Thursday, March 5, 2009

Dear Riley ... (3 Month Letter)

The following is a copy of the letter that I wrote to Riley this morning - she is three months old today.
My Dearest Riley,

Today you are three months old! You have changed so much in this past month and still continue to amaze your daddy and I everyday. This month you have begun to smile so much more often - almost on demand! You've also made your daddy and I laugh so hard with your adorable belly laughs! Daddy was the first one to get some hard laughs from you, but since then you have laughed for me, Grandma and Grandpa Balaban and Grandma and Grandpa Nichols!

You're holding your head up so well now and seem to like time spent in your Bumbo chair. You look like such a big girl sitting in there and it makes your daddy laugh each time he sees you. Tummy time is even something that you seem to tolerate a lot better these days. You do your little baby push-ups and those huge eyes just stare out at the world.

You are such a good girl everywhere we go - even in church! Just last weekend there was a line of people at the pew after church waiting to see you and compliment you on how beautiful you are. You must have grabbed their attention while I was holding you on my shoulder and those big, gorgeous blue eyes stared out at the people behind us!

You've certainly discovered your hands and love to suck on your fists. Daddy and I laugh at night as we hear you sucking away on the baby monitor. You've begun to swing at toys that hang overhead and even grab hold of rattles and links very well now.

I've packed up most of your 0-3 month clothes, although there are still certain things you can still wear. Tomorrow we'll go for your first professional pictures and we can't wait to have some gorgeous pictures of you hanging around the house.

This month also brought us the hardest day in mommy's life: returning to work. I am so thankful that I have only returned part-time and still get to have four days out of the week with you, but leaving you that first day made me feel like my heart had been ripped out and stomped on. I couldn't stop thinking of you while at work and I still have you on my mind around the clock. You haven't noticed, though, because you're having fun playing with your Grandmas and Grandpas while Mommy and Daddy are at work! Your grandparents love being your babysitters and we know you're in the best hands when we can't be with you.

I am so excited to see what this next month brings for you. I know one thing for sure: you will continue to be the most beautiful, amazing, incredible baby girl I have ever seen in my life ... and I love you with all of my heart.

Love, Mommy

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