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Dear Josephine,
I can’t believe this but it’s been almost a month since the day you were born. Your mom and I were pretty nervous taking you home from the hospital but we were also really excited about getting to know you.
At first it was a little stressful. We had a lot of things to do for you and it was a bit of an adjustment. Your mom was a little down, which is normal after having a baby, but she has been bouncing back nicely. I always had a lot of respect for her, but watching the way she takes care of you and how she juggles so many things with her physical and emotional health on top of that gave me a newfound appreciation for how wonderful she is. Actually, I would say that all of the communicating we have had to do about you has made our relationship stronger, even if we argue from time to time.
You’ve had your first pediatric appointments and so far, you are doing a great job and growing very quickly. Sometimes I get sad because every day I see you, I know you will never be that little ever again. I already look back on the days I had with you in the hospital or even days I had with you earlier this week and I have nostalgia. Every day I spend with you is one less day together until someday you eventually go off on your own. I try to cherish the moments we have.
We did a little Hannukah celebration with you and all of your grandparents and your aunt Mary. I used to celebrate Hannukah as a kid but I have not done anything for it in a long time. We decided we would do it with you this year because of all the bad stuff going on in the world right now. It was a lot of fun and you got a lot of gifts! Yesterday we did your first Christmas with the whole family and everyone enjoyed watching you open your presents.
You also seem to really like bath time. Our first bath with you was a bit of a disaster because we had no idea what we were doing, but you are very calm during them and you seem to enjoy them a lot. When I was young like you, my dad would give me baths and I used to say “No Keppie!” Keppie is a Yiddish word for “head” so I would declare that I did not want my head washed. Well, I am proud to report that you really love your keppie.
As we have been able to spend more time with you, we are learning more about you every day, and you are changing every day. There are already so many things I love about you. Let me tell you a few of them.
You really love to eat, and whenever we feed you, you make these really funny and cute hand gestures. You like to put one hand up over your head while your eyes are closed and you look sublime.
On that note, you’re pretty advanced already for your age. You’re able to hold your head up already and you already understand how to reach out and hold onto things, like your bottle. I told you that you love to eat, right? Well, sometimes you use your vice grip to snatch and hang onto the bottle. Most babies your age are not smart enough to do that yet.
You also have the most beautiful blue eyes. Sometimes you open your eyes and look at us and we have a bit of a staring contest because you are so beautiful.
What is also endearing about you is that you love to be held. Sometimes you cry just because you want someone to hold you. I appreciate that we both already have such a special bond with you.
I think it’s time I opened up and told you something I was reluctant to tell you before. You see, when we first found out we were having a baby, I always imagined it being a boy. I need to be honest and say when I found out we were having a girl, I was excited but also a little bit surprised. Now that you’re here, I’m not even just happy that you’re a girl. I’m happy that you’re you. There is nothing and no one that could possibly be better than you.
Until next time,
Dad
Jeff Kirchick 