Elly,

When you were but a tiny, scrawny shifty-eyed creature of only a week or so old, and people spoke about their 9 month old bouncing baby boys who were clapping and eating real food, I had this sinking feeling like you would never reach that stage. You would be a small completely dependent extension of my breast FOREVER.

And yet, you have transformed into this person; an actual being with a personality and a hearty grip. Indeed, you have flourished, thrived. And in me, something has grown. A love so immense that no mere words could ever do it justice. Suffice it to say that sometimes when you smile and laugh, my heart bursts open with the love I can no longer keep within its confines.

For a couple months, maybe starting right around the end of March, you were hiding. The true Elliot was masked by the fog of teething. You wanted to smile but it quickly dissipated into pained whining as calcified tusks burst forth from your tender gums. I became pretty depressed about this, as other mothers’ children were practicing crawling, pulling up on furniture, becoming human. Yet, you kept on keepin’ on and despite the horrific pain, you were sleeping like a champ. By March 23rd, you had gotten down a schedule that was bearable: asleep by 8 or 8:30 and sleeping all the way until 6. Sure, we had a few hiccups where – on a Saturday of course – you woke at 5. But thanks to daycare, you also go down for 2 naps.

You finally did start to work on your forward movement about 3-4 weeks ago. Still, your little legs cannot seem to move opposite each other. You sort of scamper about, moving your knees, then your arms. You understand that you can roll to the desired object so why ought you crawl? Smart, but disappointing to a mother would love to brag that her son finally started to crawl. On the other hand, you aren’t yet pulling up and I can put off lowering the crib and removing the bumpers, just a little while longer.

Teething isn’t so bad now and you have 8 – count them, 8 – teeth. You are fun when the pain isn’t keeping you down. In fact, you have started doing a couple really cute things. For one, you like to bury your head into us when someone you don’t know talks to you. But also, when someone you do know is making you laugh. You’re almost shy. Also, you hug now. When we hold you, you grip your arms around us and pull us in. It is more cuteness than I can bear. Peek-a-boo has finally become fun; I sometimes put you on the bed, duck down, and appear on different sides. You crack up at this!

On Sunday, we are having you baptized. Into the Episcopal church. Someday when you are older, I’ll explain why we chose that church and what all of this ceremony and tradition means. For now, know that you have been given a gift.

There’s so many more tiny things I could point out about our lives now that you are a (big) part of them. It is difficult to remember what life was like without you, you have enriched it so much, just by being you, by being our first son. And we love you.

-Your mommy.