One Week

You're one week old today. I wish I could stop time during these precious early days of your life. This is my very favorite stage. I can't get enough of you...I've fallen in love. I love your sweet smells and the sweet sounds you make. I love your kisses on my face. You are a joy...such a easy baby so far. You rarely cry. You are still eating very well and fast...two and a half ounces and usually done in fifteen minutes. You are pretty consistent with a three hour schedule during the day. You are still a spitter...we keep the burp cloth close by. The once a day projectile vomiting has seemed to lessen. The laundry seems to have doubled though. You are still sleeping a lot, but have several wake times during the day where you open your eyes wide and follow my voice. You sleep well at night. Usually eating every four or five hours. Daddy helps with the night feedings too. You like to be swaddled tight in a blanket to sleep. You're starting to like your sponge baths better. We've caught glimpses of your sweet smile.

Your brother and sister adore you and are always concerned about you. We are rejoicing over your first week of life, Luca Bella

First Days at Home

Luca was welcomed on her very first day at home by family eager to meet her. Kevin's parents, his brother's family and my parents came that Friday evening to celebrate her homecoming. Meeting Aunt Sarah and cousin Easton

Cousin Easton & Caedmon

Mama taking a break to feed you...fills so good to have you home!!

Grandpa S. holding baby Luca

Kevin's mom brought supper for everyone. What a blessing and so yummy! Thanks Mom!!

Uncle Curt & Luca

Grandma & Grandpa B. getting to know baby Luca.

Your first days at home have been filled with lots of attention from big brother and sister. They are so eager to help, hold you & watch mommy take care of you. They have so many questions...and I love answering them. They hover a bit, but I adore seeing their excitement and love for you...their new baby sister.

The bassinet is finally filled. =) You sleep in mommy and daddy's room. I like having you so close for now.

Hovering again....you are so loved, my sweetness!

More visitors...cousin Rylie.

Cousin Maci So many have been praying for you. You were loved before we even met you.

I really wanted to make it to church that first Sunday when you were only four days old. It was tough getting everyone ready and out the door, but we did it. What a joy to take you to church to see all the people who had been praying for you...especially many praying just the week before when we weren't sure how the week would unfold. Holding you in my arms that day and worshipping the God who gave you to us was indescribable!
Family picture before church
By the time we got everyone home, made lunch and cleaned up it was already after three...wow...an exhausting day. Naps were a must. Daddy took his nap with his two little princesses.

Baby Luca in the doll crib. Wide awake after bath time.
More visitors on Monday Cousins Heather and Suzy visited for the day and brought a meal. What a joy! Thanks for the yummy food and great conversation...a tremendous blessing!

hospital stay and homecoming

Day TwoThursday was a day spent calling friends and family with the good news.
Do you think I look tired? Well, I am. =) On Wednesday night, we pretty much didn't get any sleep at all. I felt like I was way up on cloud nine...who could sleep when there's a tiny little miracle baby to hold and love on? Nurses continued coming in our room at different times that night to check Luca's vitals. I did all the feedings and tried learning Luca's best feeding methods. She's a very fast eater...sometimes done in five or ten minutes. She takes a half ounce to an ounce and a half every three or four hours. She seems to be spitting up frequently...sometimes projectile vomiting everything out of her tiny little stomach. Kevin ended up going to the van to try to get a few hours of sleep out there...it didn't help much with people coming and going from the parking lot at all hours. Our eight hours of uninterrupted sleeping nights are over for awhile, I'm afraid. No complaints here, though. =)
What a joy to have our first visitors come to the hospital. My mom and sister brought the kids so they could meet their new baby sister. We debated whether to pull Caedmon out of kindergarten for the day....I'm so glad we did. His teacher was wonderful about it all. Throughout this adoption process, Caedmon has really wanted a little brother. When we found out about the baby girl we were supposed to get in January, he cried when we told him it was a girl. There wasn't any crying on this day...he was so proud and I know he'll be such a great big brother.I'm thrilled that Kaiya has a sister to grow up with. She will be a wonderful big sister. When she got to the hospital and saw Luca, she asked me "Can we keep her?"

Finally all together as a family of five.Grandma and my sister made a stop at the baby store on the way to the hospital and showed up with a big bag of fun stuff for Luca to try on.My niece, Lexi, was along that day too and was bursting with excitement. It seems to always be her turn to hold the baby when she's around. I love her excitement!Our tiny little hospital room became party central for a few hours. I loved it!

Aunt Shanna finally gets a turn to hold her new niece. She's been hoping for a little playmate for her one-year-old daughter, Emmi.

Emmi didn't seem too interested in Luca at first until she saw she was real and could move and make noises.Emmi's gift to Luca was a matching dress to the one she had on. I'm thrilled that these two little cousins will grow up together.

Day three

We got a few more hours of sleep that night. The nurses didn't need to come in as often and Luca went right back to sleep after her feedings. This is going home day!! Here's mommy giving Luca a bath and getting her ready to go home.She weighs 5 pounds and 11 ounces on going home day.
We were discharged around 9:30 Friday morning...it was a gorgeous sunny day.

I sat in the back with Luca...not because she needed anything...she slept the whole time. I just wanted to stare at her.
We stopped at a gas station and I fed her. Once we got to Fort Wayne, Kevin wanted to stop by his office to pop in and show her off a bit.
We stopped by Chick-fil-a for lunch then headed to pick up Kaiya at my mom's. Such a joy to have her out in public and know that she's ours.

We needed to make one more stop before going home. I decided it would be fun for all of us to show up at Caedmon's school as a surprise when it was time to pick him up. The look on his face was priceless. He was so proud for all his friends and his teacher to get to see his new baby sister.Finally home.
Later that evening we saw this double rainbow outside...a perfect welcome home for Luca and reminder of God's faithfulness.