Lvl Up: 2 Months

Dear Baby,

Yesterday was the day you were supposed to be born. Now that we're here, I can definitely say I'm soooo happy you decided to come out early. I can't imagine the last two months (and a bit) without you! Staying true to birthday tradition, I'm making a list of all the cognitive developments you've made since your 1 Month Birthday:

Laugh - Now with sound! You laugh half the time without sound still, but half the time you make noise now; and it is the most beautiful laugh I've ever heard. I can tell your a happy baby, because you laugh in your sleep almost every night!

Toys - You have enough control over your hands now to reach up and bat at the toys that hang down over your Princess Chair (your bouncy seat). You're still gentle and curious, instead of confident and enthusiastic, but that's just because you're still new at using your hands for things and at playing with toys. Every once in a while, though, you give one of them a good smack and they dance for you with vigour!

Baby Words - You've started making more coos and gurgles and other baby noises. However, amazingly you've also already assigned a specific sound to your bottle. You call it your "Nah". Daddy and I know your fussing (you never cry unless we keep you waiting for a while) because you're hungry when you yell out "Nah". And, when Daddy or I say, "Hailey wants her Nah? Here comes your Nah." or something similar to that, you calm down and stop fussing for a few minutes while you wait patiently for your milk.

Real Words - Your speedy development is actually starting to freak me and Daddy out a bit. True to your nature, you've already said your first word well before it's expected of typical babies. Your first real word is the typical first word: "Mama". Momma's gallbladder isn't working properly, and it needs to come out. One night, Momma had to stay at the hospital overnight, and Daddy says you were crying and no matter what he did he couldn't console you. Then you yelled out "Mama" very clearly, and that's when Daddy realized you were upset because I wasn't there. Daddy and I know babies make "Mah" sounds naturally, but this was no accident. Daddy swears you clearly said "Mama" with no break inbetween the syllables! I wasn't sure I believed him 100%, but a couple days later I was outside, smoking and you did it again. I'm your first word!

Those are the main milestones you've reached so far. Your coordination, sound recognition and sight are all developing as well as they should be. You're getting very good at controlling your neck and holding up your head. You're still growing rapidly and are nearly caught up with the full term babies that were born when you were. All the doctors and nurses at the Health Unit and other medical staff that meet you are always so impressed with how healthy you are and how quickly you're maturing.

Also, you're a brave little girl! You had your first shots today, and you did so well! You only cried for three seconds, and then continued on happily as if nothing happened. The nurses agreed with Momma that you're a superstar (I bragged about how well you did in the NICU to them when we first met).

Finally, at the Health Clinic, you were weighed. Daddy and I were shocked to find out you've already almost doubled your birthweight! You're 8lbs 1oz. Good growing!