The Hatches: Bringing Home Baby Forrest | Memphis, TN
In the time that I have known the Hatches, I have had the chance to witness so many milestones in their lives. So when Jacob inviting me over to document baby Forrest coming home, it meant the world to me. I felt my heart swell up and fill with love for a little human I hadn't even met yet, but I knew would steal my heart just like his big brothers had over the years.
And of course, the moment I laid eyes on him, I couldn't help but adore him.
Congratulations, Em, Jacob, Braylen and Aiden! I'm overwhelmed with happiness for your sweet family. <3
"Forrest was the exact surprise we needed. We hadn't quite decided if we wanted another baby or not, but it seemed as if he had other plans. Little did we know he was brewing while we took our birthday trip to Salt Lake City back in January. I had felt a little rough the entire time we were there but I kept writing it off as anxiety from being away from home. We rolled back into Memphis and my sickness went from what I thought was a stomach virus to, "oh s%*#, I think we need a pregnancy test."
Aiden and Braylen both wanted a little sister. I also wanted a little girl but deep down knew I was made to be a mom of boys. Surprise, surprise.... It was a boy! I thought I was going to cry if it was a boy and I surprised myself that I was actually relieved. I had come to terms that I would not have known what to do with a little girl having two boys who were 150% boy in every aspect of life. But little Aiden, he teared up and said "but Bubba and I wanted a little sister". It broke my heart. But Jacob quickly reassured him that a little brother would be fun for him too since he could share all of his superheroes with him. Braylen was also a little disappointed but became more excited as time went on. And all was right in the world.
September 12, 2017 - changed my life forever.
I had no idea what was in store for our little family that day. At 12:00PM they wheeled me back to start pre-op for the delivery of our sweet Forrest Gabriel and I could feel the anxiety grow to profound strengths. I was calm for the most part until they put the drape up to start the surgery. Jacob could see the terror on my face as I could feel the panic creeping up on me. I didn't know what was going on on the other side of that drape but I could feel so much pressure as worked on body to get him out. I was crying, and scared, but Jacob grabbed my hand and pressed his face against mine and talked to me the whole time, hoping it would count as a distraction to keep me from going into a panic attack. After what felt like hours, we heard him let out the sweetest little cry at 12:48PM and it felt as if every ounce of anxiety I had ever experienced, left my body. And all I could do was sob uncontrollably at the sound of our new baby boy. Jacob was crying too as I felt his tears run down my neck.
We've been home for a week now and the journey of breast feeding is not for the faint of heart. I've felt a brand new feeling as a bond was created between Forrest and I. I had never breastfed before so it's all been very NEW to me. It's hard. I have so much respect for anyone who breastfeeds and has stuck to it because I have felt like giving up more often than not. Even though it is full of challenges, I still wouldn't trade it for anything.. I am determined to keep breastfeeding because it's one of the single most unique feelings in the world.
Our boys are over the moon about their baby brother and cannot wait for him to be able to play with them. They've expressed so many times that they're going to teach him allllll about superheroes and how to ride a bike. Our family feels complete. I wouldn't want to be anything other than a mom of all boys because I'll be surrounded by loving and handsome men my entire life."
-Emily Hatch
