The Night Before the Beginning...

Dear Hope,

This is it!  Tonight is our last night together in the hospital.  Tonight is MY last night as a maternity patient.  (Famous last words)  And, most importantly, tonight is the night before the beginning of the rest of our lives as a family.

As I sit here and watch you sleeping...finally, after a rough hour or so... I can't help but wonder who you are.  Will you be anything like the rest of us?  Or will you be completely and uniquely your own person?  I can't wait to find out as you reveal yourself to us.

Over the last couple days, you met your Godparents.  Two people that will be there for you to guide you in your faith and in life.  Daddy and I chose my brother... your Uncle Tom...

 and Miss Sara...

Over the last few days I have so enjoyed my alone time with you.  I'm grateful for the bonding experience of nursing - and you are a natural, thank God!!  And you and I both love the closeness of "Kangaroo Care" where I hold you in only a diaper against my bare chest.  The two of us already have a strong bond - and I hope it only gets stronger as you grow.

We will all have so much to tell you, Hope.  About the brother that came before you and the excitement we felt when we knew you were on your way to us.  

But something tells me you may already know.  

Tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new chapter in a whole new book, Hope.  Let's get a good night's sleep so we're ready to conquer our new beginning.  

What?  You find a "good night's sleep" amusing, do you?  

Great.  So, this is how it's going to be, eh?