Raven's Story: 2 Weeks

Friday, Oct 18th

Dear Raven,

I'm sitting on the couch with you beside me, cozily asleep in your bassinet.  It's hard to believe that a little over two weeks have passed since you made your dramatic arrival.  Mommy is so very grateful that you are here with me.

I'm sorry, baby girl, that your first week on Earth was so rough.  All parents ever want to do is keep their children safe and Mommy wishes I could have given you just a little more time to grow.  When we found out a little girl was joining our family we bought a pair of shoes for your first Christmas tree ornament (a tradition started with your brother).  Your Daddy brought the shoes after you were taken to the NICU and we each carried one the week that you were in the hospital as a way to stay connected to you.  Daddy also wore his hospital bracelet all week long.  It was so hard to have you here but not with us all the time.  One of your nurses said that baby girls are fighters.  And, you are.  You were anxious to get here and you fought hard to grow strong and come home to us.

When you were discharged from the NICU you weighed 6 lbs, 6 oz.  At your 2-week check yesterday you are now up to 6 lbs, 13 oz (10th percentile).  You are also 20.75 inches long (75th percentile).  Tall and skinny, just like your brother!  So far head is in the 25th percentile, so we will see if you also end up with the big head.

You and your big brother's baby photos will never be mixed up.  You are as dark as he is fair.  However, you have equally wonderful hair.  It is so dark, and sticks straight up into a little faux-hawk, especially when it is clean.  You have pretty olive skin and big dark eyes.  It will be fun in the next few months to see how much of this you keep or if you go blond like Mommy did when she was a newborn!

These last 10 days have just been us settling in at home.  You sleep almost all the time, usually only waking up to eat.  It seems like once a day you will keep your pretty dark eyes open for an hour or two.  Mommy and Daddy love trying to catch your attention during these times, although you seem much more interested in gazing around us at lights or maybe angels.  Your brother, Ryder, is warming up to the idea of you being around.  When you cry he likes to tell me you are hungry and will occasionally give you kisses to help you feel better.  He likes throwing away diapers, although he doesn't want to help change you because "she might poop on me."

So, why does Ryder think you will poop on him?  Well, a couple days ago, Mommy was changing your diaper and had just lifted your legs up to wipe you off.  With no warning at all, you squirted out a giant yellow poop!  Face, chest, arms, you pretty much covered Mommy.  As your daddy said:  "[Mommy] looked like a bank robber that got hit by security dye.  It was rather impressive really."  I wish we could have gotten a picture, but Mommy was only half dressed as I had just finished feeding you.  I had to take a shower to get it off my body and out of my hair.  Hopefully, this means that we have paid our "blow out" dues for a while.  It also give us a gross, embarrassing story to share!

Apart from silly poop stories, and lack of sleep because you like to eat every 3 hours, you are a really mellow baby.  It feels like you are still growing, and need a lot of rest to catch up.  Mommy is enjoying the baby snuggles.  So are Granni and Daddy!  It is good for my heart to have you in my arms.

I love you my littlest angel.  Thank you for being mine.
Mommy