Dear Noah,

Yesterday, you turned 1 month old.

The last month has been full of the highest highs, and some of the lowest lows, that your Mommy and I have ever experienced.

When they first showed your little bundled body to me, I was moved beyond words. How is it possible that I grew a whole human being inside my body? Especially one as big and vigorous as you?

A little later, after the doctors cleaned you up and sewed me back together, they brought you to try to eat for the very first time. You latched on like a champ! The nurse asked if you were really my first baby — the two of us worked together so well, they thought that at least one of us had done this before.

Over the last 4 weeks, we’ve seen you learn so much. Your little arms and legs still flail, but far more often, you’re able to get your hands where you want them to go. You’ve been putting your thumb and your knuckles into your mouth a few times each day. When I settle in to feed you, you’ve started trying to use your hands to hold my breast in place — although you still sometimes miss and whack me in the face.

You can track with your eyes, and when either Mommy or I are playing with you, your eyes often follow us when we move. Or they follow the toy we’re holding and moving in front of you. You’ve also learned to burp, loud and long. Your farts are even louder and longer, and both of those things make us laugh and laugh. How can such a little person make such amazing noises???

You love to be sung to, so Mommy often sings the theme song from The Facts of Life, and also Billy Joel’s Allentown (sung as "Noahtown").  Aunt Anna liked to sing you the Name Game song. And I make up songs about you, which often involve the tune of the Christmas song Noel, Noel.

This week, you’ve started to "talk" with us. You make the funniest little conversational noises, often in the middle of the night while you’re in your bassinet. We love how talkative you are, although we prefer it during the day. The most entertaining noises you make are these incredibly masculine sounding little grunts, which you usually make when I’m not quick enough to feed you.

And we’re incredibly impressed with how much head and neck control you’re developing. You can lift your head up and look around, although still only for short periods of time. But you do it often, especially when we’re holding you with your head on or above Mommy’s shoulder.

You hardly even look like the tiny little boy whose picture was taken at the hospital during your first 24 hours. You’ve gained a net 1.5 lbs (you lost nearly a pound, and then gained almost 2.5) and you’ve grown approximately 2 inches. Plus your head is bigger, rounder, and less fragile looking.

You really look like a little boy now.

The day before your 1 month birthday, we got bad news. You know that both of us are your Mommies, but the world doesn’t agree 100%. In order to correct that, Mommy Jill has to legally adopt you. And on Thursday, we found out that this is going to be more difficult than we originally hoped.

But don’t you worry. We both promise to love and protect you with everything we have to do it. You are our little boy, and we are your Mommies. We love you more than we thought possible.

Happy 1 Month Birthday, Noah. You’re shrieking, so I’m going to go help Mommy figure out what you want.

love,
Mommy