Dear Clare,
Welcome to the world,
baby girl!!
You were born Friday,
December 5, and from the get-go you've been this bundle of perfection! Your
long fingers and your ten little toes, your button nose-and that great
hair!
The doctor wasn't sure
at first if you were going to come into the world on your own. She thought she
might need to do surgery (c-section) to get you out of your mommys tummy, and
she also thought that maybe your shoulders were going to be really wide and she
might have to break one of your bones if she didn't do the surgery. But, early
evening Friday, she said, wait and see, so we all did…
Your mommy was a
champ! They gave her some medicine to see if it would help you come out on your
own, and, viola, about 3 hours later, Dr. Hall said she was ready for your
mommy to start pushing you into the world!
Clare, your daddy, who
I've known since the day he was born ( though I don't remember it, I hadn't
even had my first birthday yet!) – your daddy was as calm and confident as he's
ever been. He was there for whatever your mom needed- first, driving fast to
the hospital, then home, then back, then ice chips, getting nurses to check on
your mom, you name it, he got it. Apparently, your daddy is a grown up!
This may seem obvious to you sweet girl, but to me, it’s a newsflash I need to
sit down for.
About ten minutes
after you were here, he came into the waiting room, all smiles, all 6 feet of
him, a strong and brave new daddy! I was jumping up and down, "she's here,
she's here!" We have waited for you a while, Clare, and those last 24
hours you were in your mommy’s tummy, well, you really made her wait!
Oh, the joy that filled everyone! Catherine Clare Robinson is here! Your CC was maybe the most excited of all! She came to the waiting room from the hall before Gentry had come to tell us the news. "I think I heard her cry!!! I think she's here!!!" She was SO ready to meet you she stayed outside the hospital room just hoping to hear you, sweet girl!
Your other grandmother, who doesn't have a grandmother nickname
yet, was so very proud of your daddy!! And she's always, always proud of your
mom, her "Angel Amy" as she calls her!
It was a tough day,
this happy day, without your grandfather, Pops. But your grandmother was
strong, and your daddy, and we are always so thankful for the understanding and
joy that CC and Gunner bring us.
Without a doubt, I
know your Pops was watching over you and your mom as you made your way here.
Remember the doctor’s worries I mentioned earlier? Well, you came out with no
problems. No broken bones, no c section! All of the concerns the doctor had,
poof, they were gone. Lots of angels looking after you, my love! (You had
a slight fever when you got here, so the nurse gave you some medicine, but it
was nothing unusual.)
You weighed 7 lbs 14
oz and I think your exact time of birth was 10:39. Did you know we all took
bets to guess what day you'd arrive? Your due date was December 6. I picked
that day, and Drew did, too! Your dad was giving your mom a hard time, saying
that you’d be late just like she “always is” – but you were right on time, even
early! The winner was Gunner, who predicted December 5, and beautiful, he said.
He was right on both accounts! Here you are, as beautiful and as peaceful as
ever.
Holding you for the
first time was better than I could have ever imagined. My brother and one of my
very best friends MADE you! You are theirs and they are yours and you are OURS.
Welcome to the crazy club! (no badges needed)
Your cousin is in my
tummy now, and I'm so very thankful that God planned for y'all to be born just
months apart. If I didn't have a baby in my tummy, I might be tempted to dash
to my car right this second with you in my arms, and take you home with me! You
are just so perfect!
But, you remind me of
your mama already, thus you must stay here. You're very alert, you already lift
your head on your own to look around. What kind of three-day-old baby lifts and
turns her own head?!
Clare, it's a crazy,
mad, messy, beautiful world that you were just born into. Your parents have
known great joy, amazing love, and tremendous loss. You will likely know all
these things too, at different times of your life. And I pray you'll also know
incredible hope - the kind of hope that comes from new life, from beginnings,
from joining families together. I pray you continue to know the incredible hope
you’ve brought to all of us, sweet Clare!
We are all so in love
with you and so in awe of this miracle in my arms right now! May you grow up
knowing how loved and cared for you are, baby girl. I can't imagine a child
born to a better team than the mom and dad you've got, and all the people they’ve
got, loving on them, and thus, you.
I love you, Clare, so
very much!
Eskimo kisses,
Courtney
Your Co-Godfather #1 approves of this letter.
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