Dear Millie: Month Three – A Luxury Handbag Lover’s Journey into Motherhood

A Letter to Millie at Three Months

Megs Mahoney Dusil

35 Comments

Feb 22, 2017

Dear Millie,

Yesterday marked your three-month birthday, and over the past month you have changed in so many small but meaningful ways. Over the past month, you transformed in countless ways, and your little personality began to emerge. You are patient with us as we figure things out, and we feel lucky for that.

Discovering Independence and Sleep Habits

This month, I discovered that you truly value your independence. That may sound surprising for such a little baby, but it is unmistakably true. You continue to sleep well, but we noticed you began struggling to fall asleep and would cry beforehand. We keep saying, “She’s just fighting it, she’s so tired! ” But the truth is that you are, in your own way, fighting us. The typical image of a baby being cradled and rocked to sleep—that’s not your style. You are happy for us to help you settle and make sure you feel calm, but you seem to prefer being placed in your crib so you can soothe yourself. It’s endearing, but sometimes it makes me long for the days you would sleep on my chest. Now we hold you facing outward, give you a little space, and then lay you down. You move your head back and forth and sometimes “talk” until you drift off. You move your head from side to side, sometimes “talk” to yourself, and then drift off.

Exploring Hands and Sensory Play

You also discovered your hands this month, and you are fascinated by them. You spend a lot of time crossing and intertwining each little finger, then sucking on your entire hand and fist. It is a little funny, because you don’t always seem to enjoy the experience—you sometimes gag yourself—but you persist with impressive determination. I’ve offered you various pacifiers, and each time you act as if I’m offering something unpleasant. I have offered you several, and you often react as if I have handed you something quite disagreeable. In the past few days, you’ve also realized your hands can do interesting things like touch and feel objects, and you love it. Instead, you seem much happier with your own hand.

Smiles, Bonding, and Growth Spurts

You love to smile and smirk, but you don’t give your smiles away freely. When I hold my hand near yours, you reach out with such focus, and the concentration on your face is absolutely adorable. You like to observe people first and decide whether they are worthy of one. We still spend a lot of time together since I haven’t arranged for a nanny or daycare yet, and we haven’t started bottle feeding, so there’s plenty of mama and Millie time. Fortunately for me, you are very generous with your smiles when I come to get you after a nap, and seeing your face shift from sleepy to delighted fills my heart completely. Many people have told me it only gets better as your personality develops, and this third month was especially rewarding. That means plenty of mama-and-Millie time, and I treasure it. Every time I woke to feed you, I cherished those moments, but now when you look at me and smile or “talk,” the bond is much deeper.

There is something especially magical about this month because we are beginning to interact in a much more meaningful way. Now you look at me, smile at me, and “talk” to me, and it feels like our bond is growing every day. Dada traveled to NYC for work that same week, and while you and I managed fine with help from grandma and grandpa, we both ended up exhausted. You also went through your three-month growth spurt this month, which meant you wanted to eat constantly and woke more often at night than you did during your first week home. I played multiple instruments growing up, but it was never my strength. You adore it when grandma plays the piano for you, and she and I both think you may have a real interest in music. It makes a loud noise when wound up, and I initially thought it might bother you, but you seem to enjoy it.

Venturing Out and a Luxury Shopping Tale

You also love the cradle at grandma and grandpa’s house, a family heirloom brought from Hungary by your great-grandparents. After your first round of vaccines this month, we began taking you out in public a bit more often. A funny story: we took you into Hermès, and our usual sales associate wasn’t there. You came with us to lunch with friends in Miami and then on a little shopping excursion. It seems you were introduced early to the world of luxury handbag hunting. I asked whether they had any Birkins or Kellys, and the answer was a very quick no. You’ve sat through lunches and dinners with barely a sound, allowing mama and dada to be out and about a bit more.

Resemblance and Reflections

You remain a very easy baby in public. You rarely cry, and when you are tired you make the sweetest little whimper that can mean hunger, fatigue, or both. I love that you look like him, but I’m still waiting for someone to say you look like me too. You’ve sat through lunches and dinners with barely a peep, and that calm little presence makes these outings feel almost effortless. This past month has been the most fun yet, and while some days and moments are challenging, the reward far exceeds the hard times. The resemblance is strong in your features, in your expressions, and especially in the little smiles we now call “Vladi smiles.

Love,

Mama

What a beautiful girl <3 This is such a wonderful thing to do, she’s going to love reading these someday!

I’ve heard that babies often resemble their fathers at first and then begin to show more of their mother’s features later on, so I am holding onto that hope. I hope she loves reading these when she’s older! This has been your most fun month yet.

Mama and dada love you dearly, and I cannot wait to see what next month brings. I can’t figure out if she’s got a secret or if she’s thinking spilling a secret on you & Vlad…watch her! *Thank you, we think she’s pretty cute!

*I know I love that little face!! I hope she loves reading these when she’s older!

OMG What an adorable little munchkin!! She’s so cute!!

*Megs I love the expression on her face in that third picture.

Too adorable for words. This is so beautifully written! She makes the cutest faces and many are mischievous!

*How’s your little one doing?! *OMG What an adorable little munchkin!!

He’s doin well! It’s such a game changer when they start having those smiles! Melts my heart

*I loved reading this and I can relate to so much, as my first baby boy was also born Nov.

I’m glad you are enjoying it so much – it’s amazing how much they change so quickly! Thank you for the wonderful pics and your wonderful writing of her growing up.

I know, so much changes so fast! I’m happy to share and love that so many of you have been part of this journey ?

It’s such a game changer when they start having those smiles! I am so happy for both of you!

*She is just the cutest little thing ever! *Thank you so much!!

Completely adorable little thing, mashallah!!!…???

I’m happy to share and love that so many of you have been part of this journey ?

*Beautifully written and such an adorable baby. I am so happy for both of you!

So happy to have you all be a part of this – you’re like family to me!

I’ll give her lots of kisses! She is a beauty!

Thank you, we think so too

Great photos. Gorgeous baby girl.

*Beautifully written and such an adorable baby.

Aww Millie!!! <3

Awww Millie!!! <3

She can’t wait to meet you!

*So happy to have you all be a part of this – you’re like family to me! I wish I had written these letters for my two kids when they were born! She is a beauty! They are teenagers now, it’s difficult to write so sweetly about teenagers..

That grin is so hilarious!

*She can’t wait to meet you!

She is adorable and I so enjoy reading these letters – I’m expecting my first in the next few weeks and these are such a sweet perspective into what is ahead of us!

I wish I had written these letters for my two kids when they were born! I’m still stuck, but leaning towards a Goyard tote… but would love to know what you chose!

They are teenagers now, it’s difficult to write so sweetly about teenagers.. Before you know it your little one will be here!!

*These are what I’ll look back on when we’re in the teenage years and I’m at my wits end and she thinks I’m the worst!! *She is adorable and I so enjoy reading these letters – I’m expecting my first in the next few weeks and these are such a sweet perspective into what is ahead of us! I typically have a bag with lots of extra items for her in the car and then carry the essentials in my messenger bag in case we need it. I’m still stuck, but leaning towards a Goyard tote… but would love to know what you chose!

*I haven’t been able to find PurseBlog on the main website so I did a search and found this. Before you know it your little one will be here!! So happy to have found this. *I will write all about my baby bag – I think it changes from newborn stage to when they are eating solids (or if you plan to have bottles while your little one is still little). I typically have a bag with lots of extra items for her in the car and then carry the essentials in my messenger bag in case we need it. I’m so happy you have a girl so that you have someone to pass your beautiful bag collection too (let’s hope she’s into bags).

*I haven’t been able to find PurseBlog on the main website so I did a search and found this. Let me make sure we display it more prominently!

I’ve been wondering about your baby since I saw your pregnancy announcement! I do hope she’ll like bags or at least appreciate them!

Megs and Vlad, your baby girl is so cute!!

*She is super expressive in general! I’m so happy you have a girl so that you have someone to pass your beautiful bag collection too (let’s hope she’s into bags).

Let me make sure we display it more prominently!

*Congratulations on your bundle of joy! *She’s all sorts of Vlad right now but I am sure she will keep changing – she is stubborn in many ways like I am so far ;). I randomly thought of you today and was wondering if you gave birth yet. Her eyes are so expressive! Enjoy her, this is such a great age. Always fun to try to figure out what she’s thinking!

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