November 15, 2009 - Dear Ted,

Dear Ted,
Alex has suddenly fallen for stuffed animals.

I'm sure it's directly or indirectly due to your influence. You were with him at the hospital when he was born. And you were near him many of his first days at home. Most likely more importantly, you've been with me for as long as anyone can remember and you helped create my beliefs that stuffed animals are magical.

The first thing I bought my two sons was the same thing I buy all my friends' new kids: a stuffed animal. Max got Flip. Alex got Lentil.

Up until the past few days, Alex didn't show much interest in stuffed animals. Then I put Max's Moxi in the mirror and suddenly Alex has become attached to stuffed animals.

Thanks to you Ted. I'm happy to continue the tradition!

November 4, 209 - Dear Alex,

Dear Alex,
Please sleep through the night. I'm tired and your mom is exhausted.

You go to sleep nursing on the couch about 7:30pm. Mama puts you in the crib about 8pm. About 8:30 you start to cry and mama either crawls into the crib with you or one of us brings you back to the couch. Within the hour, you're back in your crib sleeping alone. Two to three hours it starts again.

Most nights your mama ends up sleeping in the crib with you. Sometimes I find the two of you have joined your brother in his bed.

One night last week you slept four straight hours. That's a rarity.

I'm tired. She's exhausted.

Please, please, please sleep five hours?

November 4, 2009 - Dear Alex

Dear Alex, Today I decided that you are a walker. You walked from the bedroom to the kitchen, stopping and standing in the living room to say hi to me before continuing your walk to mama. You don't walk all the time or perhaps even most of the time. Today you proved you can walk when you want to.