First letter to Sophia

Dear Sophia:

This is the first letter I wrote to you. Now you are 11 weeks old. In the past 2 and half month, you changed a lot.

After the first moment I hold you in my arm when you were born, we separated for 24 hours. You were in Neonatal Intensive Care unit for 2 days and I was in the observation room for one day. I fell in love with you from the first moment I hold you. The first night you were on the earth, I couldn’t sleep while I was in the observation room. I thought about you all night. The second time I saw you, I tried to nursing you while I was in the wheel chair. The third time I saw you, it was in the night around 2am after I moved out of the observation room. I couldn’t sleep. I went to the intensive care unit again. I just wanted to hold you. From that night on, I hold and nursed you every night.

You were born on Monday. We left hospital for home on Friday noon time. When we got home, I tried to nursing you. It took us one hour for the first time. I was very frustrated that I couldn’t provide enough milk for you. I send your father to buy the breast pump right away. When you were born, we had just moved to the new apartment for 3 weeks. A lot of stuff had not been settled at that time. We lived in the second bed room for the beginning. You spend the first couple nights in the bugaboo’s basinet. Your first doctor’s check up was in one week after you were home. You lost 7 oz weight. Doctor said that I should let you suck me all the time. From that day, I stopped using breast pump. One week later, we check up with doctor again. You gained back your birth weight. I was assured that we were in the right track.

From second week, we moved to the master bedroom together. Every night, we put you in your crib to sleep. After the mid night I nursed you, I kept you sleeping with me on the big bed. Every morning when you wake up, you look at me and smile. You are such a sweat baby.

From the third week, your unbiblical cord fell off. I started to give you bath. You like take bath. At the beginning our nanny aunty Chiang gave mommy a lot of help. She showed me how to give you a bath. Before that, I did rubbing bath for you every morning.

On the fifth week, you grandmother from your father’s side visit us. She companied you and me to the first month check up. We took you to an Austrian restaurant. It was your first restaurant experience. The guest on the other table kept looking at you. You were a little star. Your grandma brought you a lot of gifts. She bought you the cloth from new born to one year old. When she left, she held you and cried. It’s so sad to be parting from you.

For the first five weeks, you and I spend every minute together. Your grand parents (my mother and father) came to join me and your dad to take care of you at the beginning of the sixth week. With their help to take care of you, mommy finally got some sleep in the morning. I also can walk out to do some grocery shopping. Your grand parents showered you with their love. They have great patient with you. They kept talk to you. Your grandma often sings you to sleep.

On the seventh week, you had two adventures. First I took you a mommy and baby yoga class. During the class you were very cool and quiet. Everyone amazed that you can handle the new environment so easily. They didn’t believe that you were only six week and 3 days at that time. Second we took you ride subway to Manhattan Chinatown for Dim Sum. You also handled very well.

On the eighth week, it was the Memorial Day weekend. Mommy’s birthday was right after that. Your father took two days off. We took you and your grand parents to Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

On the ninth week, there were two big things. You got the first immunization shots during your second month check up and I took you to my office. You handle the immunization shots very well. You didn’t have any fever afterward. You were very cool and friendly to face many new people in my office. And you pooped in front of all my coworker. Mom was unprepared. I didn’t bring diaper and changing cloth for you. Luckily there is a day care center in my office building. I borrowed the diaper and cleaned you in the day care center. From that week, you can lift your head off the floor while you lay on your belly. For two month old baby, it was advance.

On the tenth week, I started to work again. It was only two days a week. I missed you a lot. When I got back from work, I hold you for an hour. I was attached to you. On the Friday of the tenth week, you got cold the first time. I was so worried that I have to take you to see doctor right away. So far you are being a healthy baby. I hope you got well soon. I learned to give you steam bath. You like it a lot. That weekend, you went to a street fair at you first time.

Yesterday, we took you to visit your father’s office. When you faced his coworker, you cried very loud. You never cried that loud before. We guess that you start recognize and afraid of strange people. That was another mile stone for your mental development. After that office visiting, I took you to MOMA. Although we only had a short visit, I’m sure I will take you there many many times in the future.

Ok, right now I just report to you what you’ve been experienced in the first 11 weeks. I will write to you in the next month. Have a good sleep now.

Kiss,

Mommy