Dear Miryn,
I wanted to make sure and record some of my memories regarding your birth for you to read one day. I actually wrote things down on a note card last Friday so I wouldn't forget anything.
The Thursday night your mom went into labor was an odd night of weather. We live in Wenatchee and it was windy, rainy, and thundering and lightning on this evening. I talked with your Grandma Debi, like we always do on Thursday nights, and when we hung up I said, "I hope I see you this week-end sometime in the hospital". We both agreed to that.
This was also the first Thursday night of the NFL Football season and your Daddy and Uncle Dave and cousin Logan are in a Fantasy Football League this year. Uncle Dave's favorite player, Peyton Manning, was playing tonight. At one point, your mom texted Dave with a message of how well Peyton played (he had 7 touchdowns this night, tying an NFL record). Dave texted her back to stop watching the game and start walking up and down the stairs. That must have been just enough to do the trick...
I got a text at 12:40 AM that your mom had been admitted into Kadlec Hospital. And I quickly texted back that I'd come in the morning and to please text me if you arrived sometime in the middle of the night. Looking back, I really wish I would have just came at that time. Then at 1:23 AM I received a picture of your Dad in his "birth coach" shirt and I texted back that I was debating on driving now. Your Dad (I think) texted me, "she's at 3cm. the morning will be fine...don't worry about it". Then I moved downstairs to the couch to sleep in case I'd get more texts that night. I fell back asleep.
My alarm was set for 5:45 and when it went off I considered texting Sam and Nate right away. I figured maybe they'd be sleeping or laboring, and I didn't want to disturb them if that was the case. I went ahead and started getting ready and getting your cousins ready for school. I was just planning to get Harper off to pre-school and just wait for official word that you had made your arrival. I know about this time things got a little hectic in the delivery room, but I don't know all the details of that.
Finally, at 7:41 I received the text that I wanted to see from your Aunt Amy, "she's here". I was actually loading up the kids and yelling at Dave, "Samee had the baby" and "I"m driving straight there after I drop the kids off". Presley was begging me to let her skip school so she could come. Amy texted me a picture right away and I passed it back as I was driving for the kids to see their new cousin.
I was on the road by about 8:10 with Harper. I asked her what she wanted to name the baby and first she said, "baby" and then she said, "Harper" and then she settled on "Juliette and Rosie".
This is the way the sky looked coming into Richland.
We made it to Kadlec at about 10:30 and I saw your parents new car as I was looking for a spot. I think it's hilarious that at midnight when they got to the hospital, your dad thought to put up the sun shade on the dash of the car.
I needed some help finding the maternity ward. You were born in Suite 3.
Harper was pretty excited to see you...
and touch you...
and hold you...
When Grandma and I went to her house to eat lunch, your Papa was there and he had already looked at the morning newspaper to see which celebrities shared your birthday. He said he only recognized one person's name, Max George from the music group, The Wanted.
Your Daddy was very attentive to your mommy. Here he was listening to the nurse explain how to make ice packs for her swollen bottom.
He was also concerned about getting the swaddling just right. He couldn't quite get you tight enough...soon we'd see your little tootsies make their way out of the blanket.
Rumor has it that the moment you were born, your Daddy went over to you and said loudly, "Now cry". And you did. Your grandma heard this exchange.
You had lots of visitors this day...
Grandma Kreider
Papa Berries
Cristy
Tona
Tricia too.
She wasn't feeling too well and didn't want to expose you to any germs.
At some point your mom got some food.
And we talked names and spellings...
We headed down to the hospital cafeteria before Harper and I left and I heard your mom say, "I haven't held her very much". So I felt kind of bad about that. You breastfed very well today.
Harper fell asleep on the way home for a little while and when she woke up she immediately asked for my phone and she thumbed through the pictures of you that I took today. She also said to me, "I like that baby" and asked when "do we get to keep that baby".
When we got home the kids were so happy to see more pictures of you. Logan was enamored with your feet picture, Presley just ooh'ed and aah'ed, over all of them and said, "oh she's so cute" like a hundred times, and Ry asked, "was I so tiny too?".
The next couple of days' pictures from Amy...
getting ready to head home...
I was with your mommy in Portland when she bought this dress for you, thinking it would be the one she'd bring you home in.
Making new friends at your new house.
I think your favorite number should be SIX. You were born on the September SIX, you weighed SIX pounds, SIX ounces, your mom was THIRY SIX when she had you, you have SIX cousins and the Nelson family of SIX love you very much!!
