Long For The Flowers

Dear My Sweet Baby Ryleigh, You are just over 2 weeks old, which means we have just a few days of parenting under our belts. We must let you know that we are new at this parent thing. Sure, we read books, we practiced holding friends' babies, and we took the classes at the hospital, but we have no idea what your cries mean. It makes us cry when your lip quivers and tears stream down your cheeks because you're hungry and Mom makes you wait a few more minutes to eat or when you get mad at bath time because you don't like getting wet. "It can't be that bad!" we say. "You've got it pretty good." We don't know how to entertain you, and we question every decision we make. I am sure we will all get the hang of each other soon enough. You'll be manipulating us in no time. Our lives changed on December 15, 2003 just before 6 p.m. When the doctor told us to look at our baby, we exclaimed, "It's a boy!" I remember think...

You are quite little during this holiday season, just 10 days old. Mom's and Dad's perfect Christmas Gift. You are loved by many and you are going to be showered with love at all our family gatherings. We don't have a whole lot of family traditions but I can't wait to start creating some for our family. Like, baking cookies, making Christmas Ornaments, and seeing Santa. Christmas Eve I put you into Christmas PJ's, this will also be a tradition. I can't wait to see what other traditions we come up with. Thank you for the Christmas Cheers you bring to Dad and I.  Nana also has her Christmas traditions (lots of yummy baking) and is so excited for what's to come now that she has a grand-baby to make new Christmas tradition with. One thing is for sure, Christmas was less about us and all about you. Everything was set up and ready for you to visit their home for Christmas. Nana has set up an entire nurse just for you. She had bottles, formula, diape...

Three days ago we welcomed you into this world and your whole little world changed. Now we welcome you home. I hope your dad and I will always be your 'Home'. The place you come to celebrate, to cry, to gain comfort, and to make wonderful memories, and so much more. Dad is wonderful with you. He wants you all of the time, changing your diaper, feeding you, napping with you and just being completely in love with you. I thought it would be harder the first days home but we are so in love with you that its easy.  Dear Chris,  When I look at you every day with our son, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have you as my life partner. I still feel that same, thought-consuming attraction to you, although something has change now that we have a son, it's so much deeper now. Sure, I lucked out - you're insanely handsome, incredibly driven, and immensely funny - but building this life with you entirely on our terms is what I believe continues to fuel my...

Ryleigh Joseph Stimmel December 15, 2003 6:32pm 8lbs, 9oz 20 3/4 inches long My Labor Story Dr. Miles scheduled me to be induced 15 days early on December 15, 2003 (you were so big and growing fast). I was given Pitocin to stimulate contractions, but the drug also slowed down your heartbeat. I could only lay on my right side, which helped you to breathe property. When it came time to push, dad was in a corner in shock. And I had no idea how to push you out, but  it finally happened. All I could think is how beautiful you are, and how I'm so in love with you!!! You're in our arms for the first time and it feels incredible. I can't believe how much your daddy loves you, he never puts you down and wont let the nurses take you without him coming too. I know he will take care of you forever. We are so lucky to have him.  Thinking about how to describe your birth puts me into tears. Happy tears of course, but makes m...