Today, Hannah Grace Gaunch is sweet 16! This is the story of her very first day.
When Garrett, our first born was barely four months old, I woke up feeling sick. And again the next day. And the next. I didn't want to scare Louie, so I made sure first. Yep. Pregnant, again. I distinctly remember our reactions when I told him. I was leaning on the doorway of our bathroom. I cried. He laughed. Another baby? We had barely started to figure out how to take care of one, much less two! My body hadn't recovered yet from a C-Section just 4 months earlier and now I was going to be doing it again? I was afraid that I wasn't tough enough for this. Our doctor grinned and said it happens all the time.
During Hannah's pregnancy, I got more than a few funny looks. I was about 23 years old but looked about 19, carrying one baby in my arms who could barely sit up and showing a big pregnant belly. People must have wondered about me. I remember those maternity clothes I spent 2 years in. I couldn't give them away fast enough after Hannah was born! I felt badly that I really couldn't prepare Garrett for his new sibling because he was still a baby himself and couldn't understand. At 12 months, we put him in a real bed on the floor because his baby sister was going to need his bed. I remember the ultrasound when we found out we were having a girl. I didn't care either way, but the excitement over having a girl added an element of fun. She was due Easter weekend in 1994, so 2 weeks before, we celebrated Garrett's first birthday and Hannah's baby shower all in the same afternoon!
Her due date came and went and a C-Section was scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th, three days after her due date. This made our lives so much easier because we were very worried about Garrett. Grandmas and Grandpas watched Garrett while I calmly checked into the hospital and Louie put on the now familiar surgical scrubs. I have to say, Hannah's was by far the easiest delivery because I never had any labor. I just had some great medication and within an hour, I got to see Hannah for the first time.
Louie almost laughed when he saw her. We expected that because we were having a girl, she'd look exactly like me with dark hair and an olive complexion. Instead, she had beautiful white porcelain skin, big blue eyes and perfect tiny pink lips. God obviously was the one who knit her together, not us. I will never forget her cry! Garrett's cry had been loud and in protest, but quieted down quickly when we talked to him. Hannah, on the other hand, just bawled! Her cry was a loud wail that sounded full of drama. And she wouldn't be soothed but continued to cry that dramatic wail for a while.
Then Garrett came by to visit and see his baby sister. He poked his head around the door with a big grin on his face. He loved going new places and seeing new people. He bolted toward me first and wanted to climb into the big bed. He was loving the TV remote and wanted to cuddle with me. Then we pointed out the pink bundle swaddled in the bassinet. He climbed across my legs to get to her. He just grinned a lot and patted her- too hard sometimes.
Everyone who came to see her commented about how beautiful a baby she was. After a year of enjoying little boy things, it was a nice contrast to enjoy all things pink and lacy. Her personality was very different from Garrett's. She was far more 'strong willed' and challenging. They were two peas in a pod everywhere we went. Double stroller. Matching car seats. And Today, Hannah is 16 years old. Amazing!!!
sweet entries, johnna! the pic of garrett with his munchkin shoes on (my boys had those too!) - it looks like becca propped up with a little fella. she sure does look like her momma!
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