Letters to Solace: 3 months

My dear Solace,

This past month was full of grace! You learned to take the pacifier after your 2 month doctor's appointment at the beginning of the month, which has been such a blessing. It has helped you sleep not only in longer stretches (the most being seven hours) but also in places like your lounger or bouncer or car seat, which is so helpful. You like to burrow your face into a blanket or your mama. You are consistently most content in our arms, my wrap, or sling as you are held close and tight as if you are still in the womb. You delight us with your little smiles that spread into giant grins. You discovered your voice and coo to interact with us all. You suck your fists as if your life depended on it. You practice tummy time, most often on your older siblings. You probably accidentally rolled over later this month as well. You just transitioned to size 2 diapers towards the end of the month and are wearing 0-3 month clothing. We are rejoicing over these sweet milestones and are so excited to get to watch you grow and learn and become the little person God designed you to be.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 2 months

My dear Solace,

You’re two months old! You currently weigh 11 lbs and measure 23” long. You started wearing size 1 diapers at 5 weeks and now wear 0-3 month clothing. What a haze this past month has been, marked by tons of cluster feeding particularly in the evening, which contributed to your rapid growth this month. During the day, you nurse every 2-3 hours. We spend a lot of time in the green armchair nursing while your older siblings homeschool. We are in awe of and adore your squishiness combined with your puffy hair, which makes for the sweetest snuggles. Your siblings clamor for their turn to hold you every day. They’ve dedicated the lullaby “Solla Sollew” to you, tenderly crooning the song when you cry. You practice tummy time on Serene, love being held dolly way by Reverie so you can stare outward, and gaze up at Valor, Verity, and Candor when they hold you. 

In fact, you are most content when worn in the wrap, and prefer to spend your days in it when you’re not nursing. You stare up at me with wide eyes before drifting off into deep slumber within the wrap’s womblike warmth. Your longest stretch of sleep at night has been three hours, which we wish were more frequent and longer. It has been more common to have one and half to two hour stretches at night. The sleepless nights are spent snoozing only in your daddy’s or my arms, burrowing your face into our sides for closeness and comfort. In our arms or the wrap are what you prefer as you cry within a few minutes of being put in the bouncer or lounger.

I don't mind the cuddles one bit. You have the silkiest, fair skin. We love how your feet flex and your hands curl into fists. You give impressive burps after feeding. You’ve taken the bottle twice, and refuse the pacifier. You attended your first Sunday service at 4 weeks. You went on your first getaway to San Diego for an elopement at 6 weeks. You started gifting us little smiles around 7 weeks, along with coos. Those, along with the newborn stretches and endearing newborn scrunches, are the best. We are loving watching you grow, my littlest love. We cherish your littleness and know this time with you is a sweet gift from our gracious God. What a memorable milestone that you turned two months on your daddy's and my 13th anniversary! God is so kind!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1 month, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 1 month

My dear Solace,

It has been the sweetest first month with you. You arrived in the same week as your Yeh Yeh's passing and other difficult circumstances, a testament to God's kindness in bringing healing balm and comfort in the midst of trials. We can't believe we've been gifted the opportunity to enjoy new life and joy in you, my littlest baby. We have all been anxiously waiting to meet you. Your daddy and I often said "In January" to anticipate your arrival, especially with your older siblings who had all been waiting with great excitement to meet you. They had been praying for a new sibling for about two years, and you are an answer to their prayers. Praise God! 

We love everything about you. We love your littleness, your newborn rolls, your delicate lips, your long feet and fingers, your silky soft skin, your froggy legs, and most noticeable and surprising of all, your puffy head of hair (which hopefully will not shed as the months go by). You have a fan club of five older siblings who vie for your attention, crowding around you constantly. They eagerly take turns holding you everyday, exclaiming over how little and precious you are. Reverie kisses your head often and exclaims that you are so little she can't believe you're even a human. Valor coos over his littlest baby brother. Verity proclaims that you are her very own baby Solly. Candor loves to nuzzle you affectionately with his head. Serene murmurs "aww" whenever she gazes at you lovingly. We adore you to the utmost!

Your first month of life has been full of cuddles. I cherish our bond, nurtured by nursing, contact napping, skin-to-skin snuggles, and babywearing. My heart swells when holding you close and showering feathery kisses on your cheeks and forehead. After you turned two weeks, you preferred to sleep only in our arms or in my wrap, reminiscent of being in the womb. You tolerate the lounger and bouncer for just a few minutes before realizing they're not the warmth of our arms or the wrap. We are enjoying holding you closely, knowing fully how time goes by too quickly.

You had no jaundice at birth, but proceeded to visit the doctor four times in one week for raised bilirubin levels. Thankfully, it peaked at day 6 of life and lowered by day 7 of life to breastmilk jaundice, which is thankfully decreasing over time. You feed and pee/poop well. I love rubbing your back as you nurse, to which you respond with the cutest high-pitched grunts. You've been more alert since 3 weeks, beholding your surroundings for a few minutes at a time. You try holding your wobbly head up when held against my chest. You weren't sure about your first sponge bath at 4 days once your umbilical cord stump fell off, but now calmly enjoy the warm sink baths your daddy gives you, the first of which occurred around 1 week. You began taking the pacifier right before 3 weeks of age. You hiccup about once a day as well, which reminds me of that daily rhythm of yours in utero. Your first outing outside of the doctor's office was your Yeh Yeh's funeral at 4 weeks, followed by Sunday service with our church family two days later.

You've probably gained a pound since birth and are about 8 pounds now. You wear newborn diapers and newborn clothing. Though I cherish your littleness, I also know it is a gift to watch you grow, my sweet Solly baby.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0 months and his birth story.