First Kick!

Hi Sweet One,

I felt you this morning! I woke up at 6 as usual and spent the hour cuddling next to a snoozing daddy and catching up on the blog world. I looked at the clock at 6:55 and said to myself, "Ok, only 5 more minutes..." Again at 6:59, "One more minute, then I really have to get up for work."

And then, you kicked. I was so excited! I stayed in bed an extra five minutes because I wanted to feel you. It's been so long awaited, and it's so exciting to really know that you're in there. (I know there will be times I won't appreciate it as much, like, say, 4 in the morning!)

I felt you move around twice more, and then I had to force myself out of bed to get on with my day. It was so hard to do that! I could have stayed in bed, lying on my back hoping to feel you again all day.

(I was even tempted to find ways to get my class to lie quietly on their backs so that I would have an excuse to, too!)

Anyway, I'm off to bed, and hoping that I'll be able to feel you again.

It will be so exciting when Daddy can feel you, too!

We both love you very much, and this makes us even more excited to meet you!

♥ Mom

Oh, You...

Friday was the big day. I've been counting down for 6 weeks.We were so excited to find out if you were a girl or boy!

Daddy picked me up after work, and we grabbed drive-thru food on the way to our appointment. It was so exciting to know that within an hour, we would know who you were, and in less than a day, we'd be sharing that wonderful news with our family and friends.

As soon as you came up on the screen, the ultrasound tech commented on what a "mellow" baby you were. "So calm and easy to get the measurements of," She said. I squeezed Daddy's hand and whispered that I'd love it if you kept this calm, easy-going nature throughout your childhood!

When the tech asked if we wanted to know your gender, I was almost breathless. "Yes! We sure do," I said, "Our family is coming over tomorrow for a party so that we can share the news with them."

The tech moved the equipment around on my tummy, paused, and said, "Oh boy...this is difficult."

She continued to search, but finally gave up and told us that she really couldn't tell.

Ouch. My heart plummeted. I had been so excited about finding out whether you were a boy or girl! And now the tech was telling us that we might not know until the day you are born.

(Baby, by the time you're old enough to read this, you'll have figured out what a planner your mom is!)

I've been dying to go to the craft store and buy pink yarn for delicate afgans, or blue yarn for warm and fuzzy sweaters. I can't wait to start calling you by name, planning your nursery, and picking gender-specific things for your registry.

I cried when I called your Auntie Em that night. "What do I do? Do I cancel our 'Gender Reveal Party'?"

She had the right attitude. "Let's not cancel the party," She said, "Let's just celebrate that there's a healthy heartbeat in there, and that you have one 'mellow, calm baby!'"

So, that's what we did.

Our house was full of people who already love you. It was a lot of fun!

And even though we didn't get to do the exciting announcement, "It's a Boy! And his name is..."/"It's a Girl! And her name is...", we did share the special names we've chosen for you, depending on whether you're a girl or boy.

And of course, everyone dressed up according to their vote:

(So, for the record, David, Emily, Mat, Auntie Laura, Tyler, Stacey, Jon, Greg, and Daddy think you're a boy--Yiayia does too, but she stepped out of the group to take a picture)

Notice how Mommy's wearing purple? Yeah. When we found out that we wouldn't find out, I determined that I'd be wearing a mix of pink and blue--purple!

And Sara, Auntie Kate, Gramma, Auntie Em, and Papa think you're a girl.

No matter what you are, we're all going to love you! Just...be good next time if we do get another ultrasound opportunity, ok? Please?

And please, feel free to keep up with that easy-going, mellow baby personality!

Love, Mom

Letter from Gramma Mo

Dear Little One, I remember so clearly, the first time I saw your mommy. She was the first grandchild, just like you are, and so all her grandparents and aunts and uncles came to see her. Everyone agreed that she was the most perfect baby he or she had ever seen. When we had to drive her home, for the first time, we were so worried that she would stop breathing on the way, that your Papa kept stopping the car so we could get out and make sure everything was okay. The first time we gave your mommy a bath, we cranked up the heat to 90 degrees, and as Papa read directions from the baby book, I nervously washed our precious little girl. We had so much to learn, but we trusted in our Heavenly Father to help us every step of the way. Your mommy and daddy are going to be nervous about taking care of you as well, but you know what? That’s okay. There’s so much to learn, and they’ll learn it together – leaning on their Creator, and trusting in Him. You are in such good hands. Your parents are so excited about you, and they can’t wait to hold you, love you, sing to you, read to you, and play with you. Your mommy is going to teach you how to make beautiful things with your hands, and your daddy is going to teach you how to play all sorts of games and give the best hugs that anyone can give. But the best thing they’re going to teach you is how to love your Heavenly Father and how to show His love to others. That I’m sure of! Papa and I can’t wait to do all the fun things that grandparents get to do. We’ll take you to the zoo and to see the ducks in the pond. We’ll read to you and teach you all the silly songs that we taught our own children. And then, when you and your parents leave to drive home, we’ll stand in the street and wave until you’re out of sight. Your life is going to be a happy one, because you have the best parents in the world, and you have grandparents who love you more than life itself. We put you securely in God’s hands and know that He will take care of you all your life. We can’t wait to see you! Love, love, love, Gramma Mo

Letter from Aunt Laura

Our Little Brubaby,

I’m sure that you’ll never be in doubt about the fact that you might just be the most loved baby in the world. At least, I surely hope that you’ll never doubt that. Your parents are just about the proudest I’ve seen, and your aunts and uncle and I have spent quite a bit of time talking about you: your name, your personality, your hobbies, your allergies (which I, for one, hope won’t be many.)… The list goes on. You’re 16 weeks old and already the popular one.

It’s so exciting to me to watch your mom when she talks about you. She was born to be a mommy – I always said so, right from the beginning. Your mommy was only six years old when I was born, and she reminds me (often) about the fact that she used to change my diapers. Being her sister, I was never too keen on the idea of having more than one mother, so I’m afraid I was never very good about being her “baby doll”. But I have since learned that your mom was only taking care of me because she loved me so much – and I can only imagine how much she loves you! Your dad, too, is so much fun to watch when the conversation turns to you. He is so proud of you. I hope that you will always know how much they really love you – it’s not just something that parents say. This kind of love is something special. It’s something that we all feel for you, and for each other. It’s the kind of love that is always there, no matter what. I’m so glad that you get to join our lovely, loving family. You will be a wonderful addition!

I love thinking about the places that your parents, your aunts, your uncle, your grandparents, and I will get to take you. But even more than that, I love thinking about the places that you will go on your own. It’s a beautiful world out there, Brubaby, and there’s such a lot of it to see. I wonder if you will be the sort who finds adventure and beauty at home, or if you’ll be filled with a wanderlust all your life that can only be fulfilled by traveling. Ideally, maybe you will be both. It is a beautiful world out there, but the older I get and the more places I see, the more I realize that there is beauty everywhere – even at home. So if you are like me, and you grow up just itching to jump on the next bus, train, plane or ship, I hope that you do. (With your parents’ permission, of course.) But I hope that, if you do, you will also realize that discovery doesn’t really depend on where you go. Traveling is nice, but it isn’t essential. A French fellow once said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

It is so exciting to think about all of the landscapes that your new eyes will be seeing soon. And I want to challenge you, straight from the beginning, to always try to view your world through those new eyes. There is so much to see, and to learn, and to do, and to love, if you just remember to keep looking.

I can’t wait to meet you! I look forward to being a part of your life, and to having you be a part of mine.

Lots and lots of love,

Aunt Laura

Letter from Yiayia

Welcome to our world wee one! You have fabulous parents who will bring you into a world of love and happiness! I can hardly wait to hold you and snuggle you and kiss you! I look forward to rocking you to sleep and watching your face and guessing your dreams! I already have fabric to make your first baby quilt! Love, Yiayia :-)

Letter from Great Gramma Pat

Good morning, Sweet One,

I've been collecting letters that family members have written to you, and I'm going to be posting them for the next few days. Only 2 more days until we find out! We all love you so much!

Love, Mom

Dear Precious Baby,

Although you're not born yet I am so excited about being your "great-gramma"! You are the first great-grandchild from one of my daughters and your mother is my 1st and special grandchild. I can't wait to hold you in my arms and look into your eyes as I was blessed to do with your mother. That is a moment I will never forget.

Your great-papa and I are very excited about being able to baby sit with you whenever your mommy and daddy need us to.

So little one, now we wait and look forward to your "birth day" with great joy and anticipation.

Love you,

G.Gramma

Loved

I love this picture that Daddy took on Saturday night at my cousin Lucas' wedding. Your aunts and uncle are so excited to meet you! Every time I see this picture, I just get the biggest smile. You are loved. We don't know whether you're a boy or girl yet, or what your personality will be like, but you are loved. Already. And it's not going to change.

Aunt Laura made this her profile picture on facebook this morning, and underneath it, she wrote, "Brubaby is one lucky child, being brought into this pack of hooligans. Here's looking at you, kid."

We love you!