Hi Alexander,
I can't believe you're already six weeks old. Ok, technically you're six weeks and three days old. Caring for you hasn't given me a whole lot of time to write. It seems like just yesterday we brought you home. You have grown so much! You were born at 7 pounds and 10 oz. At six weeks, you weigh 11 pounds by my weighing method. I weighed myself then added you and subtracted the difference. You're also so long! I can't measure that myself but I know you filled out your swaddle now and are able the pillows behind me when I nurse you. In the early days, you fit in the crook of my arm and now, you dangle off the end. You smile intentionally and still have no problem letting your dad and I know when you want our attention.
We had some adjusting to do this week. My six weeks of paid time off ended Wednesday and I had to decide whether to go back to work or take another six weeks off without pay. Initially, the plan was for me to take a full 12 weeks off. I figured if I am 37 and could not afford to take the time to bond with you then I seriously needed to evaluate my spending habits. Fortunately, I have a good nest egg built up, not only in cases of emergency but for your future. Then the coronavirus pandemic happened. Daddy was not working because the oil refinery is operating at a limited basis. I'm not complaining because it has been a silver lining to have daddy home with us the past six weeks. He loves on you so much. I decided to go back to work since we were still working from home until at least the end of July if not August. I also didn't have your daycare lined up until the end of July. Due to the pandemic, work gave me a few options. One option was to work 20 hours a week and use FMLA for 2/3 pay for 20 hours. After discussing it with your father, I decided on that option. This way, the whole family would still be covered by insurance and I would not have to tap into my savings to pay for it. Daddy was going to be home to help care for you too so it shouldn't be an issue to work four hours a day. Funny how things quickly changed though. I started back to work Thursday and Friday, he received a phone call that there was work at the refinery for the next two weeks. They are going to bring him back for the job and hopefully, that will snowball to more consistent jobs and he can stay on the payroll. If not, he can get back on unemployment. You, sir, are going to have to work with me on a good schedule so I can actually work.
Here is some BIG news. Mom and Dad are married! We got married Friday, June 5, 2020, at the Biloxi Visitors Center. We had planned to get married way before you were born but things just didn't work out that way. I'm glad to finally make it official. While the ceremony wasn't exactly as we planned, I am happy with the outcome. For years down the road, we can always point out to you where mom and dad tied the knot. I never wanted a traditional Vietnamese or even American style wedding. For one, my frugal self didn't feel the need to spend $50k to throw a party of hundreds of people I don't know, barely know or just didn't care for. That would be the Vietnamese style wedding. I'm sure you will be attending several of those growing up. I was thinking more along the lines of a backyard style wedding or a destination wedding with just your dad and I and perhaps one or two other people. I was also happy with just going out to the courthouse and getting married. Honestly, it's not where or how we were to be married. It's the promise your dad and I make to each other that day and living every day to fulfill that promise. I hope you grow up witnessing that.
Well that's it for now. I love you now and forever.
Mom
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