Welcome to the world sweet girl! I am so late in writing your first letter (10 weeks to be exact), but better late than never! You arrived, as expected, on April 14th (4-14-14).
Daddy and I got to the hospital bright and early in the pouring down rain. Mommy hated that so many of our friends and family would be driving in such awful weather to meet you, but everyone wanted to be there for the "announcement". We did not find out what we were having with you so it was not until the day of your arrival that we found out if you were an "Olivia Trice" or a "Matthew Holloway".
Neeno came down the night before to stay with us so that she could keep Will and bring him to the hospital to meet his new sibling. I was so anxious the morning you came because in not knowing what you were, I did not feel like I had bonded with you on the same level that I had with Will. I was able to pray for Will by name, and talk to him by name and decorate his room accordingly. All of my anxiety was gone the minute I laid eyes on you...and letting it be a surprise was one of the most memorable moments of my life. As I laid on the operating table, I waited for Daddy to make the announcement (Dr. Chwe had informed Daddy that he would have the honors of telling me). I laid there staring at the clock (needed a focal point because my blood pressure dropped and I was nauseated to all get out), and I began to hear excitement as you were being pulled out. Daddy said, "It's a"....(enter long pause as your daddy waited to get a good shot to make his determination, "girl, a baby girl!" Oh Livi!!!-my heart was so full and complete when I heard this! I knew that this would be our last baby so I was secretly praying it was a girl because I really wanted to have one of each. The nurse brought you around the blue sheet and you were so beautiful!-all 6 pounds and 9 ounces of you!
I laid there thanking God for your health and for the gift of another child...and I felt my mind drift to Will. I wondered how he would react, how he would be feeling and felt helpless that I couldn't be with him when he saw you. Will was excited to see you and gave you lots of "love"-meaning he leaned his big ol' head into yours:)
Will did not stay long because he was getting so restless and the weather was to get bad again after lunch, and I wanted him to get on back to Birmingham with Neeno and Doc. Daddy did a great job making the big announcement (we have it on video to show you one day) and I think Neeno won the award for screaming the loudest!
We got to take you home 3 days later (we stayed the full time due to you being jaundiced and losing weight). You went home weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces...a teeny tiny little bundle of joy! From the very beginning you were a totally different baby than your big brother. The biggest difference???-you slept!!! A feat your big brother did not master until he was almost a year old! I had prayed for you to have a laid-back disposition, like your daddy, because I knew if you were a fireball like your brother that you and Will would butt heads...and I did not want that. I want you and your brother to be so close and I am praying for that! I know y'all won't understand this until your much older, but I wanted to give you both the "gift" of a sibling, because it's a gift that I am forever grateful for! I just cannot say enough how thankful I am to the Lord for both of you! The love of Christ is so overwhelming because I am so undeserving and yet He provided me with such amazing blessings. The two of you are living images of God's grace and I cherish you both in immeasurable ways. To say that I am honored to be a mother is the greatest understatement there will ever be...
As I sit hear crying as a type, I want to tell you one thing that I want to stay with you forever. I will fail you as a mother and I will let you down (because there are no perfect parents), but I promise a day will not go by when you do not know how much you are loved. I promise to saturate you in love and to guide you to the One who IS perfect...and who will never let you down, Jesus Christ. Please remember these words when I won't let you wear something, or when I am short with you, or when I deny you the pair of jeans you "have" to have. Please remember that no matter what, I love you and always will. Okay, so now onto something that doesn't leave me in a puddle.
There are some things that I have noticed about you already...you are very laid back (like your daddy). You have survived so many tantrums going on around you by Will, who is not adjusting very well to a younger sibling. He has made several attempts to take you out with his foot or matchbox car, but so far we have managed to protect you:) You have huge blue eyes like your big brother. You have super long toes like your mommy-which your daddy hates because you can pinch with your toes! You love to smile and starting "cooing" at around 5 weeks. You are doing great holding your head up and sat in a Bumbo seat at around 7 weeks!-way earlier than big brother-of course in Will's defense, he had a huge noggin':) You absolutely love to be talked to and I feel this is probably just the left hemisphere thinking girl in you! You did not get to wear your pretty gowns that I love very long because you are such a kicker and hated getting your feet stuck in them:( I can't wait to watch as your little personality develops!
I love you "Livi Lou" and am so grateful to have been chosen to be your mommy!
Love always and forever,
Mommy
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