Hello Sweet Baby,
I wanted to tell you a special story about how God brought you to all those who love you so much. We got to take a unique journey to bring you into our family--and we are forever grateful for the way you've grown our hearts.
One day (January 28, 2016) Dad called me and said that someone had left him a very important message on his phone--it was the agency calling. They were saying that a young woman was interested in getting to know us. She was considering us to parent the baby boy she had been carrying for the last 39 weeks!
For the remainder of that day and the following day, it was impossible to focus on anything but that tiny, precious human being inside her belly. All I wanted to do was learn as much as I possibly could about him.
The next night (Friday), we got to talk to the woman. I nervously sat down for a phone conversation--one that was so important not to mess up.
"What if I'm awkward on the phone, Nicholas?" I asked your dad. "What should I even say? What if I come on too strong? I don't want to scare her away." ...my worries and rambling continued until your Dad intervened.
"You'll do great" he said, placing his hand on my arm.
My phone rang. The 1-800 number we used showed up on the screen and I knew it was her. The woman who might change our life forever. If only I could just be cool.
Our wonderful God intervened, and I had the most amazing conversation with the woman. She had the BEST laugh, we clicked instantly (over our mutual nervousness) and we talked for over an hour.
She kept saying..."you guys are just perfect".
I assured her we were anything but perfect, but I felt honored that she thought we were perfect for this nearly-due baby.
The baby that this stunning woman was carrying was you, and you made your entrance in to this world just two and a half days later.
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Sunday night I received an email with ultrasound photos of you.
As if the pictures weren't gift enough, the bottom of the email said that you were beginning to cause lower back pain and minor contractions. You probably would be making your entrance soon! She would call if she decided to go to the hospital.
I had already packed a suitcase for all of us--just in case. Your dad and I, hearts pounding, began researching plane tickets. If we got on the first flight out of Spokane, we could be to Missouri by 1pm. We talked and talked about you, we had too much excitement about your potential arrival to even consider sleeping.
We finally closed our eyes and drifted off, and soon my phone rang...
"Kristin, I'm on my way to the hospital..."
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! My head said. But out loud I only answered, "Okay, see you soon" and because I hadn't really fully awoken I hung up the phone.
It wasn't until I was in the shower and your dad was buying plane tickets that I realized how awful I handled that situation. I texted an apology, and prayed for her labor to go well. For her heart. For support.
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The plane ride was the longest ride of my life. And we had only gotten to Denver. Still so many hours to go...and you had already made your entrance.
We longed to meet you, to hold you, to tell you how much you were loved already.
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I called your Nana to give her an update. We were letting immediate family know about your arrival.
"Where is your layover?" she asked.
"Denver. When do you and Edward take off from Texas?" I asked.
"We're in Denver also!" she stated in disbelief.
Minutes later we were with your grandparents in the Denver airport discussing with excitement all that was to come. It wasn't planned, it was just God's handiwork.
An emotional sendoff led us to the last leg of the journey. After all the prayers, all the worries, and the nervousness about what-would-be....this was it. A couple hours and we'd get to meet you.
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We showed up at the hospital and were asked to wait for a minute in a room with a frozen lemonade dispenser, coffee.
That minute turned to ten, and your mama's patience and composure was starting to dwindle. I knew you were nearby and I started considering what I could do to lessen this wait, until the nurse came in to lead us to you.
You were sleeping soundly in the baby ward, perfectly wrapped in your hospital swaddle.
"This is him?" we asked...not believing that at last this moment had come.
"Yes." she answered.
I don't remember anyone else in the room at that moment except our little family. I remember your dad scooping you up in to his arms and talking to you. I remember the tears of joy. Your sweet newborn baby scent. I remember our faces touching and your little tiny hands. I remember hours and hours spent in that rocking chair...dad and I having to trade off every few minutes because we both wanted to hold you and love on your so badly. I remember immense joy and deep understanding that God had us in the palm of His hand all along.
I remember meeting the woman who carried you...she's a person I love with my whole heart. Not just for the gift she brought us, but for the relationship we were able to build over the next 2 days, and the way she held you, and how she proudly took my picture the first time I changed your diaper. I remember our family's first moments together in the hotel. How you cuddled on my chest in the hotel bed, soundly sleeping and nuzzling in closer. I remember your first bath, your sweet little noises, and how every moment seemed picture-worthy.
What a tremendous gift you are...and have been since that time.
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Soon you will be 6 months old.
Almost a half year, already?
We've had the best experience doing life with you. We love story time, bath time, feeding time, and the way you giggle and kick your legs when you play on the floor. We love how strong you are...that you're already mobile. You can't crawl, but you've learned that barrel rolling will get you places quickly. We love how much you adore the song we made up and sing to you about your name. We love the way music excites you, how you appreciate social settings, and how much you like sleeping in your crib. We love the way you stare up at the trees when we go on hikes and the way you reach out to touch peoples' faces when you meet them for the first time. We love your grunting noises and your adventurous taste buds.
We love you... and everything about you, and we're beyond blessed to parent such a perfect little boy.
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