1 Month Letter

Dear Little Miss Audrey-

My how times fly! You are a month old and changing every day. I am going to borrow my friend Krysta's idea of writing you a monthly letter because I think it is something that I can actually keep up with!

There is so much to write about, I don't know where to begin.  The past month has been one of the best I've ever experienced.  Motherhood has been so much more than I ever dreamed it would be, and there are not enough words to adequately express all of the joy it has filled my heart with.  Being your mom has been one of God's greatest blessings to me. Being your mom has given me a greater understanding of His unconditional love for us and why it is that in spite of ourselves He continues to love us and show us grace.  I know that throughout your life there will be times that I am disappointed, but I will always love you and the things that you do can never change that.

All swaddled up on the blanket that all of the Kennedy babies have been brought home in.

I feel so blessed to be able to stay home for your first 12 weeks of life. Our days right now are spent, sleeping, eating, diaper changes, baths, cuddling, playing on the play mat, doing tummy time, reading stories, and some dancing here and there.  You LOVE baths! If you are fussy before a bath, the moment you are placed in the water you instantly calm.  I think your favorite part of bath time is getting your hair washed. Last night I noticed you couldn't take your eyes off yourself in the mirror. Your first bath you did not love as much as you love your baths now. Your dad went with you to the hospital nursery and Grandma watched from the window, when they came back they said you screamed the whole time!  I am so glad that you love them now.

Nice and clean after your first bath 1/27! 

You are one strong girl and have been holding up your head for short periods of time since your first few days of life.  Now you can lift it nice and high and hold it there for several seconds.  While you are on your tummy you love to turn your head to find the voice that is talking to you and enjoy sucking on your fists! Also, while you lie on your tummy, you love to push against our hands with your feet and scoot across the blanket. We are constantly amazed by your strength! Of course we think that you are going to do everything early and accomplish all kinds of amazing things, and it will be fun to watch you accomplish all of these milestones and so much more!!! When we put you on your back you love to stretch out your arms and legs.

Stretching out on your Noah's ark quilt from GG Helen

You have been a great sleeper from the start.  Your first night home from the hospital you slept 7.5 hours.  I tried waking you up to eat, but you just wanted to sleep.  I learned from the nurse that followed up with us, that I needed to be waking you up to eat, and so the great battle to wake up commenced. In order to wake you up I had to completely undress you, change your diaper, clean your chord, and often resort to a cool wash cloth on your face and hair. Occasionally, even these strategies did not work and I would have to wait you out 10-15 minutes.  Thankfully, after about a week of this you began waking up quicker and the Dr. gave us the okay to let you sleep longer stretches since you were back to your birth weight. You have been kind to us and slept long stretches through the night, often waking only once to eat before 6 am.

It has been so fun to watch you grown and change.  In the last week you have started cooing, and today   swear you are so close to smiling in response to me! You work so hard to get your coos out and we all love starting at you while you attempt to get them out.  I know they will start coming out easier very soon, but it is so entertaining watching you try.

Last week you made your first airplane trip.  We headed to Colorado for your Great Grandpa Foster's memorial. You got to meet all of your great aunts and uncles on the Foster side as well as your great grandma Foster.  You are so loved by all of your family members on both sides of the family.

It has been a super busy first month of you life, filled with lots of visitors, hugs, and kisses.  I can't wait to see all of the new milestones you reach in the next month.  I love you so much baby girl!

Love,
Mom

5 Weeks Old!!!