August 20, 2011
Dear Emily,
You won’t remember it, but last night was a special night. Last night was the first time you spent the night at my house. Your mom brought you over about six because she and Simon were headed out to meet your daddy at a football game. When she called to ask if you could stay during the game, I suggested that you just spend the night so everybody at your house could sleep all night. Your mom said yes!! I was elated.
Your mom made sure that you had plenty of formula, diapers, changes of clothes – everything that you might need for an overnight visit. At first you were not happy….you cried; you screamed; you pulled your little legs up into a knot and scrunched up your face. But then you went to sleep…for all of thirty minutes! When you woke up, you were much happier. We played until 11:30 when I gave you a late bottle and tucked you in for the night. Since I don’t have a baby bed, I made a pallet for you on the floor in Uncle Robert’s room, and I slept in his bed. Actually, “dozed” is a more accurate description of the night for me. I had been allowed the privilege of caring for you for the entire night…I wasn’t about to let anything happen to you on my first watch!!
About two a.m. you let me know that you needed attention. You weren’t kidding! Your diaper was half off and every stitch of your clothes was wet! Yikes! Grandmother failure! I had to strip you down to the skin and start completely over! Since the pallet was wet too, you and I slept for an hour in the recliner before I put you in the stroller to sleep the rest of the night. You were up before the sun.
This morning we rocked, we played, and when we strolled down the road in front of the house, you went so sound asleep that your daddy had to wake you up to take you home when he came at ten. All in all, it was a successful first over-night stay.
No, you won’t remember last night – you are only seven weeks old. But I will. You won’t remember that you were wet in the middle of the night – but I will remember how cozy you felt in my arms at two a.m.; you won’t remember that you were hungry – but I will remember the sweet sounds you made as you drank that two a.m. bottle; you won’t remember the hour you slept on my chest - but I will remember how blessed I felt to have you there. I will remember, and someday Emily, I will share the memory with you.
