25 Weeks

Hello, sweet Little One,

You are 25 weeks old now, and you're getting more and more active every day! In the last few days, your kicks have been so strong that we can see them through my clothes, and you totally surprised your dad this afternoon when I had him put his hand on my stomach to feel you. You're moving all over the place!

We went to the Lavender Festival with Yiayia on Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful views of lavender fields stretching on and on. It provided the perfect place for some special photos. We're looking forward to going again next year with a bubbly 9 month old. (As your daddy's child, how can you be anything but bubbly?!?)

I'm really enjoying this time with you. Half of the people I talk to still don't believe I'm pregnant (you should see their eyes bug out when I say I'm six months along already!) I love that I know that you're there, but that I can still sit comfortably, sleep comfortably, and curl up next to your dad when we watch a movie together. Our favorite "one-and-a-half-person-couch" is going to be seeing the end of its use, pretty soon. Instead of the 1.5 that Daddy and I have always been, we are very quickly becoming an obvious set of three!

It's hard to believe that we are so close to the third trimester, already. We're getting there, Baby! We're also hoping to schedule a 3D ultrasound pretty soon. I'm not hyping myself up about finding out your gender this time, though. As much as I want to know what you are, I'm becoming more and more ok with the fact that you just might choose not to share that with us until your birthday. Whatever the case, we're going to love you to bits!

Can't wait for that special day...

Love you!

♥ Mom

A Precious Moment

Good Morning, Sweet One,

Yesterday I woke to the feeling of you moving around. Your kicks are getting stronger now, and I actually have to hold the laptop on my lap so that you don't kick it off!

Daddy had his arm wrapped around me in his sleep, with his hand resting on my growing belly. I felt you dance around, and then Daddy would squeeze back in response. I assumed that he was awake and enjoying this time with you, so I was so surprised when I looked and realized that he was sound asleep!

This little game between the two of you continued until my alarm went off and I had to get up for work. When I woke Daddy up and told him about your kicks and his response, he smiled broadly and said, "It was our first tickle war!"

We're looking forward to playing with you so much! And the thought of being able to see you smile and giggle makes me so excited for your appearance a few months from now.

Love, Mom

p.s. Happy 24 weeks! Grow, baby, grow!

p.p.s. I love you!

Hello!

Howdy, wee one,

Yesterday I felt you moving for the very first time.  Until now, while still being eager to see you everyday, I have been content to see your latest pictures on my phone and remember the pace of your heartbeat.  However, things have changed.  I finally got to feel what your mother has been able to feel for weeks now.  You moved for me.  It isn't much, but it is definitely you and I am so amazed and overjoyed to actually be able to feel you with my own hand and to be able to "hold" you for the first time.

It is going to be an amazing thing to actually hold, hug and snuggle you in person some day.  I know that there will be times when you want your space, and I will give it to you when necessary, but I will also be back for more very quickly.  The excitement of having you with us is such a great joy.

You are constantly on my mind and will always be in my heart.  You are our pride and joy and we can not wait to shower you with love.  We know that our heavenly Father is taking care of you right now and that He will always be an important part of our lives, but I can't wait to be His hands here on earth for you.  I love you little one and I look forward to seeing you in just a few months.

Love: Your Doting Daddy

"I Love You, Baby!"

Good morning, Little One!

There's a little boy in my class named Gordon. He doesn't speak very much English, but he tries hard. His mom just had a baby a couple of months ago, so the memory of a giant belly is still very fresh in his little 4 year old head. When I shared with my class on Friday that I was having a baby, he scrutinized me for the rest of the day. Finally, he came up to me, patted my tummy, and said, "I no see baby!" I assured him that you're in there, that you're just very tiny and that you still need to grow. He seemed contented by that, and now every day when he sees me, he puts both of his little hands on my tummy and says, "I love you, baby!"

It warms my heart.

(I love you, too!)

♥ Mom

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