Dear Noah...

I've been wanting to write you a letter and it just so happens that you and big sister are both napping at the same time while big brother is at school (yes, the planets are lined up just so!), so now seemed like the perfect time. I wanted to write to you about how I am feeling during your early days so one day, when you can read, you can know what your arrival meant to our family.

When I was pregnant with your sister Grace, I had picked out a girl name and a boy name before I knew that she was a girl. A week or so after she was born, I told your Daddy that I still felt like there was a little Noah to join our family one day. We were thrilled that Grace was a girl and she brought a whole lot of sunshine to our family, but I knew our family was not yet complete. I found out the day after my 35th birthday that we were expecting another baby and I knew from the minute the second line appeared, that my little Noah was on his way.

My pregnancy with you was BUSY!! Mommy and daddy decided shortly after we learned you were on your way, that we were out of room in our current house. We have a three bedroom house, no "spare rooms," with three kiddos and mommy and daddy both working from home we were bursting at the seams. In November of 2006 we made the decision to build a new house and started going through the steps to do so. In December, we started the preparations to put our old house on the market and there was MUCH to do! In addition to all of that going on, we had Grace to chase after. With your older brother and sister, I had everything prepared way in advance, but I just didn't have time to do so with you! Throughout the majority of the time I was pregnant with you, I was the healthiest I'd ever been during a pregnancy. My blood pressure was better than it had been, my weight gain was lower, no gestational diabetes, no placenta previa. I just knew I was going to make it the whole 40 weeks with you, so thought I had plenty of time left to get things in order. But when I was 35 weeks pregnant, I got sick again and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital prior to your birth. Luckily, between an emergency trip by Nana to Babies R Us and a visit from some very nice ladies from church who threw a baby shower right in the hospital room, we got the necessities taken care of and we were able to dress you in blue for your trip home from the hospital instead of some of Grace's pink hand-me-downs.

You came into the world, healthy and screaming! Being a 36-weeker, I was warned that you may not cry at first and that you may need some intervention from the NICU right after birth, but just like your older brother and sister, you allayed any fears mommy may have had about that from the very second you were born. The first time I tried to nurse you, I couldn't get you to wake up to eat. I called the nurse in and she noticed that your little tummy was FULL of fluid (which is a pretty common thing for c-section babies, especially when their mommies had polyhydramnios). It was no wonder, you weren't all that interested in eating! She took you off to suction some of that out and our next attempt at feeding was a success. You have been a pro ever since!

On the fourth day after you were born, we were able to leave the hospital. From there, we headed to Nana and Papa's house. Our house went on the market while we were in the hospital and with me recovering from surgery and two children under 18 months, we just didn't think we'd be able to keep it in show condition. When we arrived, your sister was so happy to see us! She tries really hard to say "Baby" but right now it sounds a whole lot like "Daddy." Luckily, we are able to tell who she is talking about by who she is pointing to. Unfortunately, she is still learning what "gentle" means, so you've been scratched on the head a time or two. Nana and Papa have been really helpful at keeping her occupied so we can keep you safe. We know it won't be long until you are able to hold your own with her!

You've been with us almost a month now and already I can't remember what life was like before you arrived. You have just fit right into our family. Already, I can tell that you are going to be one determined little fellow! While you have been an easy baby to take care of so far, if you don't like something, you do not hesitate to let us know! If we're holding you in the wrong position, you will wriggle and twist yourself until you get into an acceptable one. You despise diaper changes, but now that we can put you into the water, you are loving baths. You LOVE to eat and do it often. You are the first of my babies to take a pacifier. You are very alert for your age and spend quite a bit of time just gazing into my eyes. You have me absolutely wrapped around your little finger and while they say you can't spoil a newborn, I am surely testing that theory. So far your hair is still dark, but only time will tell what color your eyes will be. Right now, they are dark gray so mommy and daddy like to tease each other about their final color.

We look forward to watching you grow and develop over the years. You complete our family, sweet boy. We love you.

~Mommy