate that we are writing this on Valentine's Day! We are absolutely head over heels in love with you, sugar, and we can't imagine life without you in it! What did we do before you were here? We want you to know that you were born into a home of so much love and we will heap that love on you as long as you live! You bring so much joy to our lives and we can't wait for many more months with you:)

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy