Welcome, Caroline Grace Williamson!

Over the past nine months, we have grown more and more excited as our daughter, Alicia has carried a precious life within her.  In April, we learned that this baby would be Tim and Alicia's first daughter and Mimi and papaw's first granddaughter.  Well, last night Alicia and Tim went to the hospital and this afternoon, we welcomed our newest family member, Miss Caroline Grace Williamson!  We are thrilled!  First of all, we are so thankful to God for this precious blessing and for her good health and the health of her mother.  You all can read this, but it is really for my grandaughter, Caroline Grace!

Oh precious little one, you cannot know how much you are already loved!  Your mommy and daddy and your big brothers, your aunts and uncles and especially your Mimi and Papaw have been looking forward to meeting you since the day we knew found out you would be born.  I want to tell you some things that you will need to know about your family and how much they love you! 

First of all, your Mommy is my little girl and at one time, a long time ago, she was not really much bigger than you.  You will learn that you have the best Mommy in the world, your brothers will tell you that!  Your Daddy will love you the same way I loved your Mommy.  Both of them will love you no matter what happens.  That is one thing that you can always know!  They will teach you many things as you grow, how to dress your dollies, how to have tea parties, how to ride a bicycle, but the most important thing they will teach you is that God loves you and that He can do anything!  Don't ever forget that, little one!

You will soon get to meet two of my very favorite people in all the world, your big brothers, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton.  They are the best.  They have also been excited to meet you and have lots of fun planned with you.  Most of that fun will have to wait until you are a little older.  Always remember that Mark and Luke will watch out for you.  Since they are a little older than you, they know a few more things than you.  They will show you their favorite books and I'll bet they even let you play with their trains when you are a little bigger.  I think Luke may have a bit of a hard time saying your name.  As your brother Mark would say, "That might be a little bit tricky for him!"  But always know that they will love you...even when it might not seem that way!

In a few months you will get to meet Aunt Meghan and Uncle Mark.  Uncle Mark is your Mommy's brother and he is the one your brother Mark is named for.  Aunt Meghan will read to you and have lots of fun with you.  She has been waiting to meet you just like the rest of us.  Uncle Mark will love on you and hug you and he will seem really silly sometimes, but always know that Uncle Mark and Aunt Meghan love you sooooo much!

Now, let me tell you about a very special lady that will be waiting for you at your house, when you come home from the hospital...Mimi!  Mark and Luke think that she is the best Mimi ever!  And I think they are right.  Your Mimi has been waiting for you for quite some time.  She has already bought you books and cuddly animals and dolls that you will love!  Mark and Luke can tell you that she has a whole closet full of toys at her house, just for you and your brothers to play with!  Mimi is one of the wisest people you will ever meet.  She loves God and loves to tell your brothers about Him and I know she will tell you also!

That leaves me, your Papaw!  Mark and Luke will tell you that there is one thing that you can know...you have a Papaw who loves you more than life!  I can tell you one thing I already know about you.  You already have your Papaw wrapped around your little finger (that just means that you can pretty much get Papaw to do anything you want!)  Oh Caroline, I am so excited about going for walks with you, and reading bedtime stories (Mark and Luke are pretty big fans of my bedtime stories!), rocking you and loving on you!  I want you to know that Mimi and I will always love you no matter what!  Well, I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!  I love you, baby girl!

Papaw