Five months

The last month was an eventful one for our family. We traveled to New York and then to the Bahamas, marking Peeper’s first plane rides and her first passport stamp. She also went swimming for the first time, took her first subway ride and met some dinosaurs.

Returning from the trip was a lot less fun than the vacation itself. Both Edie and I had a hard time readjusting to the West Coast time zone. One night Edie went down for what we thought was a nap at 5:30. By the time we realized she was asleep for the night, I was too tired to wake her and passed out on the couch. You can guess how well that worked out.

She is becoming more intentional, too. One of her favorite games is to put her fingers in my mouth. As soon as I pop! them out, she sticks them right back in with a big smile.

She is developing more opinions and preferences. When she’s fussy during a diaper change, for example, she settles down and smiles as soon as I start singing to her. (Her favorite tune is the ABC Song.) And when she’s done nursing, she turns away and tries to sit up.

Edie also celebrated her first Thanksgiving. We started the day by watching the Lions beat the Packers, the first time Detroit has won on the holiday in a decade—or, as Eric said, starting Edie’s lifelong Lions winning streak.

We ate dinner that night with my parents. As part of family tradition, each of us took a turn and described what we were thankful for. Of course family was a repeated theme. I got to reiterate how grateful I am for Eric.

Two weeks after Edie was born, we had gone to a group midwife appointment. Everyone said one thing they appreciated, but I only got as far as saying “my partner” before I got too teary to continue.

So on Thanksgiving, I repeated that I am thankful for having Eric as my partner on this wild adventure. He and I approach parenthood as a team, and I think Edie benefits from that—as well as from our differing styles. I am thankful that he holds me when I fall apart and tells me I’m beautiful when I feel anything but. I delight in his uncontrollable laughter when Edith dive bombs him during tummy time on Dad’s chest.

I am also thankful for my parents. Without their help, our little family would be struggling. My dad lent us his car so I wouldn’t be stranded at home while Eric worked almost an hour’s commute away. My mom has, on several occasions, dropped everything, sped up I-5 and helped me during crises. They buy us groceries and keep our fridge stocked with healthy meals. Best of all, they love on Edie—whom my dad has nicknamed Smiley—like they were born to be grandparents.

Most of all, though, I am thankful for Edith. She is healthy, and I try my best to never take that for granted. I love the way her whole face scrunches up when she smiles, the way her eyes get wide and her legs kick when she’s excited, the way she nuzzles into my neck when I pick her up after a nap, the way she lights up when she sees me.

Our family is so fortunate. With every month, week and day that passes, I count us even luckier.