By Daddy

We’re already here. Three months ago Rowan was an adorable bundle of sleepy hunger. (Or was it hungry sleepiness?) now we’re interacting, sharing experiences, exchanging pieces of our personalities back and forth. Day to day and week to week, we find him doing new things — new to him as well as to us — and it’s an adventure every time.

Learning together is eye-opening in its own right — the first time I saw Rowan squeeze a fist repeatedly, imitating the sign language for ‘milk’ we’d been showing him at feedings — I was stunned. Communication at last! Wait, communication already?! It was manual babble, and sure enough it felt much the same as when he managed to string a sequence of syllables into something word-ish. He learns to follow our example and puts it to use in his own way, while we learn what he’s put together and how. Whether it’s scooting along the ground with a bit of foot-support, or turning to anticipate a toy that’s moving in circles, each tiny accomplishment is a joy for all of us.

It’s never all roses, of course, and it never will be, but we each find our own tactics to make things better. Jazz takes a lot of attention, and makes tummy-time easier. Kisses are amazingly encouragement in physical form. A short stroll around the apartment can soothe frayed nerves. Peek-a-boo is hilarious. We learn and share, and keep adapting even as Rowan changes week to week, and we fall in love with the new person he has already become.

We will surround you with happiness, laughter, serenity, excitement, life. We’ll be there when nothing works and sleep won’t come and even the cats look on in a mix of confusion and concern. We’ll be there when there is nothing more important than getting that toe all the way up to that mouth. We’ll be there in the morning when you open your eyes at last, and light up with the biggest brightest smile you’ve beamed yet.

When we decided to have Rowan, it was because we thought we could raise a child well, and offer a good home. You are unlike anything we imagined, and we are constantly awed by the person you are. We can only hope we can do right by you, kiddo, and we’ll do the best we can.