Dear Emerson.

Mom here. I've got a little confession to make to you about myself. I like to follow the rules and I have the best of intentions. I hope you get at least a large part of this part of me so you will stay out of trouble while you grow up, even if that makes you boring and a nerd for awhile. However, since I had you, I have been breaking some serious rules, maybe even some cardinal rules of having/raising a baby.

I read books and books while I was pregnant with you about having a baby and raising you once you got here so I would be super informed...even though I already knew a lot about babies. I talked to friends, moms, friends of moms, moms of friends - you get the picture. So as to not get myself attacked by friends and family, let's just review a few of them...

(#1) 'They' do not encourage co-sleeping. I would never co-sleep with my baby - gawk! - as if! You have slept with us almost every night since you have been born and I l.o.v.e. it. We tried the swing for awhile, you were over it after a few nights. You had zero interest in your Moses basket that I was just sure you would love. And hello - I'm just starting to put you in your crib for naps. You are two months old. (#2) Whilst sleeping alone [right, you aren't doing this - see above] there should be nothing else in the crib with your baby. Well you know, you aren't in your crib, so there isn't anything else in there, does that count for anything? However, in our family bed, there is me - your mom, - your dad, 4 pillows, a sheet, a faux down comforter (because your dad is allergic to feathers) and a quilt. YOU love these things, it's like the greatest nest ever. Your head is up above mine, not near pillows and the covers only reach up to your knees, so there is no chance you are going to get smothered. And am I afraid I will roll over on you? No way. I spent 9 months not being able to roll over so I'm pretty used to it by now - sometimes I forget I can sleep on my stomach now! (#3) A Soothie pacifier is the best kind of pacifier for a baby's oral development. It's what I recommended to all families in the NICU when I worked there; it is what every hospital I know sends home with babies. Well, if they send them home - but we didn't take one home, no thank you, because my baby (that's you) won't be taking a pacifier until 3 weeks of age until nursing habits are well established. I get some points for this, I only caved 2 or 3 days early because your Aunt Molly told me I could. She counts, she's a nurse practitioner. And you were screaming. A lot. But here's the problem. I'm working on rule #1, getting you to sleep on your own, and you can't keep said Soothie pacifier in your mouth on your own when you lay down. So I bought a NUK pacifier yesterday. You have been napping for 96 minutes on your own in your crib as I write this. Sold.

You apparently did not read the same books I read while you were in my tummy growing. You do not abide by their rules, you follow a set quite of your own. Hopefully, we will keep figuring out our own little set of rules for you and who you are going to be. I know one thing for sure, you are the cutest baby that ever WAS [see below - hello!] and I adore you.

xoxo
Mom