Dear Davis: Months 8, 9, & 10

Dear Davis,

I'm sorry I'm cramming three very fulfilling, hectic, and big months for you into one post, but I wanted to get something on the books.

We had a rough winter. I'm not going to sugar coat it. After some ups and downs, sick weeks and healthy stretches, you got the flu. Both strains of the flu. At the same time. Your doctor couldn't believe what a champ you were considering how much stress that was on your little body. It was hard to witness, as you slept a lot and were just so sad. We saw your temp rise to digits we've never seen before and had to call the children's hospital one night. Thank you for rallying, Davis. It was such a blessing seeing you come back to life and be your jolly self once again.

Since the last time I wrote, our dog and cat ended up at the emergency vet. Bowen broke a toenail, survived, and embarrassingly wore a cone for a week. Tragically, Bronx encountered a car in front of our house, and we had to say goodbye to our feline. I always thought I would be sending my kids off to college and still be shooing Bronx away from me. We never saw eye-to-eye, as I'm sure he viewed me as the person who stole his best friend, but he was always very loving toward Fraser and you. It's weird not having him around, and you'll never really know Bronxie cat.

You started eating real food, which took considerably longer than Fraser to get the hang of...I'll blame all your illnesses. You started scooting and army crawling recently, too. But no teeth yet. Eek. Let's see...what else? You enjoyed a special night of swimming with friends without your sister (who was sick at the time, imagine that). We witnessed your first snow (you loved it), Dad's 35th birthday, snowshoeing in Hood River for my birthday, and your first Valentine's and St. Patrick's holidays. We got outside as much as possible, hit the gym often (despite the hotbed of germs), and watched a lot of hoops. You're riding in a grocery cart like a big boy now and trying to crawl away from your big sister.

Thanks for taking long, hard naps. For waving with your entire arm. For kicking your legs and dancing and wiggling your body when we sing certain songs. For--just like Fraser--loving Itsy, Bitsy Spider. For changing your mood the minute we get out into nature. For being as happy as can be to go to any of the ladies at church or the gym. You are a sweet soul, and I just can't imagine you being anybody but you,.

We love, you, Davis Norman.

Love,
Mom

Dear Davis: Months 5, 6, & 7

Dear Davis, 

Before the calendar flips to February, oh Davy boy, I wanted to jot a quick note capturing the last few months.

We’ve learned you’re certainly different than your sister. We knew this with your jolly demeanor, yes, but your habits are night and day. You’ve been through a lot of sickness beginning at month 4—something we didn’t even touch until Fraser was more than a year old. You’ve been a real trouper through all of it, that’s for sure. Everyone knows when something just isn’t right with you because you aren’t your smiley cherub self. 

Let’s get graphic for a second, for the sake of documentation, shall we? Starting on Thanksgiving, and as a result of a virus (that’s what the doc said, anyway), you pooped in every diaper for three weeks straight. You poor little thing. Then, we started introducing solids, and you decided to go the opposite route and got backed up for nine days in a row…twice. It’s been tricky figuring out your eating habits and what works for you, which is a far cry from Iron Gut Fraser. 

When you’re done, you’re done, and that ranges from when you’re awake to when you want to sleep…when you’re hungry to when you’re full…when you’re having fun playing to when you just want to be picked up and held. You are expressive, but happy-go-lucky most of the time. 

You were a doll when we went to see Santa Claus, staring at your screaming sister like she was a crazy person. You loved Christmas Eve mass (until you were done!), and you rallied and stayed up late with all the relatives.

You graduated to the “movers” room at the gym far before I was ready. Instead of walking you back and checking in on all the breaths you took when we were apart, I just hand you over and hope you have a good time. You’re always smiling and enjoying yourself when I come pick you up, and it’s such a relief to me. We had a horrible time leaving Fraser when she was your age. See what I mean? You’re so different. 

You take great naps, and you like riding in the car. You love your nanas and your papa/poppi. You make a lot of people smile—at the grocery store, church, moms’ group, out on walks, etc. Thanks for going with the flow and being such a tough little cookie when you’re feeling down. Your sister can’t wait till you can run around with her. For now, you happily grab handfuls of her hair when she takes your toys, and your dad and I just can’t wait to see your relationship develop over time. 

We love you, Davis Norman. Thanks for being you. 

Love,
Mom

Dear Davis: Month 4

Dear Davis,

Look at you! You're sitting in a Bumbo seat, smiling and flailing your arms around. You're certainly not a newborn anymore.

In looking back at the photos I took between months three and four, and well, they're scarce to say the least. I'm sorry. We've been on the go, hosting visitors, soaking up the last bit of the late-summer sun (it's been incredible, to say the least), and chasing after your big sister. You've been along for the ride, per usual.

We had your four-month doctor appointment, and I was very concerned I wasn't getting you the rest you deserved. The doctor assured me you'll tell me what you need, and he's right. You're great at letting me know when you need to take a rest in your crib instead of on-the-go or in the stroller for the fifth day in a row.

You started rolling over to your stomach in your sleep, and I think you're much comfier this way. The doctor said I could stop nursing you in the night and that now is the perfect time to sleep train you. It's like you were just waiting to hear the doc say this because that very night, you slept straight on through till 4:30 in the morning, which you know is my favorite time to be awake, anyway. Thank you, Davis. You're just a champ.

I hope you know how much you're loved. How Fraser asks, "Davis awake?" the minute I walk into her room in the morning or after her nap. How your dad can't wait to say, "My man!" when he walks in the door after work. How anyone you meet can sense just how laid back and agreeable you are.

Our days end with exhausted laughs after putting Fraser to bed because of her non-stop energy, and they end with smiles and loving sighs after putting you down...you're just the best little guy, and we still can't believe you're ours.

Thank you, Davis. You make us so happy and proud.

Love,
Mom

Dear Davis: Month 3

Davis,

If I don't get this posted, you're going to be four months old already!

You continue to be a jolly soul, but you've already come down with your first cold. I blame your sister. That sweet thing didn't get a cold until like 12 months or something crazy...but you, you who never did anything to her...well, she can't keep her mitts off of you, and I blame her.

From months two to three, we hosted our dear friends the Bolgens, and you were a champ sleeping in your bassinet until close to daybreak. I didn't have to worry about you waking anybody up in the middle of the night. You've been a great sleeper, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous for the dreaded four-month sleep regression. How about we just skip that part of infancy, huh? Back to the Bolgen family...we had the best week of adventuring, eating, wine tasting, beer drinking, kid wrangling, and laughing. You were a wonderful addition to the crew and will be chasing after Fraser and Jack before we know it.

At the end of August and beginning of September...you sat through (and sometimes slept through) your sister's swim lessons and trips to the park so she could run free, and you're settling into the rhythm of the stroller just fine. The weather was HOT, and you, my friend, are like your dad and sister and apparently run very warm because we experienced a couple of overheated Davis days. I'm sorry about that. I'll remember not to bundle you up too too much once the weather cools down.

Dad took your sister camping for a night at the coast, and you and I had a great day just the two of us. Lots of snuggling and errand running (fun for me, not so much for you, but thanks for being a good sport!), as well as your first Coug game (pretty sure you slept through all of this--how rude!). And I'm mentioning this because I don't want to forget how the carbon monoxide alarm went off in the middle of the night and would not stop. It was frightening for both of us, and I apologize that I was just wandering around the house looking for a fire instead of grabbing you and running to the street. It was a good practice run in case of a real emergency and quite hilarious that it would happen the first and only time when your dad and sister just happened to be gone. Thanks for sleeping through most of it.

We talk a lot about how crazy and energetic and spunky Fraser is, and when both of you are finally asleep, your dad and I just smile and say you're such a good little guy. Thanks for going with the flow so much. The days are flying by, and you're really just about four months old. We are gearing up for a big road trip, and you're going to cross state lines for the first time (not counting Vancouver). We hope you like adventuring as much as the rest of us. Something tells me you will.

You have the best crooked smile and you still have that little dimple. Thanks for being you, Davis boy. We love you oh so much.

Love,
Mom

Dear Davis: Month 2

Dear Davis,

Well, it's now the 21st, so I suppose I better get this written.

From months one to two you continued to be a chubby, jolly, mellow soul. We took you to the coast, and we went to Sunriver for your first visit there. You really enjoyed both, though you got overheated in Sunriver, which was kind of scary for your ol' mama.

Fraser continues to push your buttons, and you're a pretty good sport for the most part. I don't think you like getting kicked in the head or having her shove her finger in your mouth, and you really don't like when she tries to wake you up when you're not ready. But you're taking this little brother thing pretty well for the most part.

I can't thank you enough for the nights you've slept from the time we put you down till the morning. What a joy! You just seem to know what we need, and you're very "go with the flow." People ask me how it's going with two little babes under the age of 2, and I have to say it feels like you've been here all along, and you don't make our days any more difficult or challenging.

Davis, you're such a sweet and calm little guy. I wonder who and what you will become. I am sorry I don't get to spend as much time doing tummy time or holding you as I did with your big sis, but as soon as you're a little bigger (and your neck is a little stronger), I have no doubt you will be wishing a certain someone would put you down and stop wanting to play with you all the time. Fraser has big plans for the two of you and most of these involve getting dirty, climbing, exploring, riding bikes, and looking for adventure in general. So get your rest while you can. Stay little for as long as possible.

You are my heart, now, Davis (of course right alongside Fraser). Thanks for joining our family.

Love,
Mom