8 weeks: November

Dear Paddycakes,

After you had your bottle yesterday, you sat propped up on my knees and we "talked" together -- me saying things to you in an abnormally high voice and you reacting with an open mouth and some fleeting eye contact.  I'm counting that response as a smile.  You are 8 weeks old now and you tend to smile the most in the mornings, which makes me a bit sad knowing that I will soon miss your tiny, crooked, drooling face when I go back to the office next week.  I'm working through this realization by focusing on my letter to you and appreciating the changes we've seen this month.  You've come a long way, baby! And so have we!

1. Just when we perfected the perfect burp pat, you have begun to do it on your own after feedings.  You still need us, however, to clean the surprise spit-up you save just to make us feel useful.   
2. You have begun to appreciate baths more - at least you tolerate them now.  The trick is to place a second wash cloth on your chest to keep you warm.  It still makes me nervous to bathe you and I have tried to convince your Dad that you don't smell like cheese, but the dried milk you hide under your chins and in the folds of your armpits isn't helping my case. 
3. You wore the blue sweater your Omi knitted for you this month and it fit perfectly.
4. You cry real tears now and its absolutely heartbreaking.  If you asked for a pony and cried, I'd give you one. 
5. Sometimes your father and I let you get upset just to hear your snort.  Its adorable.  But if you get too unhappy you cry real tears and then we're back to ponies.
6. We have battled with your bowels this month and exposed you to prune juice.  I could write a book on the details of your poop, but let's just say that its been war and we think you are winning.  
7. I've started calling you "fat head," which your Grammy doesn't like, but in my defense -- your head is indeed fatter and it should be documented.  Of course, you certainly are THE cutest fat head I've ever seen and I love every inch of those chubby cheeks!
8. You received your two month shots.  I think its incredibly unfair how perfectly pleasant you were at the doctor's office - smiling and cooing at the nurse - and then BAM she got you - twice. And there is a piece of me that is afraid that this is the stuff of Freud and you'll never trust again. 
9. We moved you to your own room. This is definitely the best thing for the all of us. Trust me.
10. You don't give a hoot about your fancy crib mobile.  Apparently flashing lights, music and colorful smiling animals do nothing for you.  Hilarious, given your dad's musical taste and concert-going history.  

And, you aren't the only one with changes this month.  It should be noted that:

1. I managed to read a bit of my book.  This is big!  If given the option to read or sleep - I would always sleep, so things must be progressing...
2. I turned 33 this month.  
3. Your Uncle Sonny asked your soon-to-be Aunt Katie to marry him on her birthday in Miami last week!
4. Your Uncky Bunky changed his first diaper.  Let's hope this becomes a regular trend.
5. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Greenville with just the immediate Byrds and Cullinans, and your Aunt Jen drove all the way from Birmingham without your Uncle Jono just to see you!  (And - yes, to also welcome Katie to the family and possibly to make your mama chicken pot pie!)

I love to watch you with your Dad, Patrick.  He bundles you up and takes you with him to watch football games.  He is convinced that you are a good luck charm.  The Gamecocks won the SEC East this month and will now battle for the SEC championship, so you should not be surprised later in life that you are dressed like a chicken in the majority of our family photos.

I love you, my little chicken.  Happy eight weeks.

Love,
Mom