dear jude

Dear Jude,

Tomorrow you will be four months old, which seems both so young and entirely too old at the same time. You are one amazing kid, sweet Jude. You had a check up today, and as the doctor listed the developmental milestones you should have been hitting at this age, your Daddy and I couldn't help but smile at each other. Most of them you've been doing for a couple of months now! You've gotten much more smiley in the past month, and it's sweet to see you charm complete strangers with that dimple. You've also started to really recognize me and Daddy, and I'm proud to say that we can make you smile more than anyone. I have so many favorite memories of you from the past month, but I wanted to share a few specific ones.

- Daddy and I read to you every night as you're winding down for bed. You had fallen asleep while Daddy was reading a bit of "Winnie The Pooh" to you. In the book, Winnie the Pooh was singing a song, so Daddy sung the song in his "Pooh" voice (which is spot on, by the way). Though you were fast asleep, you woke up a little when Daddy started singing, looked at him, and smiled your sweet smile. You melt my heart, bug.

-You've started reaching out for Coletrane as he passes by, which I love. Sometimes Cole walks on by, and sometimes he graces you with a kiss on the hand (or on the face if we're not watching!). Your joy at those disgusting puppy kisses makes me smile every time.

-One time I was changing your diaper on the changing table and you were beyond fussy. I was doing everything I could to calm you down, but nothing seemed to be working. I was buttoning up your onesie when you grabbed ahold of my forearm and just stopped crying. I looked down at you and you just stared at me...as if you knew you were safe with me.

We've loved watching you grow and change in the past four months, sweetheart, and are excited to see how much more you do so. Though we suspected it even when I was pregnant with you, we're seeing that you have a fiesty, determined personality. I expect this will make some of our time as your parents a challenge, but I also expect that God gave you that personality for a very specific purpose. We love you so much more than you know, and God loves you more fully and completely than we ever could.

Love,

Mommy