TWO months old already?!

Dear Isabella,

Tomorrow you'll be two months old! Can you believe it? Neither can I. You are growing up so fast! There are little changes even day to day. 

You sleep for longer, you're eating FIVE ounces at each bottle, and you are SO much more aware of your surroundings! Little milestones are so exciting for your Daddy and me. You can see farther and focus longer, so you watch as we move around the room. You coo and talk to people - and to the animals on your swing! You reach out to bat at the toys hanging from your bouncer. You love tummy time on the boppy - sometimes that's your favorite place to take a nap. Yesterday your Daddy SWORE that while we were in the car you actually picked up your own pacifier out of your lap. I bet it was by mistake, but it's still the first time you actually grabbed something and held on long enough to pick it up. And you've been finding your own fist to suck on lately too. It will be nice when you're able to pick up your pacifier and put it in your own mouth - I think we do that about a hundred times a day for you!

Every morning when I unwrap you from your swaddle, first your right arm gets unwrapped and it goes right up over your head like it was springloaded! Then I unwrap your left arm and that one goes flying up too! Then you arch your back and scrunch your face and moan a little as you streeeeeettttchhh... And then you rub your face a little and squirm around stretching some more. No matter how tired I am it makes me smile. It's one of my favorite parts of our day together.

You've had a lot of visitors this month! In fact, it's like we should have called it Grandparent's Month. First, we finally got everything hooked up for you to talk to your grandma in Mexico - and Abuela was so happy to see you! You also got to see her new puppy, Perlita. Hopefully one day we can get a puppy for you too. We also want you to video chat with Abuela a lot so she can talk to you in Spanish. A lot of the dresses you've been wearing are dresses she sent you. They are all so cute! Abuela has really great baby fashion sense! 

Also, Great Grandma - my mom's mom - came all the way to Hawaii from Wisconsin to meet you! You gave her a whole lot of smiles while she was here. She even stayed over at our house to see a little of our "normal" evening life (admittedly not so exciting - bottle, nap, bath, bottle, swaddle, and goodnight!).

Finally, you got to meet some of your Hilo family. Grandpa and Lola and Aunty Cayla came for the weekend to see you. You smiled at Grandpa A LOT and on Sunday you were talking and talking and talking - more than I'd ever heard you talk in one "session" before!

Your Aunty Sari is in town for our 10 year high school reunion next week, so you met her on Saturday too. She said you're so precious, she might just want a baby of her own! Wow! 

You sure had fun meeting everyone but I think it was an overwhelming weekend for you. You also have your first cold right now so those two things have made you over-tired and just sort of uncomfortable. Your little eyes are all red and watery, and I can hear the congestion in your chest when you breathe, poor little girl. But you're such a trooper. You'll be better in no time!

Oh Bella. I'm so in love with you. When I look at you I still can't believe how perfect you are. Your Daddy and I are so blessed. Now that life is sort of getting into a rhythm it's easier to really savor the little moments with you. And I'm trying to savor each little one as much as possible! I really have to video tape your morning stretch. I kept meaning to record video of you having your bottle because your little gulping, sucking, contented sighing noises, with your expressive eyes and eyebrows were so cute! But now you're focusing on your environment so much that you hardly do that anymore. When we're trying to capture your little habits, we can't procrastinate even one week.

Your two month check-ups are on Thursday. I can't wait to see how tall you got and how much you weigh. You're also going to get your first set of shots. I hope I don't cry! 

I love you, Sweet Pea, and I'm so proud of you. 

Love always,
Mommy