Happy Two Week Birthday!

Dear Nolan,

You are two weeks old today! Your Mom took you for your two-week check-up, and you had grown in both inches and pounds. The doctor told your Mom to begin putting you on your stomach sometimes. That way you can get lots of practice with lifting your head. I'm sure it won't take you long to "catch on."

We get to see each other in three days--I can't wait! Also, you get to meet your Great-Grandma Clark (my mother). She is visiting with me this week. She is looking forward to holding her first great-grandchild!

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Getting Out of the House!

Dear Nolan,

I talked with your Mom on the phone yesterday, and she had finally been able to get out of your driveway and venture into town. The winter weather in Ashe and Watauga counties can sometimes make traveling impossible--unless you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. The dirt road leading back to your house is especially tricky in bad weather. Yesterday, the temperatures began to climb and the road conditions improved so that you and Mom were able to get out of the house and take a little field trip! Your Mom dressed you in a bear outfit that I bought you before you were born. You looked so cute in it!!! You had your first trip to the grocery store, and your Mom said that you were such a good boy! Today, you and Mom went into town and had lunch with your Dad. Nolan, you aren't even two weeks old yet, and you are already out and about town having a good time! Isn't that wonderful?

I will try to write more tomorrow.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Your Dad

Dear Nolan,

It is getting late, but I just had to write. I've missed you today. Let's talk about your Dad.

I have known your Dad for two years. Because he is married to your Mom, he is called my "son-in-law." I want you to know that I love your Dad just as if he were my own son. Nolan, your Dad is such a good man. He is a hard worker, and he is passionate about his work. He loves your Mom so much, and he helps her any way that he can. Sometimes he helps her by cooking or by taking care of you. When your Dad looks at your Mom or looks at you, love is all over his face! Your Dad is a kind and compassionate man. That means he cares deeply for people and puts other people's feelings before his own. Your Dad is easygoing and good-natured. He doesn't anger easily or talk in a loud or boisterous manner. Nolan, your Dad is so intelligent. . .a genius mathematician!! Your Dad is a gentleman, meaning that he is gracious and polite, and also meaning that he is a gentle man--soft-spoken with a kind heart and a sweet spirit. You know in many ways, your Dad reminds me of my Dad. I wish you could have known him. He was a special person.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Home from the Hospital

Dear Nolan,

Okay, let's continue with the story. Your Dad stayed ALL NIGHT at the hospital with you and your Mom. He didn't want to be away from either of you for very long! I can only imagine how special those first few moments must have been--Mom, Dad, and Nolan all together as a family for the first time!

On Tuesday, the doctor checked you and said you could go home. You were home by lunchtime. I still think that is pretty amazing! Your Mom asked if I could be at your house by 1:30 p.m. because your Dad had some errands to run. "Of course I can!" I gladly accepted the invitation--I couldn't wait to see you again. I brought some vegetable soup, but your Mom and Dad had already eaten. Nolan, your Mom was so well-prepared for your birth! She cooked all of these wonderful meals ahead of time and froze them. That way, after you were born, she could spend more time with you and less time cooking. She is one smart Mom!

When I walked in, I saw you asleep in your little bassinet. We stood over that bassinet many times in the weeks before you were born just trying to imagine you in it! To finally see you there all wrapped up in your receiving blanket, so happy to be home--well, let's just say that it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Your Dad ran some errands, and I stayed with you and your Mom. I finally got to hold you for the first time. Holding you for the first time was different from holding your Mom for the first time--not better, just different. You felt so soft and warm and delicate. You were completely at ease in my arms. It was the most comfortable feeling ever! I didn't want to put you down.

Later in the afternoon, while your Mom fed you, I stayed busy by cleaning up the kitchen, sweeping the floor, and making up the bed. I had to do something with all of my nervous energy!! You insisted on falling asleep when your Mom tried to feed you, so she placed you carefully back in your bassinet. I convinced her to stretch out on the futon to rest for a few minutes. I sat with her and told her how much I loved her. She talked about how beautiful you were, and I could see that she had fallen totally in love with you!

Speaking of being totally in love with you, let's talk about your Dad. Yes, your Dad will be the topic of my next post--maybe tonight before I go to bed. Right now, I've got to do some school work. Your GiGi is a school teacher!!!

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

Your Birthday Story

Dear Nolan,

Okay, where were we? I had just finished the whole birthing story. Now, let's talk about your MiMi and Papa Reif. You were maybe an hour old when MiMi and Papa Reif arrived at the hospital. They drove from Charlotte to see you!!

When MiMi saw you for the first time, she just cried out of pure joy! Her baby boy (your Dad) had a baby boy! Your Dad gave her a big hug, and it was just such a special moment for all of us. MiMi kept talking about how beautiful you were. She told us that your Dad had a head full of dark hair when he was born--just like you! After your Mom finished feeding you, it was time for you to meet your Papa Reif. He was thrilled to see you, and had his digital camera ready to begin taking pictures!! Nolan, because of you, we just couldn't stop smiling!

Papa Jack, Papa Reif, MiMi, and I all stood at the nursery window and watched as the nurse did what nurses do to little newborn babies. She undressed you, and bathed you, and gave you a shot (I couldn't watch!!). She also weighed you and measured you and washed your hair. I remember knocking on the glass to get her attention so we could find out how much you weighed and how long you were. She was happy to oblige. We stood there the longest time just gazing at you and falling more and more in love with you.

MiMi was so funny. She kept saying, "Look, it's a penis!" You see, your Uncle Michael and Aunt Kimille have four girls (your cousins), and MiMi hadn't seen a little baby penis in a long time! You are going to make so many wonderful memories with those little cousins.

We took turns taking pictures of each other and of you. We were as foolish as grandparents can be. People passing by just smiled and gave us that understanding nod. We were soon on our cell phones calling family and friends to share the news of your birth. Suddenly, I realized that my sleep loss didn't matter--I wasn't tired at all. Nolan, at that moment, I was so full of energy and so high on life. I have never felt younger!

The next time I write to you, I want to talk about several things. I want to talk about the day you came home from the hospital, and I want you to understand how much I love your Mom and Dad and how much they love you. You are a special blessing.

I love you sweet boy.

GiGi

One Week Old Today!

Dear Nolan,

I have so much that I want to tell you. I hardly know where to start. Let's just begin with your birthday! You were born on Monday, January 14, 2008 , at 11:14 a.m. You weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and you were 19 1/2 inches long. You had a head full of dark hair, and you were perfect in every way.

Your Mom called me around 10:40 the evening before you were born. She was having some uncomfortable contractions then. She said your Dad was in the shower and that she would call if they left for the hospital. Papa Jack and I were so excited. We had been waiting 9 months to see you! The doctor thought you might arrive on January 9, but you decided to take a little longer.

About an hour later, your Mom phoned to say that she and your Dad were on the way to the hospital. She told me not to worry, and she told me to wait for a phone call before we came. She thought it might be a "false alarm." Nolan, at that moment, I had so many emotions building up inside of me and so many thoughts going through my mind! I was happy, scared, excited, joyful, tense, anxious--I was actually laughing and crying at the same time!

In a few minutes, your Dad called and said that your Mom was ready for us to come to the hospital. He said that she was hooked up to a monitor, and they could watch the length and intensity of the contractions. How cool is that? In the background, I could hear your Mom say, "Tell her we are in Room 7." That's all I needed to hear. We were on our way to Boone, NC, Watauga Medical Center, 3rd Floor, Room 7!

I called your Aunt Emily to let her know that her sister was in the hospital. I could hear the excitement in her voice, as she told us that she would meet us there. Wow!!! It was really going to happen. On the way to the hospital, I prayed for God to keep you and your Mom safe, and I prayed that you would be strong and healthy. I prayed that your Dad would be courageous during your delivery into the world, and then I remembered what it was like when your Mom was born. Suddenly, 24 years ago was like yesterday. Scenes of Friday, December 2, 1983, at 6:01 a.m. came back clearly. . .but this time, it was my firstborn welcoming you into the world!!

I walked into Room 7 about 1:45 a.m. Your parents looked wonderful!! Your Dad was just amazing. He sat right by the bed holding your Mom's hand through every contraction. (Actually, the grip that your Mom had on your Dad's hand could be compared to the grip of a vice that your Dad might use at work to hold a piece of lumber in place!) I watched as he fed her ice chips, and when the pain was almost unbearable, your Dad would stand with his face inches from your Mom's to help her focus. Papa Jack, Aunt Emily, and Bradley (Emily's boyfriend) arrived shortly afterwards. We all stayed in the room with your Mom and Dad, until your Mom thought she might be more comfortable if we waited outside.

We moved to the 3rd Floor waiting room, and there we stayed ALL NIGHT. Your Dad would come out and give us updates, and sometimes we would go back to the Birthing Center and get updates from the nurses' station. I think we may have slept an hour or two, but it was hard to relax when we knew what was going on just down the hall! Around 6 a.m., your Mom got some special medicine that helped with her pain. That medicine is called "an epidural," and Nolan, when you are in labor, it becomes key to life--trust me.

At 9 a.m., your Dad came out and said that your Mom was dilated to 9 cm. He looked so happy but a little tired!! I went downstairs to the cafeteria and got him a cup of coffee, and Papa Jack gave him a newspaper so that he could have a keepsake from the day you were born! We knew it wouldn't be long before you were here! Your Dad went back to Room 7, and we continued to wait. Every time we heard footsteps coming down the hall, my heart would jump. We got a phone call from your MiMi and Papa Reif. They were on the way to the hospital and wanted to know if you were here yet! We all love you so much, Nolan.

Your Dad came out somewhere between 11:50 a.m. and 12 noon to let us know that you were here safe and sound. He said that you were feeding, and he said that your Mom was "amazing." We all hugged and started back to Room 7. As we turned, we saw several gentlemen standing nearby waiting on an elevator. They had big grins on their faces. They had just overheard our conversation and experienced the excitement of our news! They were the first of many people to offer congratulations on your birth!

Nolan, I wish there were words to explain what it was like to see you for the first time. I just know that I will never forget that feeling of seeing you and your Mom and Dad all together and knowing that I had become your grandmother--your GiGi.

I love you precious one. I will write more later.

GiGi