𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗦 ➎ 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦!

⫸ 𝕋𝕠𝕡 𝕋𝕖𝕟 𝕋𝕚𝕕𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕤 ⫷
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➙ 15 pounds 1 ounce
➙ 25.5 inches long
➙ reaches for anything in sight, our faces included
➙ met Santa, but infatuated with Mrs. Claus
➙ “Mr. I’ll Bite Your Knuckles” (if you let me)
➙ enjoyed 1st Thanksgiving at the table
➙ sleeps through the night… when Dad is home
➙ favorite: staring at all the lights in church
➙ pounds chest super hard when excited
➙ loves oatmeal mixed with apples or bananas

⫸ 𝕄𝕒𝕞𝕒’𝕤 𝕄𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕄𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 ⫷
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It’s no secret that Daddy is the chef of the house, but Mama certainly has a passion for the “first year of foods”.  I find it absolutely fascinating how at only a few minutes old, you, my tiny brand new human, could instinctually latch on and drink milk like it’s a task you’ve mastered for years… Now, fast forward five short months, and those same incredible ‘instincts’ of yours have you patting your rounded belly, reaching for my spoon, and opening your mouth so wide, as if you’re about to bite into a double quarter pounder with cheese!  Instincts. They’re weird. They’re cool. They’re nearly impossible to suppress.

Nourishing you is hard work, yet it brings me so much joy and satisfaction. Maybe it’s because with your brother, Theodore, I was unable to fulfill my instinctual desire to feed him for months at a time… Maybe it’s because I now have a greater appreciation for the simplicity of watching food go down your throat and into your belly, instead of cringing while your brother’s “food” went through an IV in his veins, or down an NJ tube in his nose. And just maybe, it’s because I absolutely adore the wonder and excitement I get to witness in your eyes when new flavors hit your tastebuds; ‘taste’ is deemed a ‘simple pleasure’ in life, yet I’ve actually learned that it is not all that ‘simple’ for some…

Similar to your inherent inclination to find food when your belly grumbles, my maternal instincts crave to provide it. I look forward to watching your legs kick with impatience as I mix the grains in with milk. I wait with great anticipation to watch your facial expressions after you have new fruits every couple days; I found that apples cause your little nose to crinkle.  Arthur, it’s like you have bailed me out of jail with your messy little oatmeal-faced grin; those little bits of ‘instinctual motherhood’ felt as though they were lockdown for the longest time.  You’ve set them free; my “feed your baby instincts” now feel as ‘free’ as the mushed baby food that escapes through the corners of your lips and down your chin…

I love you, Artie

-Alexandria

… join me by #FallingRightSideUp 👆🏼

when life gets turned upside down 👇🏼

Psalm 46:5