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