Happy 4 month birthday, little man! I can't believe it has been 4 whole months that you've been an outside baby. This month has brought so many fun developments - you laugh and giggle every day now; you screech like it's the only noise you can make; you prefer to be upright, either sitting or standing; you are enthralled with watching Dad and I eat and drink; you can finally reach your toes and have tickled your own feet a few times; you bring everything directly to your mouth. In short, you are a bonafide baby now, exploring your world with all senses and testing out lots of new skills.
This month has been busy for our little family, as well. I was offered a job, but decided not to take it. There were a few reasons, including my desire to continue to be with you all day. We're getting into a little groove, you and I, and I wasn't ready to shake that up yet. Also, Dad and I are looking into buying a house for you and any future siblings. It has been a stressful process so far, but it has got me thinking about what home means.
I found myself laying in bed the other night (or was it the morning?) thinking about house showings and list prices and taxes and square footage. And I imagined our little family in all these different spaces - how would it feel to live in that 3-story light blue house with the pool? or the stone-clad ranch with the attic playroom? Which one would most be our
home?
I was overcome with a funny feeling I've read about before. Dad was sleeping soundly next to me and you were steps away in your crib, and I felt at home already. "Home is where the heart is," the famous sentiment goes. My heart is with Dad and with you, and so I am always home when the three of us are together. The four walls we end up buying? I'm sure they will matter to some degree - they will contain future Christmas mornings and birthday parties and lazy Sunday cook-outs.
But this, the 4th month of your life, I've finally learned a most important lesson: Love makes a house a home. With so much love between the three of us, any four walls will do. (As long as there is a functional bathroom and a small patch of grass for you to play in the mud.)
Love,
Mom
(P.S. These are the only somewhat clear pics I have, and, as Teddy will tell you, we had them sitting on our couch for a solid 5 minutes. Capturing mobile infants is challenging!)
