Dear Li Ya

Dear Li Ya,

You're turning four months old next week and I'm a little sad about it.  These first few months with you have been heavenly.  I will miss the newborn you.

You wake up from sleep so hungry and angry. But somehow, when I set you down for your diaper change, you look up at me, put aside your hunger, and smile.  Then, when I bring you close for a feeding, you start snorting like a panicky piglet anticipating its breakfast.  It's the most perfect snort in the world.

You are the easiest smiler.  All anyone has to do for a smile is look at you and a smile starts to form, small and closed-mouthed at first and then big and open. Your cheeks are especially kissable then, and my kisses only make you smile bigger.  You are pure sunshine.

You slept through the night around six weeks old, and mothering four children became much less daunting from that point on.  Thank you for that.  However, you stopped sleeping through the night around ten weeks.  I anticipated that.  Mi Na did the same thing.  It was a pretty rough adjustment to go from a full night's sleep to being woken up four or five times each night.  Again.  You've settled back into waking just once a night, which is doable.

People like to comment on your eyes.  Two perfect almond shapes, so big in comparison to your little nose and mouth, except when you smile and your mouth gets so big that your eyes disappear. You look like all of your siblings, but still different.  

I love how you bring your hands together at the center of your chest, like you're praying.   I can't remember any of your siblings doing that.  

You take an early evening nap most days.  It helps a lot when I'm putting your siblings to bed.  And when it's just you and me, we stare at each other, exchanging smiles and coos.  Your cooing is the most heavenly sound.  You're gifted for sure. :)  

Thank you for coming to us, Li Ya.  It is an honor to be your mother.  

Love,
Mom