From Meema & Da

Sweet Emma Rose, your journey is coming to an end. While you've been safe and secure in your mommy's tummy, so very many people have come to know you and love you. They think so much of your parents.Just because of you, we have met some very special people. And we have met some that weren't so great but we even learned things from those meetings. God had his reasons for blessing us with you. We promise to live up to His expectations.

Mommy had her last checkup yesterday and everything was great. She's had some very wonderful people taking care of her and of you. So now, it's almost time. Tomorrow evening we are all going to the hospital and and focus all our love on you and your mommy as she works to birth you. May our love cushion your journey. We know you will be so beautiful. Forgive us all our tears. They are only because we love you.

Aunt Kelli is flying up from Atlanta tomorrow and will be at the hospital with all of us. She is super special and we are so glad she can be there too. Auntie Laurie is staying with Baby Josh tomorrow night but she will be up to greet you Thursday morning. The same with Aunt Jenny. She can't wait to meet you either.

Haven't told you much about your Da yet. Cousin Jake named him that (he could do that because he was the first grandbaby and had that priviledge). He always called him Da and we thought it was perfect because that is the word for Grandfather and father in Ireland and he is pretty Irish - with a little Polish in there too. Your whole family is pretty multinational!!! Anyway, Da is a heart doctor and he has watched over you the whole time to make sure everyone has given you the best care they can. He is so good to all of us and has so much love for you too.

You've got alot of cousins. Cousins are the children of your daddy's brothers and sisters (an he has a bunch of those too). Christopher came first to Auntie Laurie and Uncle Chris. He's a great guy, 12 yrs old now. He plays Lacrosse and he is tough, you wouldn't want to mess with him on the field. We call him Jake for his middle name Jacob.
Next came his sister Erin. We call her Sissie or monkey. She's 10. She's a great artist and a very caring little girl. Next came Virginia. Aunt Kelli and Uncle Trey are her parents. They live in Atlanta. Virginia is 8. She is another great artist. Her brothers are Jack and Zach (Zachary Hugh named after Da). They are 6 and 3. You are part of a very athletic family. Everyone has played one or more sports and excelled. Especially your daddy. I remember that when he found out you were going to be a girl, he said he would have you out practicing golf swings as soon as you could walk. Abigail Ping Lee is your last cousin. She is two. Last year Meema and Da went to China with Aunt Jenny to bring her home. We can already tell we have another athlete in the family thru her antics. Your baby brother Josh is one today. He's pretty good at catching and throwing a ball already. And your big sister Sam is super fast on the field hocky field. Uncle Hughie is daddy's brother too. He and Aunt Elizabeth have four legged kids, Buster and Mousse. You'd love them too. We have lots of pets for you to love. There's Porsche, Killy, Petie and Nikki. Plus two cats Cassie and Quackers. There's about as many pets as cousins to play with. But I bet you already know this.

Mrs. Murphy, meema's friend, called this am to let us know that you and your daddy and mommy are in their hearts and they are praying for you as well. See little one, so very, very many people already know and love you. You are such an extra special little girl.

So, until tomorrow when we all get to meet you, we love you and can't wait to say "welcome to the family and the world, little angel. Meema and Da