Letters To Tory: Two Months

Tory,

You're eight weeks old, baby girl! I can hardly believe how much you've changed and grown in the few short weeks we've known you. You're becoming more aware of your surroundings every day and now able to distinguish Mommy's and Daddy's voices from across the room. You look all around when you hear us talk to you and thoroughly enjoy the evening dance parties we have together as we listen to country music and pace the living room floor. At 6 weeks, you found your hands and love to suck on them, especially when you're tired. You've discovered your tongue and can be seen sticking it in and out as you learn how to make it work. You've started to enjoy the bright lights and sounds on your activity mat and most recently, you've begun to flash us that beautiful gummy smile of yours.

Tory Girl, you continue to be an excellent baby, eating every three hours on the dot and sleeping in three hour stretches at night. You've had a few restful slumbers from 9:00pm - 3:00am and while you're not consistently sleeping through the night, Mommy is thankful any time you come close! We moved you from the bassinet beside our bed to your crib this month, and surprisingly you didn't balk at the transition. Daddy often says we should record the grunts and hums you make in your sleep because they are so darn cute (but also very disturbing when you were in the same room with us).

As easy going as you are, there are a few things you are very particular about. Your car seat, for one, is not your favorite thing. We've tried listening to the car radio, turning the music off, sitting in the back seat with you, talking to you and ignoring you, but nothing seems to work. You're not happy being strapped into your car seat and you're sure to let everyone know it. Also, your bouncy seat is one of your favorite places to hang out, but you only like it if someone's bouncing it by hand. The vibrating motion is not enough and somehow you can sense the moment we stop bouncing it for you - even if you're in a deep sleep.

This was a big month for you as you traveled to two new states! At 4 weeks old, Mommy and Daddy took you on your very first trip to San Diego. You were an excellent traveler on the plane ride there and back, sleeping the entire way. Although you spent much of the trip inside a hotel room with Grandma Janie while Mommy and Daddy attended a wedding, we did take you to the ocean for the first time and hiking at Blacks Beach.

At 6 weeks old, we took you to our Wisconsin lake cabin for the weekend. We visited an orchard farm and picked out your first fall pumpkin. It was also your first time seeing the lake - our very favorite place to be in the summertime!

Just last week, Nana, Papa and Brooke came to visit you. We've taken to nicknaming you Tory Bean for one reason or another, and Brookie thought it was the silliest thing. "Hi Tory Beans!" she'd say to you, over and over again. You girls are going to have so much fun growing up together.

Tory, I can barely remember what life was like before you made me your mama. The feeling of completeness you've given me warms my heart and I look forward to spending every day with you as I discover your bright, shining personality.

Love,
Mommy