A Welcome Visitor

We heard a faint knocking on the hospital room door, the kind of tapping that takes a moment to process before producing any kind of reaction. Soon we realized that this was the effort of a little hand.

The steady stream of pediatricians, residents, anesthesiologists, nurses, assistant nurses, lactation consultants, housekeepers, and dining services staff during the preceding 12 hours was being interrupted by the most welcome visitor. Graham had arrived to meet his little sister.

One of my favorite images following Aubrey's birth is committed to memory, not film. It's of Graham, discovered on the other side of that door, wearing a wide smile and holding a bouquet of pink roses as he exclaimed, "We found you!"

Graham had traversed the fifth-floor hallways of UNC Women's Hospital with Mimi and Pop-Pop in search of the number eight. We were in Room 5W08, a combination I unintentionally committed to memory as a byproduct of calling in food orders. Graham delivered his roses to Mommy, and we became a family of four in practice. 

Our final photo as a family of three, taken immediately
before departing for the hospital on Monday.
It was a difficult good-bye.

Graham shows Aubrey one of his gifts for her.

Big brother helps carry his sister to her bassinet.

One of our first photos as a family of four.

Headed home with a full back seat.