It was a rocky first couple of days, and by the time they were ready to discharge us, I was absolutely thrilled but exhausted. Sitting in the back seat of the truck, I stared down at his sweet baby face as we drove home to the cabin Carter and I now officially shared. The movement of the truck calmed him, and he fell asleep within seconds, but I couldn’t bring myself to close my eyes. I just wanted to watch him.
When we got to the house, I noticed cars already waiting in the driveway. The door opened, and our friends spilled out, all ready to meet the baby. We got inside, and I found a lavish welcome-home party set up for us by Harleigh, Desiree, and Rebecca.
Immediately, everyone wanted to hold the baby. I passed him to Harleigh and watched with a warm heart as she cooed over him for a little while before Desiree insisted on her turn. Harleigh came over to me and gave me a hug.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“Okay,” I said. “I’m so happy, but I’m so tired. I think I’ve gotten about five hours of sleep since he was born, and only about one and a half at any given time. I just don’t want to close my eyes. I don’t want to stop watching him.”
“I know how you feel,” she said. “You don’t want anything to happen to him. But he’s fine. Remember you need to take care of yourself, too.”
“I’m trying. He’s just so much more important right now. He really struggled with eating his first day and a half, and it’s been hard keeping up with his schedule, but it seems to be getting better,” I said.
“It will,” she said. “You’ll both figure out what works for you. Don’t be afraid to pump and make some bottles for him. It will keep your supply up, and it will let Carter feed him when you are taking a break. Trust me, you are going to want every single second of sleep you can get, and if you have bottles of breast milk in the refrigerator, you’ll be able to split overnight feedings and give you more rest. I gave you that pump and the bottles for your shower. I’ll help you learn how to use them.”
“Thank you,” I said.
She smiled and walked across the room to look at the baby again. Rebecca handed the baby over to Deacon and came over to me for a hug. She started talking, but I was really only half paying attention. It was all I could manage. Finally, Carter came over and took me by the hand.
“I think it’s time for you to get a bit of rest,” he said.
“I can’t,” I said.
“Yes, you can,” he said. “Carson just ate before we came inside, and he’s having a great time being cuddled and loved on by everyone. You need a nap.”
I was so thankful for him as I slipped into bed and almost instantly fell asleep. I woke an hour later to the sound of the baby crying. I was beyond grateful to everyone for taking care of him while I got that sleep and was happy to take him into my arms and feed him in his nursery. Sitting there in my rocking chair, snuggling my baby boy close as he nursed, gave me a calm, peaceful sense of completeness I had never experienced.
Soon after I went back out to the front of the cabin, our friends hugged and kissed us, offered more congratulations, and left. Suddenly, the cabin was quiet. It was just Carter, Carson, and me. We sat down on the couch with the baby in our arms and gazed at him in awe.
“Can you believe we created something so precious?” I asked, stroking his cheek.
“Yes,” Carter said. “Because you’re so precious.”
I looked up at him and smiled, then gave him a kiss. “My life feels so full.”
“Mine, too. There’s just one thing left. We really need to get planning the wedding,” he said.
I grinned. I had wanted to wait until after the baby was born to pick out my dress and have the wedding, and now he was here. I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle with Carter. Everything was perfect, just as it was meant to be.