Meeting Willow

Gabriela was so anxious and nervous about us going to the hospital. We told her the baby probably wouldn't arrive until sometime Tuesday afternoon or evening, so she was shocked when I answered her 7am FaceTime call with a baby in my arms. Poor sweetheart. The first thing she asked me was, "is she alive????" How grateful I was to tearfully answer yes. Easton couldn't wait to get on our call to squeal and say, "hi, Baby!!" over and over again. 

The kids couldn't wait to come visit. They brought us lunch and a birthday cake they baked that morning for Willow. Since she was so tiny, I asked them to bring our newborn sized clothes as well. 

Big brother and sister immediately surrounded their new baby. Easton absolutely squealed with delight. I mean, sounds of supreme cuteness that I had never heard him make before; he was so delighted by his baby sister in all her tiny cuteness. 

Gabriela just needed to hold her sister. She chose a new outfit for Willow, helped dress her and observed a diaper change. We all sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed cake together. 

Easton did not want anyone helping him hold his sister. He was grown up enough to do it himself. 

Gabriela intentionally wore her rainbow shirt to meet our rainbow baby at the hospital. 

Cynthia told me later that Gabriela was having trouble going to sleep the night before. She said she was excited to tell her friends. But that they wouldn't understand. They don't know how scary it is to wait for your new baby when your last baby died. Oh, that girl. She is so invested in this baby sister. She wants to hold her constantly, can't bear to be separated from her, and is extremely protective. She's got a lot of healing to do and I think that Willow is really helping to make that happen. 

Auntie Cynthia somehow snuck in some snuggles between all the big brother and sister love 

After they left, Auntie Liss and Beau came to meet Willow.

Beau, that sweet boy, said Willow is the best and he would always be there for her. 

Uncle Matthew even snuck in a visit, but unfortunately I didn't snag a picture of them together. 

Daddy got his special Willow time too. 

We hurried home as soon as we could. After all, we had a big brother and sister waiting at home for us. 

As we expected, she was not a fan of the ride home. But once we arrived, she was happy to be here, crying much less frequently than at the hospital. 

Gabriela was so excited when Daddy helped her do this:

It eased some of the disappointment at the fact that she was not actually allowed to walk through the house holding the baby.