Home Free!

Dearest Samantha,

In about two hours we will have been home with you for an entire day. I gotta tell you kiddo, you are causing quite the commotion here! It's been a fairly consistant stream of visitors since you came home. The entire neighborhood was dying to meet you because your father was so excited that he's spent the last 24 hours telling everyone that he's ever known (literally) that you are here. Poor Aunt Beth had to send about a gazillion text messages announcing your arrival on his behalf! For the people that have come to visit, you've been quite nice, choosing to quietly sleep in their arms and make cute little baby noises.

Shortly after coming home, we whisked you away to go to your first doctor's appointment with Dr. Krogstad (who came in special to meet you--it was her afternoon off). Your Nonni was so anxious to show you off! Your appointment went well, you've lost 3 ounces since you were born. I think it'll start piling back on soon because you definitely are eating your weight in formula each day.

We did get some bummer news at the appointment. Dr. Krogstad doesn't feel comfortable with you being exposed to large groups of people; especially people who are around babies regularly. We had planned to take you to the Willis family reunion tomorrow (you will be 3 days old by then), but Dr. Krogstad gave that one the big thumbs down to that one because she's worried you'll get sick with all of the exposure that could be involved if you were passed from person to person. We think we'll do the compromise the doctor suggested and introduce you to a smaller group at the reunion, really only showing you off to the Aunts, Uncles & Great Grandparents.

But that's tomorrow. Let's talk about last night. Sammie--you really are super baby. You let mommy and daddy sleep for a whole four and a half hours before crying to be fed. Fifteen minutes later, you were burped, changed and back in bed. You did wake up for a few minutes because you had become unswaddled, but after getting that fixed you were back in business and back to sleep. I did try to let you sleep in our bed earlier in the morning, but I don't know we'll be able to do that again. I woke up with every little move you made!

As I'm writing this, you've just finished sleeping in your crib for the first time and you slept...well, like a baby. Pardon the pun darling, just couldn't think of anything else to say. Roxy, I think, seems to know when she needs to be my "ears." She heard you quietly fussing and rushed to be with you in the nursery. I think I'll try my hand at keeping my eyes out for Roxy when you're in the nursery. If she perks up and goes into the nursery, I'll know that I will need to check on you.

Your Nonni's been awesome. She's stayed with us and is really helping make the transition so much easier. Poppa came by to visit (and pick up his other love: the cell phone he left behind last night). He's holding you now and feeding you.

Yep, Sammie, there's going to be some serious fights coming up soon. Everyone wants a piece of the Sammie action!

Well, I think that's about everything up to this point. I'm going to go back to holding you and loving you all over. Continue to be good for your mommy!

Lots of love,

-mommy