lovenote to the newest bunny!

dear baby rocco,

i love you so much, my baby boy!!

these newborn days, they are really something, aren’t they? so challenging, but they go so fast. really, i love them. i forgot that i did, but i really, really do. especially since the whole all of everything is still fresh in my mind… having a belly full of you… your little late night kicks [which were practically the only time you ever got crazy in there! i mean, you were so calm compared to your sister, it worried me sometimes!]… crawling in bed for my very last night of sleep with you in there [at the farm on the 4th of july!]… and then the effort it took on both our parts to finally get you out and about there when we hit your due date and you thought maaaybe you’d start to mosey your way on down!

so, i spent that day strolling around in my bathing suit top, trying to get things moving while also getting some sun [priorities!]… then that afternoon, as things picked up, there was your fearless father videoing me, asking me questions as serious contractions were making me want to pull my own hair out… [dangerous move, right there, you know! ;)] and oh, the miserably uncomfortable ride to the hospital… the little monitor playing your heartbeat, which the nurse pointed out sounded like horses clipclopping… it did!! i love that! how much nicer of a human i was once that epidural was in place, wheeew… and feeling very sympathetic for the women we could hear screaming across the hallway that were going natural with the whole process [go them!]… the relief i felt when you were born at the quiet hour of 4am! both because i could breathe again and because you cried right away and they gave you to me for snuggles… your precious newborn face wondering what on earth just happened [the brand new faces, those are theee best!], and the way my doctor dragged herself in apologetically at 6am having missed *another* of my births! what? ugh. she swore she wouldn’t miss this one! oh well. i still love her. i love her weird amounts. anyway… that perfect hospital swaddle… the smell of frankincense and lavender… and aaaall the first snuggles. all of it, so fresh! and such a whirlwind to think back on, although soon enough it will be a distant blur.

and now, these days and nights, i love the tiny cuddles with you, the wee hours of sleepy, sleepy bonding, and your heavenly newborn smell. i love the way i can rub my hands over your little legs and they still feel exactly like they felt sticking out beneath my ribs less than two weeks ago. i love the way you can’t help but snuggle no matter what position you’re in. i love how you wrap your little feet around each other, or around my arm… or how you push them against your blanket or sleep gown the way you used to push them against the side of my belly. i love how patient you are with me. i love how your sister is ridiculously in love with you, and that she honestly cannot keep her hands or lips away from you. at all. i love that you’re the sweetest boy on earth, and i can’t wait to find out all the other little details that i love about you, because i know how much fun every single age will be.

but for now! i’m just soaking up your precious newness. we all are. we’re kinda just a little bit obsessed and in love. you are one charming and precious little bambino, and we are so much more complete now that we have you! family of four! yay!

WE LOVE YOU, ROCCO!

[ps. you can thank your great, great grandfather scioscia from naples for your awesome name!]

[and our very first fam of four shots thanks to gaga :)]