Your mother got to see you for the first time yesterday afternoon, and she cried. That made me happy. I know this sounds odd, but I think you'll understand in time.
Your mom was getting medicine that made her sleepy, so she couldn't spend much time with you before going back to her hospital room. In that short time, though, she fell in love.
Your mom saw herself in your face. That made me very happy, because I think she is beautiful.
Late last night, she was able to make the tiniest amount of food for you, which the doctors say will be good for her and good for you. We came to visit one more time with a surprise called "kangarooing." Very slowly, and with a lot of care, your nurse removed you from your isolette and laid you on top of your mom's chest.
For the next two hours, your skin touched her skin. You look at your mom. "She's so tiny," your mom told me. "I didn't know it would be like this."
She was scared. That didn't last long, though, because "skin to skin" made both of you feel better. You stopped fussing and she started beaming. I saw joy wash over her like a warm shower. When you open your eyes to look up at her, everything was right with the world.
You may be tiny, but you're also strong. "She's a trooper," your nurse said. "She's a fighter," your mom's doctor said. "She'll battle through this just like her mother is doing," two friends said.
And that helped us decide your name.
Before she married me, your mom's last name was "Sloan." She liked it very much, and trading it for my last name wasn't easy. In Irish, "Sloane" means warrior. Sloan is a shorter version of that.
So, because you'll need all the strength you can get. And because you're mom's family name means so much to her. And because I thought of it first (ha ha), your first name will be Sloan. It's a good name, and I hope you like it.
We also get to give you a middle name, too. I grew up in Hawaii. My first name, Kawika, is Hawaiian. Everyone loves Hawaii. They are they most beautiful chain of islands in the world. In Hawaiian, "Kai" means sea and "Lani" means heaven or sky. "Kailani," then, seemed only fitting for you because we could search heaven and earth -- or sail the seven seas -- and still not find a daughter better for us than you.
Welcome to the world, Sloan Kailani Holbrook. Get ready for a great adventure.
Love,
Dad
Your mom was getting medicine that made her sleepy, so she couldn't spend much time with you before going back to her hospital room. In that short time, though, she fell in love.
Your mom saw herself in your face. That made me very happy, because I think she is beautiful.
Late last night, she was able to make the tiniest amount of food for you, which the doctors say will be good for her and good for you. We came to visit one more time with a surprise called "kangarooing." Very slowly, and with a lot of care, your nurse removed you from your isolette and laid you on top of your mom's chest.
For the next two hours, your skin touched her skin. You look at your mom. "She's so tiny," your mom told me. "I didn't know it would be like this."
She was scared. That didn't last long, though, because "skin to skin" made both of you feel better. You stopped fussing and she started beaming. I saw joy wash over her like a warm shower. When you open your eyes to look up at her, everything was right with the world.
You may be tiny, but you're also strong. "She's a trooper," your nurse said. "She's a fighter," your mom's doctor said. "She'll battle through this just like her mother is doing," two friends said.
And that helped us decide your name.
Before she married me, your mom's last name was "Sloan." She liked it very much, and trading it for my last name wasn't easy. In Irish, "Sloane" means warrior. Sloan is a shorter version of that.
So, because you'll need all the strength you can get. And because you're mom's family name means so much to her. And because I thought of it first (ha ha), your first name will be Sloan. It's a good name, and I hope you like it.
We also get to give you a middle name, too. I grew up in Hawaii. My first name, Kawika, is Hawaiian. Everyone loves Hawaii. They are they most beautiful chain of islands in the world. In Hawaiian, "Kai" means sea and "Lani" means heaven or sky. "Kailani," then, seemed only fitting for you because we could search heaven and earth -- or sail the seven seas -- and still not find a daughter better for us than you.
Welcome to the world, Sloan Kailani Holbrook. Get ready for a great adventure.
Love,
Dad
