Letters to Bug-Week 27-Officially a Name

3/12/17

Good morning sweet Eli!

Mama is still working on using your real name so that when you come, you will know your name and not just your nickname! Although I suppose I am only halfway there, because I still refer to you as Eli which is a nickname. Your dad and I have chosen to name you Elijah Joseph, after three very important people in the Bible. Elijah, who could arguably be considered the greatest profit of the Old Testament, is such a great man. His story is absolutely fantastic and his reliance on God when everybody around him was relying on the world and false gods, is amazing. As your dad and I have been trying to decide if this is going to be here for sure name, this week's lunch hour ministry talk on the radio that mam listens to daily, has been the story of Elijah and it just solidifies for me that this name is perfect for you. Your dad and I always knew that you would come into our life, there's no way to explain it. It was almost like a prophecy from God. Science was telling us no, this world was telling us that it wasn't going to happen, but we relied on God and knew that you were coming into our life. Elijah had to do the same and he faced some pretty tough times! I hope that you learn to rely on God the same as Elijah did in his time.

Your middle name, Joseph, is shared by your dad and he is really excited about that. There are also two very very very important Joseph's in the Bible. The first Joseph is best known due to a guy named Danny Osmond and a musical put together by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Mr. Weber and Mr. Rice created a play called Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dream coat, after the story in the Bible about Joseph. But the play doesn't even begin to get into the depths that is the story of Joseph. Joseph, like a Elijah, had a really really tough life at times. He had to endure being thrown in prison for nothing literally, hated by all of his brothers because he was his dad's favorite, sold in to slavery due to that hatred, and had a multitude of other things happened to him that we're really not his fault. I suppose you could argue some of it may have been his fault because he was a little prideful and arrogant, but he was also human too. He also had to rely on God during these hard times and it would've been super easy to believe that God had forsaken him or that something else was at work. It would've been super easy, as he has a very happy ending, to believe that it was all of his own power. But he gives all of the glory and all of the blessings back to God, because he knows that's where they came from. Joseph kept upstanding morals and reliance on God, something I hope we can teach you sweet Eli. 

The other Joseph in the Bible, plays such a significant role in Christianity, and yet I think he sometimes gets overlooked as just a supporting actor or something like that. You see, Joseph was Jesus's Earth dad. He didn't have a biological connection to Jesus, because Jesus was God and didn't have a biological Earth dad. But you see, in the time that Jesus came, if Mary would have had him and not have been married to Joseph, there's a good chance she could've been killed or that Jesus could've been killed as a baby due to laws and customs. When you think about it, by Joseph following God's plan, he kind of made sure that Jesus could be born and live and save the world. Joseph had his doubts as well, and at first tried to respectfully walk away and not shame Mary. Right there, is a huge leap of respect and Faith to not out her. But then after listening to God, he not only did not disrespect her, he married her! And by marry her, and allowed her to carry and take care of and provide for baby Jesus. The rest of the Jesus story I will make sure you know I was your girl. But this very early beginning, is often overlooked. For without Joseph, Jesus could have been in some big trouble! God always has a plan, and well Joseph was the plan! 

So that is where your name comes from Mr. Elijah "Eli" Joseph Humphrey,! Such a strong and powerful name for a miracle little baby.

Here we are at 27 weeks, third tri or just about third tri depending on who you ask or what app you open! Your movements are getting so much stronger and I can feel you every day. It is never lost on me when I get to feel you move inside and I always have to stop and just enjoy! The app say that you are about 15 inches long and a little over 2 pounds. You are apparently the size of a very long cucumber or the worlds smallest box. It also appears that you have the most taste buds you will ever have in your entire life right now. More than when you are born and more than you will have as an adult! I am so excited to let you try all kinds of different foods when you are older, and I really hope that you share the same love for certain foods that your dad and I have, and a love for trying new and exotic foods and traveling the world and enjoying culture that way!

Well sweet Bug that is all for today. We love you and we are counting down the days until your arrival!

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 26

3/5/17

Good morning baby E!!!

It feels weird to start using your actual name rather than just calling you my little bug. Your dad and I are making a conscious effort this week to start calling you by your name, because otherwise you may grow up and think that your name really is bug! We are at the end of second trimester and I cannot believe that in just a few short days, we will be heading into 3rd trimester and the homestretch to finally meeting you on the outside! I have such mixed feelings about it. I am so incredibly excited to see you and hold you outside in my arms and to finally get to meet you face-to-face. On the other hand there is A little bit of sadness at the fact that I will now have to share you with the whole world. There's something special about knowing that I am the only one who has held you, and felt your movements, and have literally been connected to you. As much as I have excitement at sharing you with the world, a small part of me also wishes I could keep you to myself forever.

We are getting really excited at our house because all of your things have started arriving. This week your car seat is coming and the recliner rocker for your bedroom is also on its way! It feels so cool to see all of these things, and to envision using each one with you. Your grandma Kathy, who wants to go by Mimi so I will have to work on that, and your aunt Katie have been busily working on baby shower celebrations for you. Your aunt Katie can go a little above and beyond, so you will always have the best celebrations and birthdays and life events. You will get used to her and know how much she loves you! I am looking forward to just having all of our family and friends together so that we can celebrate you and the excitement that you are bringing into our lives. We are so very very thankful to God and so very odd and his amazing and perfect planning. If I could have a celebration for you, it would be not just a baby shower, but a thank you God shower! 

According to the apps, you are steadily and rapidly gaining weight. Somewhere between one and a half and 2 1/2 pounds! That's a lot of baby in there! You are also around 13 inches long and continue to gain weight. Everything has started coming online as far as your body organs and functions go, but they still need time to mature, so your arrival is not yet ready! The app also says that your senses are becoming more and more functional and you can now open your eyes and see the world! Well, whatever the world looks like inside of your tiny little water bubble! Your dad and I have really been working at night to read to you and also just talk to you and share our favorite music. Your dad really loves sharing Kenny Chesney, I hope you are a country fan so you guys can share that! I have enjoyed sharing my favorite praise and worship songs with you and songs that get me through tough days! I really really hope that you enjoy music and worship as much as I do. We can share that common bond!

Well sweet bug, I will say goodbye for now, and I can't believe that the next time I write you it will be third trimester! Love you so much little bug!

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 25

2/26/2017

Hello sweet baby bug!

Here you are at 25 weeks and life is getting pretty exciting around our home and family! Let me first start out by telling you, we found a new home and we picked out the perfect bedroom for you! Your dad and I are very excited to dream about painting the room and setting it up for you and having it ready for when we bring you home. We have also started receiving some of your furniture from our registry! Your room officially has a crib, pack and play, and your stroller/travel system! The house is filling up quickly with your things! I look at them every day and I am just so grateful to have you and to be able to have these things for you. You see sweet Bug, your mom is a social worker and I work with a lot of families who struggle and just aren't able to provide the things they want to for their babies. It is another blessing that I am glad your dad and I have and are able to give to you. One thing that has been really important to me, while we have been physically searching for a new home, is that when you make your grand appearance, you have a home to come too. I want the place that you come home to to be yours for a long time! And now we have a family home!

We also had our doctor's appointment this last week, and a meeting with a midwife! We are trying to decide on where we want to have you! We are debating between a hospital and having you at our own home and it is all very exciting! Still so many big decisions to make before your arrival, which I can't believe is in 15 weeks, give or take! Both appointments said that you are right on track for growth and we are both doing amazing! Apparently your mama giving up coffee and everything else that she loves, but is bad for her, has done you really well! I absolutely love hearing your little heart on the Doppler and knowing that everything is going well in there. I wish there was a way that I could see into my belly and be able to look at you every day, but that technology is not available yet, at least not outside of an ultrasound! So for now I will just keep dreaming about you and thinking about you and loving how I picture you right now! Until you make your appearance and prove me wrong! Then I can see how you really look and love your actual little face and cheeks and hands and toes and everything else!

According to the apps, you are putting on quite a bit of weight as you prepare to come out into the real world! You are still hovering around 9 inches from your head to your butt or about 13 inches head to feet, but you are now up to a pound and a half! It says that your senses are really starting to pick up and that you may be able to even smell now. I have no idea how science figures these things out, but that is really cool! Your dad and I continue to talk to you all the time because the app say that you could hear us. You are probably so tired of hearing my voice, because all I do is talk all day long! But no amount of talking that I do during the day, gives me the joy that talking to you in the car or at night does! I am also feeling your movement so much more and it is absolute musing. I love feeling your little kicks and jabs and what feels like somersaults in there! Enjoy it while you can, because the app say that your space is going to grow Small soon! I have absolutely been loving every part of this pregnancy and every part of you, I think you figured it out bug, I just really love you!

That is it for this week! 

Love, 

Mommy

I forgot our pic of the week with all the crazy of house hunting but here is a quick pic. You are the size of Cauliflower now!!!!

Letters to Bug-Week 24-It is V day!!!!

2/19/17

Good morning sweet baby bug!

This is a big week for you, it's viability week! Sometimes it's a known as V day, but what it really means is that if you were born today, don't get any ideas, you would have a better chance of surviving than not. It feels like it has been such a long road to get here, but we are here!  I am so excited to start looking forward to your arrival and planning for it. Your dad and I have been doing birthing classes for about five weeks now and have about seven weeks ago and I still don't feel like I know what I'm doing! Hopefully mother nature and your dad coaching help me out! All I know, is I wish I could fast forward and see you already. But I am working on my patience and waiting for your perfect timing of entering into this world.

It has been a very busy week in our house dear little bug. Earlier this week we found out that we are going to have to move before you were born! 16 weeks never felt so short! So your dad and I are busy looking for a new house, but house hunting this time around is really hard. We want to find the perfect house with a room for you,  So when we bring you home you will have a space of your own. We are also not sure if we want to keep living in the area that we already are because we love the daycare we have picked out for you, or if we want to move to a different area. And I think that this might be the house you grow up in and school you attend makes it even more complicated! So many details going into this move! But don't worry bug, your dad is determined to find us the perfect house and be all settled before your arrival. So we really need you to give us the full 16 weeks, OK?

We also went to the store and bought your crib, stroller, and pack and play. They should be arriving this week and it makes me so excited to think that your furniture is coming. I wish that we were setting it up in your room, but that will come. It was so exciting to be in the store and truly picture you in each of the pieces of equipment and our plans and hopes for you with those. Obviously we hope you love your crib and will be a great sleeper, we want to take lots of walks and go see tons of different things with you and your stroller, and we will definitely need that pack and play because your dad and I plan to travel the world with you. It is so exciting to think about you being in our lives and a part of everything we love. We sure hope you love the same things we do!

The apps are getting all kinds of confused, because apparently this is the point when babies start growing on their own time and ability. According to the app so you are somewhere between eight and 12 inches, and between 12 and 20 ounces. We are pretty sure you are probably closer to 16 or 17 ounces at least, because a month ago you were already close to 12! You are growing so fast and I can't believe that you are a pound or more already! My tiny little boy is already getting so bag and I just keep envisioning holding you and loving you and kissing you! The apps also tell us that you're hearing has greatly improved and you can hear not only all the sounds in my body but the sounds around you including your brother dogs barking. They want to make sure that you recognize them long before you're born! The other cool thing that is happening in your body right now is that you have capillaries forming which are giving you a less see-through look and a more pinkish look which is really cool to think about. Pretty soon your skin will start turning its final color and your hair will go from white to whatever color it will be. Your dad and I love to talk about what we think it will look like and what features you will have. Really, we just love talking about you!

Happy V-day sweet Bug and know that mommy and daddy love you very very much!!!!

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 23

2/12/17

Good morning my sweet baby bug!

It is funny to think that you are my little baby, when you have done so much growing and developing over the last couple of months. From where you started to now, you have become quite large! A fun fact we learned in our birthing class this week, if you had continued to grow like you did in the first couple of months, you would weigh a literal ton when you were born! To you think of how much has taken place in your short little life so far is absolutely amazing. You went from a one cell egg combine to another cell, and expanded rapidly from there. You develop cells that became your brain, heart, blood, and everything else in your body. You have grown arms and legs and toes and even a sweet little button nose. We have gotten to watch you grow from a tiny little circle on the ultrasound to a full baby moving around in my belly. It has been absolutely amazing to watch your development and read about it each week. God has designed you perfectly and thought of every little detail about who you are. He already knows your name, even if we aren't sure of it yet. He loves every little thing about you and has placed everything in just the place it's meant to be. Always remember, for God so loved the world, which includes you, that he sent his son so we have nothing to worry about. Your mama could take some advice from herself on that one. I hope that I can teach you to rely on God even when you're anxious and worried. It doesn't always take the worry away, but it sure is an amazing feeling to know that God has a plan for you.

Your dad has decided to start writing letters to you too. I can't wait for you to be able to read all these letters that we have written to you and I hope that you realize that you are loved and thought of every single day. Not a day goes by in our week where we don't talk about you or something you're doing right now or hope or dream we have for you. Every single day, your dad asks how you are and makes sure that you're OK. He is so excited to be your dad and I know that I gushed about how much I love you in these letters, but in this letter, I just want you to know how much your dad loves you.

We had a fun weekend this last weekend. Your grandma, Uncle, and Aunt came out and helped us move all of our furniture around the house getting ready for you. Your room has been completely cleaned out and now we just need to go buy your furniture. It's a good thing your dad and I have already decided on what we want, because as you know, we are not that great with decisions! The biggest one we have left is what color to paint your walls! I want you to love your room, and I know you probably won't have an opinion of it for a while, but I wanted to be perfect. It has a special place for a special little man!

According to the apps this week you have not grown too much in length, still around 11 or 12 inches long, but you are gaining weight! You are up over a pound now and it says in the coming weeks you were going to rapidly gain more weight. Right now you have a bunch of extra skin kind of just hanging around, but as you start gaining weight and fat in your body, it says that you are plump out! So I guess your job for the next couple of weeks is just to gain baby gain! It also says that all of your senses are becoming more sophisticated. Your eyes are able to better detect light, your ears are able to better hear things inside my belly and out, and your taste buds are able to start tasting differences based on the food I eat. So cool to think of all of your little senses coming online.

That's it for this week bug! Mommy and daddy love you and we are looking forward to meeting you!

Love,

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 22-It's a ......

2/5/17

Hello my sweet baby boy!

I cannot believe that I am able to write baby boy, because we now know that you are a little boy! Each passing week makes you feel just a little bit more, I don't know the right words, but real and here and with us. I know you have been with us this entire time, but as each week passes and we began to get closer to your arrival, the feeling of realness just grow. I continue to tell everybody that I am surprised and shocked that we are to this point, but that really is the truth. Every passing week I am grateful that you are here with us and it continues to be a surreal experience.

This past week has been such an amazing week my sweet little boy. We found out that you were a little boy and shared with all of our family and friends. Everybody is so very very excited for you! We got to have a party last Friday night and so many family members came! You had grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins, and more! It was so much fun to be able to celebrate you joining our family and becoming one of us. Congratulations, you are one of us, be prepared! You are surrounded in so much love and everybody knows that you are a blessing from God. I hope you always remember that little bug, you are a blessing from God. 

Your dad and I also got to finish your baby registry this weekend and we had so much fun picking out things that we hope you will use in the future. We decided on a crib and a car seat and so much more. I can I believe how much trouble I had deciding on these things, because they're the only crib or car seat or other equipment that you will ever have. It felt like such big decisions, but they are made! We also went shopping for clothing. Your dad was able to finally embrace you coming into our family and not having to worry about jinxing it! I have to admit, I still worry about this but it is getting easier. We found you so many cute outfits and they were all on sale! You will learn quickly that your mom loves a good sale. My motto is, never pay full price, it will go on sale! As we went from store to store, with each outfit we picked out for you and purchased, I teared up a bit because I'm so happy. I can envision you in each of these outfits and it made everything just a little bit more real. Maybe what made it even more real, is when we brought everything home, we cleaned out the room that will be your nursery. I then got to hang all of these clothing items, along with gifts that people have already given you, in the closet. Your closet now has baby things and it just makes my heart so happy to look at. I am so overwhelmed and filled with joy at the thought that in just a few short months, we will be putting you in that nursery! I can't begin to describe my feelings about bringing you home and having you in our arms. I am just so absolutely excited to meet you and Love dreaming about your future! 

This week we also had our follow-up scan because you are already a very independent little person, and did not enjoy having your pictures taken last time. We got to see your tiny little nose and lips, that beating little heart that we love looking at, and your overall profile again. I just love looking at you and seeing you on the monitor. You were still being quite independent and not moving around for the tech, so I think that you will have strong leadership skills and hopefully never be a follower! Unless of course, you are a follower of Jesus, I always hope that for  you!!!

According to the apps, you are getting quite large! You are somewhere between 16 and 20 ounces, which is hard to believe. You have made it to a full pound! You are about the size of a spaghetti squash or a guinea pig or a coconut! That is getting to be quite large and makes me super excited! I have been able to feel you moving around more and that is always fun. Your dad is waiting to be able to feel you kick on the outside, but he is doing really great at being patient. We have started reading stories to you at night and enjoy our little family reading time. Hopefully you will have a love for reading just like I do. The app say that you can now hear things going on both inside my body and outside, so hopefully you are enjoying the stories your dad picks out! The apps also say that you are working on all of your motor skills and grabbing whatever you can, which apparently is only your umbilical cord and your own body parts, but soon you'll be able to grasp so much more!

We love you so much little bug. I can't even comprehend the love I have for you or describe it, but just know that you are totally loved. Looking forward to watching you continue to grow inside my belly and counting down the days until we see you!

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 21

1/29/17

Hello baby bug!

Here we are at week 21, and boy has it been an exciting week! I really wish I would've kept this letter going all week because lots of things have happened and I'm sure I will miss some details. But maybe if I remember something later, I will go back and write it out! 

Your movements are definitely becoming easier for me to feel and I absolutely love the little surprise movements that I get to experience right now. Your dad is eagerly awaiting until he can feel the movements on the outside! He still loves talking to you at night and learning all about your development, now he wants to be able to feel your movements too!

On Thursday, we had a jampacked baby day! We had our ultrasound where they checked you over from head to toe. You are perfect in every way! It was awesome to be able to see you for over an hour and see all of your little body parts working together. We got to see your feet and your hands, fingers and toes, you practicing your breathing and being able to see that your stomach and bladder and kidneys are working! We got to see your little spine, and your belly, and we got to see the most adorable little nose and lips ever! You are so absolutely perfect. You are measuring right on on track and I could not be happier. We were also able to have them put into an envelope whether you are a boy or a girl! That envelope is killing your dad and I! We are supposed to have a party next Friday, but I don't know if we'll be able to hold out that long! We are just both so excited for you.

On Thursday we also went and toured a lot of different daycares is in our area and we picked out the one that we think will be perfect for you! What a tough decision, as this is technically your first school and the place that you will spend so much time at during the day! We want to make sure that we picked out a place that was not only a good location and work for your dad and I, but where we know that you will be well taken and loved! I feel like we have finally started making decisions and it just reinforces that you are going to be here before we know it! 

We also took time this week to pick out a crib and changing table and I think we have it set! I really hope you like this bed, because it I'll be yours for like your whole life! Or at least until you can go off to college! So many decisions yet to make, what kind of stroller do you want, what kind of car seat do we want, what will your nursery look like, and so much more! There are so many things you never think of until you have to make all these decisions! And you're not even here yet! 

One thing that does not have to be decided, is it how much you are loved! Your dad and I do not think that there is a way we could love any thing or anyone more than you. I hope that you always know that you are loved and that you are cherished and wanted and special. You are our little bug and you always well be.

According to the apps, they officially measure you different! I think I may have said this before, but the measurements have always been from your head to your butt, or as they call it, crown to rump. But now, they measure you fully, from head to toe! And you are getting quite big! I know from our ultrasound that you weigh between 13 and 14 ounces, almost a pound! The apps tell us that you are about 10 1/2 inches long, so almost a foot! You are a tiny human with everything in place and just growing everything out now. It says that you are getting eyebrows and your lips are becoming more distinct. I can tell you for sure, I can tell your lips! It also says that you are practicing breathing and getting hiccups. How absolutely cute is that!?!?!?? 

Well bug, that is it for this week! It has been a very busy week and this coming week will also be very busy! I look forward to being able to tell the whole world whether you are a boy or a girl and really being able to finish deciding your nursery and other things. Don't worry, I will leave some life decisions to you! I love you so very much Bug!!!!

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 20-Halfway!

1/22/17

Hello and good morning precious little bug!

Today is a super exciting day and a pretty big milestone, we have made it to halfway! I am still working on the processing of the fact that we are halfway to meeting you and that we have made it this far with you. It is so crazy to think that your only job right now is basically to get bigger and grow. Most everything is already in place and you are a tiny little person. According to the apps, the way that they measure you changes now. The old way, crown to rump, says that you are about 6 1/2 inches long. But the new way, because your legs are straightened out so they can measure you from head to toe, says that you are about 10 inches long. So basically you are about the size of a banana!

Your dad and I have jokingly been calling you are banana baby all day. Maybe this will stick, who knows! Is there such a thing as a banana bug? I am guessing that is something like a fruit fly, so maybe banana bug isn't a good term. 

We have started to get ready and prepare for your arrival! This last week we started taking birthing classes in preparation for trying to have the birth that we want. It is very exciting to think about the fact that every day I am working on preparing my body for birth just like I did to prepare it for you to be put into my body. The class is also exciting to me because it is 12 weeks and really focuses on letting nature do it's thing and hopefully we can enjoy a medication free and uncomplicated birth.

We have also started the process of choosing a theme for your nursery and rearranging rooms to prepare for your arrival! The way we have our house set up right now, is not very middle of the night wake up friendly. So we are rearranging sleeping spaces to make it so that it is the best set up for you. We are very excited to start getting things for your nursery and putting the stuff we have away!

We took time today to listen to your little heartbeat and it is always the highlight of my week! You also seem to like listening to the belly buds. I don't know if you can actually hear the music or comprehend what it is, but you seem to move around and enjoy, maybe enjoy, the music. I really hope that you are in music lover, because your dad and I both are and music is a big part of our life. Whether you play instrument or you sing or you dance, I hope music is part of your life too.

I have also been praying and trying to listen for what your life verse will be. I really want to give you a verse that can follow you through your whole life and let you know that God is good and he can't be trusted in all situations. There are many versus throughout the Bible that would be good life versus and I just haven't been able to settle on one and so I have patiently been waiting for God to speak to me. I feel like in church today, he did just that. I feel like he is leading me towards Proverbs 3:5-6, which reads "trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your being. Lean not on your own understanding." This has been an important verse in my life over the last many many years, and I feel like it is going to be an important person in your life. We haven't completely settled on this verse, but for now, this is your verse. 

According to the apps, you are just working on sucking and swallowing and perfecting those skills. You were also getting eyelashes and other minute features and maybe even some hair! We are so excited to see you on Thursday and can't believe that we are to the point where we are hoping to get good pictures of you! Thursday is also a big day because we are going to check out daycares for you! It is such a huge decision, deciding who you will spend many hours a day with, so we want to decide early. We want to pick just the right daycare and just the right place for you and I know that it is not going to be an easy decision. So here is looking forward to Thursday, and a jam packed day of ultrasounds, daycares, and birthing class!

Halfway to seeing your little face and getting more excited every day!

Love,

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 19

1/15/17

Hello little bug!

This week is bringing great excitement in our house. We have started cleaning out the room that will become yours and to be honest, we are starting to think about rearranging our entire house so that it fits the needs of our family! We also get to start our birthing classes this week and are very excited for that!

We have decided to do the Bradley method of birthing classes, so for the next 12 weeks, your dad and I will be learning all about how to best take care of you now and during your birth! It is an amazing feeling that we are at this point and I can't believe that my next letter to you will be when you are halfway finished in the womb! The time appears to be flying by!!! 

People all around are getting very excited to hear updates about you and to know what is happening. All these letters that mommy has written to you she is putting in to her blog. I have kept a blog for a very long time, with our journey to meeting you. And someday when you're older, we hope to share this blog with you. We want you to know how very very loved you are and how much you are wanted and cherished. Will probably have to explain where your college fund went to so that will be a part of it. Just kidding, we restarted your fund! 

Your dad and I still like to use the Doppler a couple of times during the week to hear your little heartbeat. I still can't feel any movement, so it is nice to hear that little heartbeat and know that you are moving around and seem to be doing quite well in there! 

According to the app, you are just shy of 6 inches long and weigh about a half a pound! That makes you about the size of a large mango or a sweet potato or according to one app an old-school GameBoy. You probably will have no idea what a game boy is but for mommy's generation, it was pretty sweet stuff. They say that your lips are working on sucking motions and that you can make kisses and suck your thumb now! I can't wait to be able to give you kisses and hugs and cuddle with you and love you. Although if you're anything like mommy, you will be fierce and independent and so I will have to get my cuddles in early!

I feel like we have some exciting weeks ahead little bug! Birthing classes this week, we get another ultrasound of you next week and a chance to measure and make sure everything is right on track, and then the following week we are having a party to see whether you are a little boy bug or a little girl bug! I still think you might be a little boy bug, but more recently I started having girl feelings, so we shall see!

I love you little bug and I am looking forward to hitting that halfway milestone next week!

Love you, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 18

1/8/17

Good morning sweet baby bug! Every week it amazes me that we are as far as we are, but for some reason, this week really amazes me that we are here. I can't believe that you have been a part of our lives for 18 weeks! Things are starting to get real around our house! We have started to clean out the room that will be your nursery and trying to decide if we are going to rearrange the whole house for you! We just want everything to be perfect for your arrival, and we are excited for that arrival!

According to the apps, you are getting quite tall! You are around 5 1/2 inches and between five and 6 ounces! Apparently this is about the size of an artichoke or sweet potato, but I am starting to feel like it is all kind of a weird comparison! It says that your bones are starting to harden now, specifically your collarbone and leg bones! I can't believe all that you're doing inside of me right now!! It also says that the bones in your ears are forming and you can hear when I talk or sing, I'm glad that I am the only voice you hear so that you don't know how bad my singing is! I have really enjoyed singing in church and in the car and whenever music comes on knowing that you can hear me. I can't wait to sing nursery songs to you and my favorite Christian songs and your dad is really looking forward to singing all of the country songs!!! You will have so much exposure to music, it would not surprise me if you became a musician!

We have also started to plan your gender reveal party for you! We are excited to find out if you are a little boy or little girl. Hopefully it will help us pick out a name, because we have also been looking at those too!!

Well little bug, that is all I have for you today! Just know that you are thought about it and talked about and loved every single day! Counting down the days to your arrival, but like I always tell you, take your time and don't come too soon! We love you little bug!

Love,

Mommy and daddy

Letters to Bug-Week 17

1/1/17

Happy new year Sweet Bug! I can't believe that we are going to get to meet you this year and that you will officially be joining our family from the outside! It is crazy to think of how far we've come and the fact that we are only about four months away from meeting you! Daddy and I are getting so excited and planning and dreaming and hoping for your future. Don't worry, you'll have at least two or three choices in life, we have the rest covered… Just kidding. We are just so excited to have you in our family. We know that you have been specially given to us by God and are so thankful and grateful every day for you.

According to the apps, you are about the size of a pomegranate or an open palm. Or logistically speaking, about 5 to 5 1/2 inches long and weigh about 5 1/2 ounces. I can't believe you are the size of my hand, you are growing so fast already! It also says that you are getting your fingerprints and toenails and fingernails this week and working on sucking and breathing, so crazy. All the little details are coming together and you are truly a tiny somebody.

This last week we had a doctor's appointment and the doctor said that you are measuring right on track and everything looks great! We got to hear your tiny little heartbeat and that is always super exciting for me and your dad. You still aren't showing to the outside world yet so I feel like it is super special to be able to hear your heartbeat, but I have a feeling that bump well come soon! But for now, just me and daddy get to hang out with you. Love you little bug.

Love,
mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 16

Week 16

Merry Christmas sweet bug. Today is your first Christmas and I'm so overjoyed to spend this day with you. You are already so loved and so many people are already cherishing you. You have received gifts and love and acknowledgment from both sides of your whole family. Everybody is eagerly awaiting to meet you, but not for 24 more more weeks, so stay put!!! I am so excited to share Christmas carols with you and pass on my true love of Christmas to you. As you have probably heard, I love Christmas songs and love singing them to you. Don't worry, there is a good chance this will continue long after Christmas!!! 

Today is such an emotional day for me, the day of our Lord's birth. As I think about everything Mary went through as a mom, it scares me to bring you into this world. Because I can't protect you from all the bad things, but I will teach you that you can rely on God to know that he will get you through everything. Your dad and I have spent a lot of time praying to God and believing that he had a bigger plan and somehow just knowing you would come into our lives. It's hard to explain, but I hope that the future brings a reliance on God for you that the past has brought for us. God loves you bug and he is the only person who could probably love you more than we do.

This week is filled with excitement, as we have another doctor's appointment. We will get to hear your little heartbeat hopefully, if the machine picks it up. We will also get to set up our date to find out if you are a boy or girl! Then we can start really narrowing down names and picking one just for you!

According to the apps, you are the size of an avocado, an action figure, or between four and 5 inches. I am so excited to see you again and I'm counting the days!

We love you bug, you're doing a great job growing and making a whole body, keep up the good work!

Love,
Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 15

12/18/16

Hey Bug! 

Today was a fun day! Your dad and I couldn't go any longer without seeing you, so we did another elective ultrasound. This time we got to see you looking like a little frog with your feet moving around just as if you were a little frog kiddo. We also got to see you waving and hand being by your face! We were able to take video and loved every minute! We also got to hear the wonderful sound of that heartbeat! It is so much fun and I can't wait till I can see you every single day! Oh do I look forward to the day when I get to see you every single day and can't imagine a day that I wouldn't want to look at your beautiful little face!

We are at a weird point in pregnancy. Not a lot is happening on the outside or for the world to see, but there is still tons happening on the inside that nobody even realizes! From the outside, it's kind of a boring point in time. After the scares in the beginning, I will totally take calm and boring! But on the inside, you have so much happening and it amazes me every day to think about the amount of work your little body is doing to prepare for the outside world!

According to the apps, you are about the size of an apple or a navel orange. You are about 4 inches bag and weighing in at 2 1/2 ounces! Your growth is astounding to me. Every week, I am amazed to see how much you have grown from the week before! They say that you are starting to get hiccups, all your limbs and joints are moving, and your body is becoming proportional! It is so funny to think that just a few weeks ago your head made up half if not more of your body, and now it accounts for a third or less! Just 6 to 7 weeks ago, you didn't even have arms or legs, and now your legs are longer than your arms and their accounting for a good portion of your body! 

Love you little Bug, 

Love, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 14

12/11/16

Hola Bug!!!

I have been spending a lot of time lately dreaming about you and thinking about you and thinking about our future. Our family loves to travel and once you come, there will be no exception. Our goal is to see the world and we can't wait to share that with you! We have already talked about how fun it will be to get you a passport and how you will have that passport for five years. If you get a passport when you are just a baby, I don't even know how they can use it for identification when you are 3, 4, or 5 years old!! The rules are silly. We have put a lot of our traveling on hold for these last couple of years working on adding you to our family, but we hope that we are able start our travels again!!!! 

This was another week of just hanging out and relaxing. Sleep is starting to get a bit harder but overall I am LOVING every Single minute of every single day with you. Even the times when I'm not feeling 100% or sleep is hard to come by, I am so thankful for it. Because every little thing that reminds me that you are with me, is a blessing for me. I may not feel this way if things were really rough or difficult, but I am grateful for all the symptoms right now. Especially because we are in a weird place where it feels like it has been forever since we have seen you and yet that is a good thing because it means things are going well! I love having you in my tummy and knowing you are safe and taken care of in there. This world is a crazy world bug, but I can keep you safe in my belly right now!

According to the apps, you are about 3.3 inches long, where about 1.5 ounces, or a roughly the size of a peach or beet! It says that you may begin sucking your thumb this week and I love envisioning that picture of you! It also says that your kidneys, liver, and spleen are pretty much fully functioning. But they still need to grow big, as does the rest of you! It also says that your body is now becoming covered with hair that you may or may not have when you were born. Apparently this hair is to help you stay warm and protected, and if you are anything like your mama, you may need two or three layers to stay warm!

The apps also say that hunger may become a big thing for me. But so far appetite is not really a thing for me. I continue to remind myself to only eat the things that are good for you, and to make wise choices with my eating decisions! If you want a hint at how much I love you, I have given up caffeine which means no more White mochas or caffeinated sodas for me! I did this at the beginning of my pregnancy so that you could have the best environment possible when you joined! I am very happy to say that we have officially made it three months with very minimal caffeine! It is hard to give up chocolate so I still sneak some of that here and there! Maybe my appetite will pick up in the coming weeks, but for now I just keep focusing on staying healthy for you! In case you haven't figured it out, I kind of love you a lot!

Love always, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 13

Happy second trimester bug!

We did it, we made it to second trimester. Well depending on how you count days! Sometime this week, we will officially be in second trimester by all standards! But to me, today is the day. Today is even more special because it is my birthday! And I can't think of a better way to spend it then thinking about you!!! 

Not much is really happening this last week, which is fantastic! Let's keep it that way! I still have some gagging and occasionally morning sickness, but it is getting better. Honestly, it is not really that bad and I am thankful for a pretty quiet and so far easy pregnancy. The biggest thing I have really had to deal with, is the anxiety. Which anxiety is just part of our life and I continue to choose trusting in God over the fear of anxiety! 

According to the apps, you are about the size of a lemon. You are starting to develop fingerprints and your veins and arteries can be seen through your still clear skin! You gained about an inch over the last week and measure in at about 3 inches long! You have such rapid growth right now that it is amazing! You have almost doubled in weight as well, weighing almost an entire ounce!!!! They say that your vocal chords are also starting to come in. I am sure that you will make good use of them in a few months!

Keeping on growing and doing your thing and I will be here loving you and in amazement at everything that happens daily!!!

Love you, 

Mommy

Letters to Bug-Week 12

11/27/2016

Helloooooo Bug!!!!! You may not realize it, but today is a pretty spectacular turning point! We have reached week 12! At this point in time, I can breathe a little easier. We know that we have passed quite a few milestones and are at a point where maybe the anxiety can go down just a couple notches. We know you have a heartbeat, you're moving around, and you are still with us! Somehow, overnight, things feel a little bit better. It is hard to explain because it is really an arbitrary number, but here we are.

This week was full of excitement and joy! On Tuesday we had our last appointment of first trimester with the doctor and we got to meet our doctor. While I have not been happy with the clinic itself, I really do like the doctor. He pulled out a portable ultrasound machine and we got to see you dancing around. We also got to hear the heartbeat for the very first time. To hear your little heartbeat is something quite remarkable and I just can't even believe it. The flutter of your heart is a sound that is unique and precious and so absolutely amazing. The other part that was really cool, is the doctor used the Doppler machine with the ultrasound machine and we could not only see you kicking, but we could also hear it. Such a neat thing!

On Wednesday, we announced to the world that we were expecting you. It was so much fun to tell everybody and to see the out pour and excitement. Everybody has been waiting for you and praying for you and thinking about you and sending good vibes and here we are. People can't wait to meet you and are looking forward to seeing you in June!

of love 

On Friday, your dad and I had a really cool appointment and got to see you on a jumbo screen and have a real ultrasound. The portable one from Tuesday was cool but it was really hard to read and see and we couldn't really get any good pictures of you. But this one gave us not only fantastic pictures of you, but also a video. We also got to hear your hear your heart beating at about 170 bpm! You really are doing a lot of work in there! You look like you're having a great time jumping around and moving and going all over the place! It was so cool to sit and just watch you do your thing inside and be a part of your world for just a few minutes.

According to the apps you are somewhere between a lime and a plum! About 2 inches long and weighing in at a whopping half an ounce! It says that your intestines are currently in the end of the umbilical cord but are moving into your stomach and that your kidney and liver are starting to function. It also says that there is rapid brain growth happening and that the nerves and synapses are starting to connect and fire. That little brain is in there working hard! It also says that you are developing reflexes and then if we poke my stomach, you will move. I wish I could see this! So much is happening in your tiny world and I am so glad it stays with me! 

Love you little Bug,

Mommy