17 Weeks

Hey little one,

Daddy just came back last night from a week away, and it's so good to have him home! He goes every year up to Frasier Park with the 6th grade class at school, and he loves every minute of being back at a camp. I've always known he could be a year-round camp counselor for the rest of his life and be happy, but it was nice to hear him say that as much as he loves camp, he knows he has much more exciting adventures ahead of him just being your daddy.

We're going to have so much fun!

We are hosting a party for you three weeks from today where we will announce whether you are a boy or a girl, and then we'll share your name with our friends and family. We're looking forward to it! It will just be a simple BBQ, but being able to announce our news will be so much fun!

I can't believe we're only three weeks away from knowing what you are. I'm so excited!

The next few weekends are looking pretty exciting. In one week, it's Easter, in two weeks, we're going to be spending the weekend in San Diego at my cousin Lucas's wedding, and in three weeks, we get to find out if you're a boy or a girl! Just can't wait.

Daddy and I are starting to think about our vacation this year. It's going to be the last one without you. We're so excited about getting to take you places with us! You'll be the cutest little camper in the park :-) No camping for Mommy this year, but we're thinking about other things we can do that will be close to home (just in case) and still feel like we "got away."

It's fun to think about the trips we will do as a family. Daddy and I can't wait to share this amazing world with you. God truly is an artist. We pray that you always see His hand in everything in your life!

Love, Mom

16 Weeks

Our Sweet Baby,

You're 16 weeks along in your journey. It's so exciting to be nearing the halfway point of my pregnancy. Daddy and I can't wait to meet you!

You're becoming more and more apparent to the world, and that's exciting, too! By now you're probably about the size of an avocado. It's funny to picture an avocado rolling around inside of me and not be able to feel it. I know I'll be feeling you move around very soon, because every once in a while, I feel flutterings and movements and I know it's you stretching around and exploring your environment.

My morning sickness has finally gone away. You sure caused Mommy a lot of havoc! I've been off of my anti-nausea prescription for 2 weeks now, and I'm slowly getting back to eating normal food. Life is becoming wonderful again! I'm happy that my signs of pregnancy are an ever rounder tummy and feeling your tiny movements--instead of morning sickness! I think this trimester will be a much more pleasant one :-)

We are less than a month away now from finding out who we will be bringing home in September. Are you a little boy, or a little girl? God knows, and you do. I have to admit, I hope this is the biggest secret you ever keep from us. I hope with all of my heart that as you grow, you will trust your mom and dad and know that you can tell us anything. We will always love you.

We're going to the doctor as soon as I get off work on May 6th for the ultrasound that will (hopefully! no squirming around in there!) tell us who you are. Be good for the doctor and show your true colors, ok? :-)

We can't wait to know!

Now that I'm finally feeling better, I'm itching to make all sorts of things for you. I just need to know if I should add flowers and bows or cars and dinosaurs. We're going to have so much fun!

I love you!

♥ Mommy

So proud of you

Howdy little one,

I am so excited about you and I am constantly thankful for your presence in our lives.  I have your latest picture on my phone right now and it is so amazing to be able to see you everyday and to share you with others.  I am always showing you off to the youth I work with, friends, church members and random people I meet at the grocery store.  I am so proud of you, our little blessing.

It is great to know that your Mom and I aren't the only ones who are looking forward to meeting you.  Your grandparents, aunts and uncle are all eager to hear any news or updates we have about your growth.  My students are always asking what we are going to name you and when they will get to see you (other than on my phone of course).  You are already so loved by so many.

Just writing this has brought me such a smile and a joy to be your father.  I can only imagine how great it will be to see and hear you the next time and can't fathom the greatness of holding you for the first time.

I love you, always and forever.  God bless you, little one.

-Your Doting Daddy

Fingerprints

Hello, Sweet One!

Daddy and I cherish each Friday morning as we read about your developments for the week. You're 13 weeks and 1 day old today. The last week of our first trimester! It's a victory for both of us. (Please let Mommy start feeling well soon, ok?)

The most exciting development this week is that your fingerprints have formed! I love thinking about of the the painting those little fingers will be doing; we'll have so much fun making crafts for your grandparents and things to put on our fridge. I can't imagine how tiny your fingers are right now. You're still less than three inches from head to bottom, so they must be so little! It's incredible to think that your fingerprints--so uniquely you--are already there.

It made me think about the song Fingerprints of God by Steven Curtis Chapman.

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and...

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started and…

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God.

Mommy and Daddy love you!

Love, Mom

Look How Much You've Grown!

Hey Little One,

Daddy and I went to the doctor this morning for Nuchal Translucency Screening today. Our doctor said it was a good idea to do this test to see how you were developing and see if there were any chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome. We told the doctor that even if there was, we would keep you without a question and love you the way that you were. Our doctor said not to worry--he would never pressure us towards an abortion. We are thankful for a doctor who values life!

I had no idea what I was in for as far as NT Screening was concerned. I had been told that there would be bloodwork, but that was it. So when they called me in and had me lay on a table, I was surprised to learn that we'd be getting an ultrasound today!

The way that the monitor was pointing, I couldn't see the screen at all, but Daddy stood by my feet and watched the screen with a huge smile as the technician moved the wand over my tummy. Daddy had his hand on my leg and would tell me what he was seeing. "I can see the heart beating! Our baby has a perfect little nose! I can even see the ears!"

It was hard not to be envious of his view. But I'm so glad that he was there to see you! And we have three new pictures of you to share with everyone. Two of them are pretty blurry, but this one just makes my heart glow.

It's so incredible to look at this picture--at how perfectly formed and preciously babyish you are--and remember that you're not even three inches long yet. So tiny! God is an amazing Artist. Look at you, Sweet One! We can see all of your features--tiny nose, ears, lips, so perfectly and wonderfully made. And your spine, your organs, your adorable little belly that I can't wait to kiss, and your hands with visible fingers!

Today was such an exciting day, Baby, and seeing you again was such an unexpected gift. We love you!

Love, Mommy

For you created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in Your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

Night Night

Sweet One,

Tonight, I'm thinking about your bedtimes.

Daddy and I are going to love snuggling baby-you close and holding you as you fall asleep.

And we're going to love singing songs and reading bedtime stories to bigger-you, too.

And we will always, always tell you that we love you. That's what I want floating above your head as you fall asleep.

I'm thinking about bedtime right now because I talked with my preschoolers about it today.

Some of their mommies and daddies don't say "I love you," before closing the door at night. Some of them don't read stories. Some of them don't sing songs. Many of them turn on the tv and walk out.

Baby, that's never going to happen in our house. We're not going to let you rule the roost and decide your own bedtime, but you will never go to sleep without knowing you are loved.

I love thinking back to the bedtime routines my parents had for me and your aunties and uncle when we were little. Always a story, and always a special song for each of us.

We'll have lots of special songs, Little One. I'm going to have to ask your Papa to record all of the ones from my childhood that I may have forgotten, and I can tell you right now, your Daddy is chock-full of silly camp songs that I'm sure will have you giggling and dancing again instead of drifting off beneath your covers.

Oh, we're going to have so much fun with you!

The thought of warm and cuddly little you snuggled up in a blanket and smelling so good straight after a bedtime bath is filling me with happy thoughts right now. I can't wait!

Right now, I'm tucked into bed and waiting for Daddy to come home from a late-night meeting. The house is dark and quiet, and I'm thinking of you. I want to sing to you the song Papa sang to us every night as he kissed us and slipped out of the room. You'll be hearing it a lot in the future, too, Little One.

"The Lord bless thee,

And keep thee,

The Lord make His face

To shine upon thee.

And be gracious unto thee,

and be gracious unto thee.

The Lord lift up His countenance

Upon thee and give thee peace."

I love you. Good night.

~Mom

Our First Peek

Here's looking at you, kid!

What an exciting thing it was to see you for the first time! Our very first ultrasound was on February 24th, and the moment you came up on the screen, Daddy's hand found mine and we just squeezed each other with delight. You were wiggling all over the place, and your left hand was waving around like you were trying to say hi!

It was so much fun to see you...and such a relief to see that that as sick as I've been, it hasn't affected you (do you know that you put Mommy in the hospital twice in one week? I couldn't keep anything down, and we were both dehydrated. They had to hook me up to IVs to take care of both of us--I was so scared for you!). You look just as happy and healthy as can be!

Aside from your appearance on-screen, you're also making your appearance to the world. I'm starting to show! I still haven't gained weight (lost about 8 pounds due to morning sickness) but my tummy is round and you're letting everyone know you're in there. I wonder how much longer I'll fit in my jeans?

Daddy and I both have your picture saved on our phones, and we love looking at it. Even more, I love knowing that you already look different from what we saw over a week ago. You're growing into the little one we're going to love so much, and I can't wait to hold you!

You're 11 weeks old today. September feels so far away...but I'm looking forward to (hopefully) feeling better in the next few weeks and cherishing the time that I have with you growing inside of me. I pray every day that our relationship will always be wonderfully close, but I know that these are the days we'll be as physically close as ever!

Keep on growing, little one. Daddy and I pray for you every day!

We love you!

Love, Mom