Dear Aidyn-

It's been a very interesting 4 days.  Daddy and I put you to bed on Thursday night just like every other night.  The next time we saw you, it was lunchtime in the delivery room and you were meeting your little brother!  I think it's been difficult for you to adjust... you're jealous of the attention Grae gets, I know.  I starting sobbing last night when you wanted me to hold you and I couldn't because I was nursing Grae.  It's so hard.  I can't love on you like you want (and I want!) because there's someone else I need to give my time and attention to.  I love him so much too...

Funny memory- the very first time you saw Grae, I was trying to nurse him for the first time.  You looked straight at him, shouted, "bite it!!" and took a swing at him!  Ha!  I love that you try to protect me...  You saw my milk dripping out before I fed him yesterday though and I think it sunk in that he's not biting me.  Since then, you say, "drink it! feed him..." and smack you lips in a sucking sound.  Ha!

I think you really like your brother.  I hope we all get used to each other soon and that we can have lots of fun times when I'm getting around a little bit better.  I'm so glad Nina's here to give you more attention and love than I can right now.

You're my precious, precious girl. 

Love you more than you'll ever know. 
                                                                    ~

   

  

Dear A-

We've had a bit of a rough week.  Daddy had bronchitis and even though you're over your ear infection, you still have a horrible cough.  Antibiotics make you have such bad diaper rash too... you scream when I change your diaper.  You slept better last night than you have in a very long time though- only coughed yourself awake once at about 3am!

You're just waking up from your 1 nap of the day- you slept about 1.5 hours. I was really, really hoping for at least 2.  We still don't have a good schedule going since I was in the hospital a few weeks ago.  I guess it doesn't make sense to try now since you're going to have a  little brother tomorrow!!!  Yay!!  We are supposed to call the hospital at 5am to make sure that there's a space for us... Grae should be here by lunchtime!  I'm so excited.  I can't wait for you to meet him!

Nina is coming up this afternoon after she finishes teaching school.  She should be here at about 7pm and will be here with you during the (hopefully) one night we're in the hospital.  I can't wait to be at home with you, Daddy and Grae.  I'm so glad Nina's staying a week to help us.

I love you, Aidyn.  I love you so much.  I've really been soaking up your "tisses" and "hug"s that you ask for lately.  I love it when you squeeze my neck.  You are such a sweet, precious little girl.  It seems like you're growing up exponentially fast these last few weeks...  I can't wait to see you grow even more in your role as Grae's big sister.  He's one lucky boy to have you to watch out for him.  I hope you two become really good friends... and that you always, always keep me in the loop, too.

Well, my love- I'm going to get you and cuddle with you in the bed for a few minutes before we get a snack.

                         You're my girl.
                                                           mommy

Aidyn,

      Things are finally getting back to normal. Thank goodness.  ...just in time for your brother to come too, probably.  Oh well, at least we've had a few normal days lately before things change again!  I'm so excited to meet Grae- and I think you are too.  You point to my belly and say "brother" "Grae" "baby" a lot.  You give him kisses and hugs too.  You're also pretty much obsessed with Seeger- he's 10 weeks old now.  You ask for him all the time... and ever since you saw Shanna pick him up, bounce him and say "shhh"... you do that to all of your dolls and stuffed animals.  Sometimes you just fold your arms and bounce them while you "shhhh"... so ridiculous!  I love you and your goofy little self...
      You're saying 3 words together now- but the 3rd word is always "daddy". Ha!  "Thank you, daddy. Bless you, daddy. Hold it, daddy.  Come on, Daddy" ...even when he's not here!  Sometimes I wish you'd say mommy... but that concept hasn't sunk into your sweet little head yet... oh well.  You saw a red truck parked in a driveway today while we were heading down the road and you shouted "Truck!  Daddy!" Ha!  The truck really did look like Daddy's too.
      You are such a little sponge these days.  I have to be really careful of what I say- you will usually repeat the last 2 syllables of whatever I say.  Doesn't matter what it is... you say "gracious" and that's way better than "oh, dosh (gosh)" which is evidently what I say when things don't go exactly as I planned...  I love when you say "yes ma'am".  You are really obedient too- there are definitely times when you aren't.. especially when you're either tired or hungry; but most of the time you do what I ask you to do.  You're such a blessing, little bit.
      I hope you adjust well to baby Grae when he gets here.   I love you so much... and I love him too.  I can't wait for you to hold him and kiss his little face.  I think you are going to be a very good big sister.  It's so exciting to think about this summer and all the fun memories we will make as a family of 4!
      Here's one of my favorite pictures from the maternity photo shoot we did about a week ago.