Hi Baby Sister Emme,

We spent two nights in the hospital after your easy birth.  The first day, you nursed great, but started having some problems latching on during the second day.  That caused some tears and frustration from both of us.  You definitely have a pair of lungs on you and a loud voice to let us know your displeasure in not being fed fast enough.  You initially failed your hearing test in one ear, but they said that it could have just been from fluid being in there, so they would retest the next day.  Thankfully when they retested, you passed with flying colors!  You also did the scary choking on mucus thing that your brother did when he was a newborn.  It is terrifying, but ultimately you just had to work all those secretions out of your lungs.  We had lots of visitors to the hospital that first couple of days- your Grammy and Aunt Katie, Elyse, Lucas, and Desiree, your Auntie Brooks and Ben, and my whole office from work came to visit you- Dr. Akin, Jessica, Bernice, Stephanie, Tanisha, Lisa, and Alison.

We were supposed to be released Tuesday about noon, but I had some chest pains and shortness of breath so they ordered a chest x-ray and EKG on me.  Something came up a little strange on the EKG, so Dr Simms wanted a cardiologist to come consult with me. Soooo, after hours of tests and talking with people, it was decided that I was okay, it was caused from muscle strain from labor.  Finally about 6pm we were released from the hospital.    We were so happy to break out of that joint and go home so that we could officially start our life as a family of 4.

When we walked in the door at home, we were surprised with a decorated table full of presents and balloons from your Grammy and Aunt Katie.  How fun!  Then Elyse brought Lucas home, and she also surprised us with a big dinner from Red Lobster.  How sweet! We loved all the help we could get!   Your big brother was so excited that you were home in his house, and wanted to hold you immediately.    Ever since the day that he first met you, he hasn’t wanted to be separated from you.  Every morning he runs out and says “Where’s my baby sister? Where’s Emme?”  He gets really mad if we don’t let him hold you.    If you cry, he pats you and says “it’s otay, it’s otay, don’t cry!  My here. My here.”  He  loves to have you sit in his lap while he watches tv.   He loves to give you kisses. All. The. Time.   You couldn’t possibly have a brother who loves you more than Lucas Walter does.  In fact, you couldn’t have a Mom, a Dad, or a brother that loves you more than we all do.

For the first week and a half or so of your life you had your days and nights completely mixed up, which was not fun.  Not fun at all for your Daddy and I.  You would sleep all day, then about 8:30pm your eyes would pop open and you’d be AWAKE.    We struggled through that for a while, and I am very proud and happy to report that after 1.5 weeks, you have actually let us sleep for about 5 hours at night.  That’s pretty amazing for a newborn!

Anyways, where was I…. the first morning we woke up at home, I had you and Lucas both laying with me watching Curious George (Lucas’ favorite).  It was so surreal…. my TWO kids, watching cartoons.  Unbelievable.  How did I get so lucky to have your Dad as the most incredible husband and father in the whole world, the coolest little boy, and now a beautiful, sweet daughter?  It’s hard to believe it’s even real.  I know there are always going to be rough times to go along with the good times, but I count my blessings each and every day.  Your Daddy even surprised me with roses, a sweet card, and a scrumptious treat he baked to honor your birth.  He’s a keeper.

Continuing on with your story…the day after you got home we went to the pediatrician.  My milk had not come in yet, and you had lost too much weight (from 7lbs 9.5 oz at birth down to 6lbs 10 oz).  You were also very jaundiced. Your bilirubin level was a 15, and at 17 they require you to go under UV lights.  So it was decided we would supplement with formula until my milk came in.  Of course I was very upset that we had to supplement, but in the end wanted what was best for you.  All of a sudden with a full belly you became a different baby.  You had been rather fussy, but now were just happy to be full.  Funny, most babies are born lethargic and sleepy, but you came out starving and wanting to eat a Thanksgiving feast.  During this 24 hour period that we supplemented with formula, I used my breastpump to get out any milk I could, and syringe fed it to you- every single drop!  After that 24 hours my milk came in with a vengeance (now I have too much! ha!) and we switched you back to exclusively breastmilk.  We took you back to the pediatrician the very next day, and you had already gained 4 oz, and your bilirubin levels had dropped to 12.5 yay!!  You are now one well fed, and content baby.    One positive that came from the whole 24 hours of formula supplementation was that your Daddy got to feed you your very first bottle.  And he loved it, he even cried (I have a photo to prove it!)  He says that it’s so special to him because he loves to feel like he’s giving you life that he’s not normally a part of.  I can tell you with 100% certainty that you are going to have your Dad wrapped around your little finger.

At home we had more visitors that first week, you got to meet your Auntie Julie and Eric, and new friend Eli.  Auntie Julie brought you presents and also has brought us dinner several times.  Yay! Your Daddy loves when he doesn’t have to cook (oh, by the way, you don’t know this yet- but your incredible Dad does all the grocery shopping and cooking for our family).   Elyse also brought us dinner again that first week.  We’re lucky to have such good friends!  Your Grammy came to snuggle you for a couple days- complete with more presents and groceries!  Your Aunt Jera got stuck in a snow storm in TN and couldn’t come to meet you, so she sent you up presents too that first week.

So my precious baby girl, that about wraps up the end of the month you were born.  We love to just stare and stare at you.  My absolute favorite thing is to snuggle you on my chest.  I know we are spoiling you rotten by all the snuggles we give, but I just don’t want to put you down.  Both your Daddy and I will actually pick you up from a peaceful sleeping nap just so we can cuddle you more.  These moments go so fast, I don’t want to lose even one of them before you are too big to snuggle up to me anymore.   I can’t believe you’re here.  I can’t believe you’re mine.  You are so sweet, and beautiful, and cuddly.  I wish you would stay this size forever.

I love you to the moon and back Emelyn Catherine Atkinson.

Love Always, Your Mama.