Carolina in my mind



Carolina in Toler's mind

With Toler's departure from the NICU imminent, Mom and Dad have been preparing for the transition back home to Charlotte.  Mom has been making lists of items we need, ensuring we have our home set up appropriately (as we did not purchase one item for Toler prior to our departure), and packing up all of the wonderful gifts and items we've acquired for Toler during our seven weeks in Colorado.  Dad has been working to secure transportation from the hospital to home.  Toler, of course, has done his part by passing his car seat test and continuing to eat from a bottle.

Grandpa and Grandma Smith got to see and hold Toler again today to tell him how much he is loved.  Grandma Smith helped to cheer on a tired Toler during his afternoon feed, while Grandpa Smith did a great job of holding Toler and ensuring he had his paci to suck on (as seen above).  Grandpa (with the help of Grandma) also beat Dad in a best of three series of hotly contested Scrabble, Toler's favorite word is wahhhhhh...

As our departure date nears, we will continue to keep everyone abreast of our travels and safe arrival home.  Dad's suspicion is that the quiet evenings for blogging and winding down will be replaced with some odd hours of care for Toler as we adjust to finally taking our newborn home with us.  In the meantime, Dad was successful in taking video from his phone of Toler during one of his nightly weigh-ins.  This gives a great view of our little guy and his growing personality as he is set free from his wires and tubes just before the great journey home.

Love,
Steve, Emily, and our Wiggle Worm Toler