Dear Ana,
Today you are officially one month old. It is so strange, because it seems like you have always been with us. I can hardly remember what life was like before you were born, and quite frankly, I don’t want to. You have changed my life in the most amazing way possible. Your father and I were talking the other day about how when we announced we were pregnant with you other parents would look at each other, smile knowingly, and tell us we had no idea what we were in for. But I have to tell you, Ana, you are exactly what we were hoping for.

I wanted to thank you for being such an amazingly well behaved baby. You sleep, eat, and poop like a champ and we wouldn’t have it any other way. You eat every three hours during the day and only wake up once during the night for your feeding. When I was pregnant with you I would have little bouts of insomnia where I would wake up each night around 3am and lay awake for an hour or two. I now know that was just your little way of letting me know in advance what your schedule was going to be. So thank you for forewarning me and allowing me to adapt to your schedule. You are just so considerate of your mama.

Have I mentioned how happy I am that you are such a great sleeper? Because it is one of my favorite things about you. When you were less than a week old your Uncle Greg asked me how we got you to sleep in your crib, to which I replied, “that’s where we put her.” I was adamant about you sleeping in your own crib, in your own room. (When you are older you can thank me for teaching you about being independent.) But I have to admit the majority of the credit should go to you, because you are simply wonderful that way.

The question we get asked most, after “does she let you sleep at night,” is how you get along with the cats and dogs. My resounding answer is that you all get along great. The cats mostly like you because you brought fabulous places for them to sleep into the house: the swing, the bassinet, the changing table. And the dogs truly love you. Ellie likes to smell your little head and curl up at my feet when I hold you. But Molly loves you most of all. She cannot stand for you to cry and instantly runs over to check that you are ok and to make sure your daddy and I are taking care of you. She loves to lick your little hands and feet and rests her head alongside your tiny body when I nurse you. I always knew the dogs would love you, but the shocking thing is that you also love them. You coo when they lick you, stare into their big brown eyes, and don’t even flinch when their excited tails whack you in the head.

Already you have changed so much since we brought you home from the hospital. You have recently started making the most adorable little coos and squeaks. I hear you in the car seat or in your crib, just cooing away, absorbing everything and enjoying your surroundings. And you smile all the time. I don’t know how many of them are real smiles or just gas, but they are smiles just the same and I will take them any way I can get them.

Little Miss, I simply cannot wait for all the things I get to share with you and teach you. I can’t wait to see your face when you feel sand between your toes for the first time, to cheer for you when you take your first step, and to help you back up when you fall down moments later. I promise to teach you how to read, how to braid your hair, and how to make amazing chocolate chip cookies. I promise to do all that and so much more, but only if you promise to help me learn to relax, to remember to be silly, and to enjoy each and every moment to the very fullest.

All my love,
Mama