Dear Baby C,
Welcome to our family! Your arrival was quite a surprise and
definitely beyond what we could have hoped or imagined. Your first mother and
aunt messaged me a couple of days after you were born to let me know you had
arrived. Although you were born about 6 weeks too soon and came in an emergency
sort of way, you’re healthy and beautiful in every way. You came home weighing
5.5 pounds and yesterday the doctor said you are already up to 6 pounds 11
ounces! Your Bubbie and I were able to bring you home from the hospital 10 days
after you were born. We had to spend some extra time with you in the NICU to make
sure we were ready for you and you were ready for us. You’ve been home for 11
days now and have fit right in.
One of the first things I whispered in your ears was that we
have a crazy beautiful family and I was happy to welcome you to it. We’ve heard
from your first mom that she’s hoping you can stay with us and be a forever
part of our family. She wants you to be in a stable family and grow up with
your sister. We want that too. We have court January 5 and will know more about
what is going on after that date.
Speaking of your sister…Sam is so excited you’re here. She
had a little cold when you first came home so she had to wait a few days to be
able to hold you. She was patient and was SO excited when she finally got to
hold you and kiss your hands. She knows you have the same Gigi. She doesn’t
quite understand all that that means but she knows you are her sister and she
loves you. Most every night when I ask her her three special questions she says
what she’s most looking forward to about tomorrow is holding and seeing you.
When I ask her what she wants to teach you to do she says “clap and jump on the
jump-o-line.” Santa brought us a trampoline for Christmas. We’ll try to take
good care of it so she can teach you to jump on it when you’re ready.
You’ve also met your other siblings in our home. K loves you
too. He recognizes when you’re in the room and wonders where you are when he
can’t see you. He loves to kiss you. He wants to give you toys to play with but
we’re helping him know you’re not quite ready for toys. He has been with us
since he was a tiny baby. We hope to adopt him soon and make him a forever part
of our family. We’ve hit a roadblock with that process and there are a lot of
uncertain things about that. We’re still working and praying and waiting to see
what happens.
F is less concerned about you than K is. R is F’s baby sister and she
definitely knows you’re here. You’re her (and our) roommate. She’s still not
sure how she feels about having to go all night without a bottle when you get
two during the night. She’s been pretty chill about sharing our attention
though. We think you’re going to get along well. We’re not sure how much longer
R&F will be in our home. They have lots of other siblings (and one on the
way) and we’re hoping that soon they can move to a place where they can grow up
with more of their biological siblings.
C, we have a very strong village that has worked hard to
welcome you! We’ve had extra hands around to help and several friends to come
stay with you as we had to run errands or work. Friends have brought meals and
stayed for baby cuddles. Others have sent gift cards for meals or groceries.
Other have dropped off boxes of diapers and wipes and have made sure we have
clothes that fit you. Our family helped make Christmas happen even in the chaos
of five kids.
One thing that we know for sure is that babies rarely come to
us when it is easy and convenient. We weren’t entirely sure we would be able to
bring you home. You came to us in a season of waiting that is all about one
particular baby. That baby had an especially strong mother who wasn’t expecting
him at first either. Now, I’m fully aware you’re not baby Jesus (I’m pretty
sure the Son of God wouldn’t create so many dirty diapers) but you’re just as
much a sign of new life and hope for us. I’m sure one day I’ll tell you more
about it, but we were hoping for a new baby soon in our lives and you just
might have been the answer to that hope. We love you baby girl and are
delighted to be the ones that brought you home and get to introduce you to the
world. We do indeed have a crazy beautiful family and are so glad you’re a part
of it.
Love you,
Mama
Love you,
Mama
