Baby's First Christmas

Hello, sweet love,

On Sunday at church, Papa and I sat next to you and your mom. Your dad was on duty in the sound booth. He's been doing that since he was 12 years old. Right now, he's taking turns with your Uncle Patrick. Someday, maybe you will make sure everyone sounds fabulous.

Anyway, when Nana leaned over to say hello to you, you smiled and reached for me. It was the first time you did that, and my heart felt all soft and gushy and full again. You have that effect on me. You are such a charmer, little man!

You and your beautiful mama.
Photo by Josh.
All rights reserved.

Speaking of which, on Christmas Eve, which was your 5-month birthday, we all drove up to Redding to spend the holiday with your great-grandmother, "Daria the Great." It was the first time you had met most of the family, because they came from all over to see each other and to meet you. They came from Oregon and even all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia! You charmed the socks off all of them, Derek, with your shy smile and the sweet way you coyly hide your face, burrowing against the shoulder of whoever is holding you. And, naturally, everyone wanted to hold you. They all agreed that you were very, very good. I think they meant you didn't cry and fuss the way most babies might around all those new people and in a strange place.

There is something about babies that brings out the best in everyone. People look into your eyes and see brightness and hope and curiosity and eagerness and trust. When you coo and smile, it makes them happy and fills their hearts with wonder. It helps them to focus on what is important and to forget about their worries and woes, even just for a moment. That is a wonderful gift to give to someone, Derek. And so, on Christmas, you gave lots of people something very special.

Christmas is the day when we celebrate the most special gift of all, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Each Christmas, we remember that God, because He loves us so much, sent His very own Son to be with us here on earth, to show us how to live and to be our bridge to God. Someday, you will understand just how important and wonderful that is, and what a unique place you hold in God's heart.

Merry Christmas, little one!

You make my heart smile,
Nana

Girl Time

Hi, sweet Derek,

Papa even gave you a bottle!
Here's proof!
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Last week, your mom brought you to Nana and Papa's place so we could watch you for a little bit, as she was meeting a friend for some "girl time." "Girl time" is something that grown-up ladies, especially mommies, sometimes need so they will feel connected to something called "the outside world." When babies are very small, as you are right now, mommies spend lots and lots of time with them at home. Home is "the inside world." The inside world is wonderful, but mommies sometimes start to feel like part of the furniture there.

Mommies love to spend time with their babies, of course. They love to hold their babies, and feed their babies, and listen to their babies coo, and celebrate their babies' milestones. But grown-ups also need adult conversation. And so mommies like to see their "outside world" friends so they can chat and laugh and be care-free for a little while. This is no reflection on their babies or the love they feel for their babies. Strange as it seems, it actually helps them to be better mommies.

Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

And speaking of milestones, Derek, you were all smiles for Papa yesterday. That made him so happy, and he was doing all kinds of silly things to keep you smiling at him. Thank you for making your Papa feel loved and appreciated and funny. I'm glad you're such good friends already. Oh, dear. My heart just filled up with so much tenderness that it started to leak out of my eyes a little bit. That's called "getting misty-eyed." And it's another one of those things you'll experience as you grow.

We love you so!

Big hugs,
Nana

Two Months Old!

Dearest Derek,

Here you are, two months old already! Nana can't believe how quickly time is passing and how fast you are growing. You weigh more than twice as much as you did when you were born!

You'll never guess what happened just as I started to write this letter to you. Your Papa's brother, Uncle Bob, is your dad's uncle, which makes him your great-uncle. But don't worry. It isn't as complicated as it sounds.Maybe you will call him "Bob the Great." Anyway, Uncle Bob came by. Naturally, I put my writing aside so that I could talk with him.

He lives a little bit far away, so he stayed with Nana and Papa while going to a special training for nurses who work with cardiac patients, to learn how to do some special testing to help them. "Cardiac" patients are people who might have something wrong with their hearts.  Uncle Bob is very smart, and he is also very kind and generous. You will like him very much, I think, when you get to know him. He has very interesting ideas. One of his favorite things is to go on vacations to exotic places like Bora Bora so he can swim with colorful tropical fish. After you learn how to swim, maybe you will enjoy that, too. And I know you will like his cars!

There was another important visitor this month, and she came from hours and hours away to meet you, Derek. She is your great-grandmother, Nana's mother! Her name is Daria (the Great?), and she is 90 years old! Yes, that is very old. But don't tell her that, okay? It might hurt her feelings, because she still feels very young on the inside.

Happy grandmas!

She was so excited to be able to meet you in person, and to hold you, and to look at you. I could see by the stars in her eyes that she had fallen completely in love with you, just like I did. And when your mom sent out the birth announcements, your Great-grandmother Daria called me on the phone to tell me she couldn't believe how you were smiling in the picture, and how handsome you were, and how sweet. I could hear the pride in her voice. It sounded all soft and full of wonder, and she was chuckling and laughing and happy.

You are so special to her, Derek, just as you are so special to me. I can't wait to cuddle you tomorrow!

Much love,
Nana

Baby Goes Out

Hiya, Derek,

Last Sunday after church, you and your mom and dad joined Papa and me (and a whole bunch of other people) for lunch at Mike & Gayle's restaurant, where you mostly slept and didn't even cry once.

Could your dad look more proud?
I think not!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

I mentioned the name of the restaurant because this coming weekend will be their last in business due to a problem negotiating a new lease. That's grown-up stuff that you won't care about for a long time! Sometimes, Derek, no matter how hard we try or how much people support what we're doing or how well we do it, we will not succeed. But that doesn't mean we should not give it our best shot. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

Nana went off on a tangent again. That seems to happen a lot, but I hope you will be patient with me, or maybe even think my tangents are endearing. We shall see.

Here's what I meant to tell you when I started this letter, Derek. When I picked you up to hold you, because I just love holding you, you tensed yourself up really tight all over. Your tiny body felt, for the first time, as though it is becoming strong and solid and not delicate. Of course, you only weigh eight pounds, so you are still very small and just starting to learn how to hold your head up. Still, it was thrilling! Right now, you fit perfectly in the curve of my arm, close to my body. Soon, you will be giving me hugs. I love hugs, and I know I will especially love yours.

Papa and I are so proud of you!

Much love,
Nana

Babysitting!

Dear Derek,

Oh, Nana is doing so well! I didn't call you Bump! Oops. Well, I can only do well for just so long, much like most people. Pretty soon, you will understand what that's like, Derek.

Last Friday, your mom had very special company all the way from Minnesota. That's very far. Your mom's friend who was the maid of honor at your parents' wedding was visiting. I thought they would like to have some "girl time," and so I was very happy indeed when your mom asked me to watch you while they went grocery shopping. Okay, so I offered, and she accepted. They were gone a little longer than expected, and you were so hungry! It was a good thing that Mommy had left some milk in the freezer for you.

It's been a very long time since I've warmed up a bottle for a newborn! It was your "first" bottle since coming home from the hospital, and you drank it all down in about five minutes. And then you didn't even burp. Your mom says you are a champion nurser. Yes, you are!

He's a good nurser!
Photo by Harry.
All rights reserved.

I love to hold you, Derek. Your sweet little face is so adorable and tiny and precious, and you smell good, too. What a handsome little man you are.

Sunday was your first day at church. The ladies were very good about looking at you without touching you. Well, most of them. And the rest of them couldn't help themselves. Happily, you didn't mind too much. It's hard to be upset with them. They all love you so much already. Church ladies go a little gaga over babies.

Papa holding Derek.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

And today, Papa and I got to go to your house to watch you together! You were so good and slept right through until Nana had finished a few chores to help out your mom, and then you "ate" really well again. But you had a couple of really big burps for Nana. Your mom said it would make your dad so proud!

My heart gets very full whenever I think of you, Derek.

Much love,
Nana

Right on Cue!

Dearest Derek,

Yesterday, Papa and I visited you at home for the very first time. We were super excited to see you outside of the hospital, and we're so glad they let you go home with your mommy and daddy.

Your mama said that you are a perfect angel so far. Well, of course you are! And it's a good thing, too, because new moms and dads are very, very tired from not getting enough sleep and from worrying about every little hiccup and noise (or lack of it).

As I held you, your mommy and daddy and Papa and I were talking about the meaning of your name ("the people's ruler"). I gazed at your tiny face, and I told you that you are small right now; but, before you know it, you will be big and strong and tall. You will be "Derek, the Mighty." I said that, for sure, you are definitely the ruler of the people in your house! And do know what you did? You chose that very moment to smile really big! Brilliant! We all laughed and laughed.

Your mommy said that your timing is perfect already. And it is.

Much love,
Nana

A Star Is Born

Hi, Derek,

Early, early in the morning today, Papa and I got a phone call from your Daddy that it was time to go to the  hospital. Your Mommy and Daddy were on their way there so you could be born! I was so excited as I got ready to go. It was very dark outside, a time of day when I am usually sound asleep. I am not a morning person, but for you, Derek, anything, anytime, anywhere!

We arrived at the hospital about ten minutes after your Grandma Jane. Papa and I waited in a special room outside, but she was able to see you being born! It was a wonderful experience for her, Derek, and she got happy tears in her eyes telling me about it. She is a lovely and loving person. I feel blessed that your Daddy has such a nice mother-in-law and you have a family that adores you.


And so you made your appearance in the world at 4:49 this morning. You did not like your first bath and screamed the whole time. I thought I heard you say, "Hey! What do you think you are doing to me? Leave me alone, already. I want to take a nap!" to the nice nurse who was taking care of you. Your voice is strong.

As I watched your Daddy holding you gently and giving you a tiny bit of formula to tide you over until Mommy is ready, I could see he is a natural. Most new dads are a little nervous holding their infants, but not your Dad. It was as if he'd been practicing for years. He's an awesome Daddy already. 


When I held you in my arms, my heart felt like it got really big and full. And when your Papa held you, your tiny body seemed to disappear into his tender embrace. 


Welcome to our world, Derek. You were created especially by God. You are a miracle. There has never been anyone like you, and there will never be anyone else like you. You are unique and valued and gifted, and this is your birthday. So, happy birthday!


I love you, little one,
Nana