7 weeks.

Dear Beckett,

wow.  These seven weeks have really flown.  I have been meaning to write more frequently, but it turns out that you take up a lot of my time.  Huh.

As I type this now, you are sleeping in your swing.  God, you're adorable.

Seven weeks in and we have just within the last few days started establishing a bit of a routine.  Your current bedtime is around 7:30.  Dad gives you a bottle and puts you to bed in your crib.  He loves having this time with you.  That's new this week too--sleeping in your crib.  Up until last week you were mostly either sleeping on us or in our bed with us.  For awhile I felt guilty about this because everything you read says "Don't let baby sleep anywhere but on a hard mattress, on their back, alone!"  But I've talked to a lot of parents recently and all of them confessed to letting their babies sleep in their beds for some length of time.  Especially the breastfeeding moms.  Breastfeeding is exhausting enough.  Especially when you have a ravenous little baby, who demands to be fed at least every two hours day AND night.  That has changed recently too though!  You are starting to go 3-4 hours between feedings.  It could not have come at a better time too because I was close to throwing in the towel out of pure exhaustion.  But enough about my boobs, let's talk about you.

Aside from the frequent feedings, your dad and I have not felt too overwhelmed by you.  You're a pretty good sleeper.  Yes, you do scream sometimes and we have no idea what's wrong.  But so does every baby. 

You're getting so big, kiddo.  At your last weigh-in, which was 3 weeks ago already, you were 11 lbs and 9 oz and 22 inches long.  We are pretty sure you're more like 14 now.  We'll get the official weight in a few more weeks at your 2 month checkup!  2 months.

You smile at us now.  Not often.  But often enough that it makes up for those crying fits.  You don't enjoy diaper changes, but hate clothing changes even more.  Your checks are so... edible... right now.  Your hair started falling out a few weeks ago and your kind of look like an old man.  I taught you to stick out your tongue.  You like when your dad raspberries your belly.  You enjoy baths.  I'm staying home with you during the days for now and in the afternoons we dance.  You tolerate tummy time in short doses, but much prefer to lie on your back and look up at the lights.  You've already been shopping (Target and Barnes & Noble), eaten in a restaurant (Olive Garden), been on a walk in your stroller with us and Lita (on a 50+* day in December, weird!).  I haven't ventured out with you on my own yet.  At first it was because I was prohibited from lifting you, now it's because I don't know what to expect.  Pretty soon I think we'll just start heading out for short trips during the day.  You've met all your family, but none of our friends yet.  That will also start happening soon.

I am due to go back to work in mid-February.  It is coming far too quickly and I'm not sure that I can stand to leave you.  We shall see what the future holds.  For now I am trying to enjoy every moment with you.  Even the crying ones, but especially the happy ones.

We love you so much!