Dear Mother,

I wonder how much you know about your granddaughter. I sometimes forget that we just found out we were having a girl when you died. So, you never even found out what her name would be. Well, it's Arabella Elizabeth Noelle. I know I said I wouldn't give a girl 4 names...but we're dealing with the Decision-Impaired Duo here. I kind of like Elizabeth better, since it's my middle name and your mother's middle name. I think Nathan liked Noelle a little better because it starts with an N, it's pretty, and it means Christmas - which is basically when she was born. Since I don't know how much you know, Mother, I'll start at the beginning.

Arabella was born 12/21/10 at 14:28 p.m. weighing 5 lbs and 8 oz and measuring 18 1/2 inches long. I can tell you are shocked that after having two pretty large boys, I had a girl who was half their size, quite literally. I asked every doctor who darkened my doorstep why she was so small but they would just shrug and smile and say "but she's perfect! She's healthy." I should interject here that she was born on the day the UK's basketball team was the very first in history to reach the 2,000 win mark. She's our little UK2K. Papa bought us all shirts that said UK2K with December 21, 2010 to commemorate it.

Her personality is certainly unique. She's kind of quiet but friendly. She loves it when people talk to her. She lights up and smiles and tries to talk to them. She cries when she's tired, or hungry, or has a messy diaper, but usually no more than that. I know, she's nothing like her eldest brother. ( Daddy likes to tell me about how you watched Carter one night so Nathan and I could go to the movies and he cried the entire time we were gone. But that it didn't bother you.) She kicks her legs like Carter did, though. I can't believe her heels aren't bruised from it. And like Will, I burn at least 50 calories trying to change her diaper. She just can't sit still. She coos and babbles on and on. The boys would say "ba ba ba" or "da da da" but she kind of talks and sings in a lovely soprano. If this baby would have been first, I may have been willing to think about Nathan's plans for 7 of them.

Daddy has told everyone in Harlan that she looks like you. I think that is mainly because in her first months, she was so petite, like you. Her head was little - yes, a child of MINE had a small head. Well, she's grown and now she's not so small and neither is her head. This past weekend, I took her to your church and everyone lined up to see her. She was like a little princess meeting her people. Everyone commented on how she looked like you. I told Nathan "Well, Daddy has gotten to everyone here." But when we were back home, I got out your white photo album - you know, the one in your closet that I was never allowed to touch unless you were there to hold it and turn the pages for me. Well, I got it out and I even took it downstairs! I showed Daddy my baby pictures and he laughed and said "I can't believe it! Arabella looks just like YOU! And I never thought you looked that much like your mother!" So, I'm not sure if now he thinks I look like you or if Arabella looks like me? But he did mention that her head is no long small like it was. Most people think she looks like Carter - who, I have to say, is Papa made over. Anyway, she does look as much like me as a baby and Will looks like Nathan as a 3 year old. She doesn't have a dimple like the boys. She has darker hair, eyebrows and eyelashes than they ever have. And I'm afraid she is not going to have brown eyes like you wanted. I'm sorry, but Carter wanted her to have blue eyes like him and the Lord seems to really favor him, you know. Her eyes are dark blue - kind of like yours - and they don't seem to be changing. Daddy said my eyes were blue for a long time but that you insisted they would be brown...I don't think Arabella's will change, though. It doesn't really matter to me that much except that you were hoping she'd have brown eyes.

Speaking of her brothers, they are crazy about her. Will is so sweet with her and talks and sings to her all day long. His love is sometimes a bit too enthusiastic and we have to caution him. Carter is the typical oldest, protective, proud brother. He told everyone in his class that he was going to have a sister and invited them all to the hospital to see her born. He talks to her so sweetly and reads to her. She lights up when they walk in the room. She adores them.

For now, she is her Mama's girl. I don't think it will last too long; probably as long as my milk does. Nathan wants to hold her all the time. Well, until she starts to cry. Papa has proclaimed her as his Princess and the prettiest baby he's ever seen. Aunt Jo has been so very helpful coming down and she just loves on her and claims she is so happy because of her. She's everyone's baby girl.

I just wish you'd had the chance to meet her yourself.