6 months ago tonight, we welcomed you into our lives. 6 months ago, with your Daddy by my side, they removed you from my tummy and announced with great excitement, “It’s a Boy!” I remember your Daddy looking at me, and repeated… it’s a boy! – with a great smile on his face. A boy. Our very own little boy. Joseph Valentine Dworak II. JVD2. :)
They cleaned you off and laid you next to me. I remember seeing your little face. It was so cute and precious. You were just a tiny thing. 5 lbs. 10 oz. But already, we knew you had spunk! You had a big strong cry and a look on your face that said, “I’m tougher than I look.” A little peanut, your diaper and clothes all hung off of your lanky legs and arms. A nurse gave us a cute hand knit blue beanie for your head- the only thing that fit you. More than one nurse said that you were such a cute baby. And it was true! You had these cute little cheeks and precious little mannerisms. We loved you to pieces.
There are certain things I remember most about you those first few days. I remember how sleepy you were. You were born early and it was as if you were telling us that you just needed to rest up a bit longer. I remember the set of little white spots on your nose. Speaking of noses, we immediately fell in love with your cute button nose. :) I also remember the soft hair on your cheeks and shoulders and backs. Hair you did not lose in utero because you were on the early side. You were so soft to the touch….just this precious little thing.
I think back on these past 6 months and so many things come to mind -mostly, just how fast these months have gone by. Just yesterday, your little arms and legs would flail about and you would make little grunty noises – this completely dependent little being. Now, you are a little one on the move. We love how when we put you down to bed at night, we know we will greet you in the morning and you will be in a completely new position. Upside down or tucked in the corner or legs splaying out of the crib. We love how you decided early on that you did not want a pacifier. You always took it reluctantly with a look that said, “this is stupid” - a little glimpse into the independent little guy that you are growing up to be. But we equally love how you have found comfort in your little doggie friend instead. How your little lovey travels with you as you move around in your crib.
We love how you laugh and giggle…whether it is because we tickle your tickle spots or whether Daddy makes funny noises with your stuffed animals or whether you just find something completely humorous on your own. We love your laugh! We love how when you see Mommy or Daddy first thing in the morning, the first thing you do is smile a great big gummy grin. We love your gummy grin. It fills our hearts with unspeakable joy.
We love your little hands. How they look to reach and grab anything and everything in reach. We love that you take a book into your own hand as we read to you. We love how you clutch your little hands tightly when you are nervous or scared or uncertain. We love how you look to us for reassurance when you are unsure about something. We love that you rest your little head on our shoulders when you need to feel secure. We love your wide eyes that take everything in and we love how you focus intently on something when discovering something new. We love your little feet that love to push off of things and kick way up and down and we love your little toes that curl. We love how you kick with full force in the tub splashing water all around.
Oh, and we love your voice! We love all the sounds you make and the long conversations we have about what’s happening in your life. We look forward to all the conversations we are going to have with you in months and years to come. We look forward to knowing what you want to tell us and what you want us to hear and what you want to say.
Just 3 months ago, your Daddy and I had to take you to Children’s Hospital to have hernia surgery. The hardest thing we ever did was let you go – releasing you into the care of the anesthesiologist – knowing you were going to be put under and operated on. But, you were such a champ! Before that day, we knew you were a tough little guy. But that day confirmed that you were a fighter….and nothing’s going to hold you back. Before that day, we loved you as dearly and deeply as any parent loves their child. But, on that day, we experienced both the great anguish of having something so dear taken from us, and the great relief of our precious boy being placed safely back in our arms.
And that is what you are to us. You are a sweet boy. Precious boy. Our most treasured gift. We feel honored that God chose us to be your parents. We want you to continue to live life with same great joy you live life now. We want you to smile and laugh and continue to grow.
We always knew we were going to love “Baby Dworak.” I just don’t think we ever imagined that we would love you as much as we do. We love you more and more each and every day.
And what happened to those long lanky newborn limbs of yours 6 months ago? Why they are now filled with delicious dimply plumpness. :)
We love you, little Joseph! Our little JD. Our little Sweets. Our Lil’ C.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
