Advice...

Hi Sweetheart,

This is a post based on nothing else besides good advice I feel you need.  Now, I'm aware this comes in NO handy to you until you have a job of your own (I'm being a little proactive).  So, your mommy and daddy did a great thing when they got married and registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I have since then busted a blender (didn't put the seal in), pulled a broken plate out of the dishwasher, dropped a mug on the counter (which ended up with me getting stitches), had a scale that didn't read right, and more recently, I burned up my coffee grinder and put my salad bowl in the dishwasher too tight busted it.  They returned every single item.  No questions asked.  They have the best customer service of any place I've ever been.  They are so amazing with returns with or without receipts.  That's my little plug for the store and my advice to you is...if you can, ever, buy from BBandB because you have a lifetime guarantee on EVERYTHING.  It doesn't matter if you pay a little extra, it's worth it (or use a coupon).

There's your mommy advice for the day!

I love you! Always!

Mommy

 

Baby Girl Cantaloupe

Hi Baby Girl!!!

Well, we have officially made it 1/2 way together - 20 weeks down - 20 weeks to go.  I told you daddy that I think it's weird that at the 1/2 way point, you're not even CLOSE to 1/2 way grown.  You're only about 10 oz and 6.5 inches long.  You have a long way to go before I get to see you again.

Early afternoon on Christmas Eve, Grandma and Grandpa Clark, Grandma Butler, Aunt Rachel, Uncle David and Erin all sat in the room as we opened our very special gift.  I wasn't too surprised to pull out a green and pink blanket with paw prints and a lavender head band.  Because I told you and everyone from the start that you were a girl.  I've been calling you a she since the very beginning.  A wave of joy and emotion came over me when I looked at the piece of folded up paper that read "it's a girl :)".  I would have been that happy regardless what what the paper said, I just like being right.  You may not want  to pick up on that quality of mine...

I'm a big fan of fruit juice and ice water. I'm up about 7 pounds since day one (and that's down a couple from our last visit...we always go in on party days at school). I still have to drink a cup of coffee a day to keep my sanity.  Yup, we're still getting sick every morning, but once I do I USUALLY feel better the rest of the day (I have very little hope that this will "pass" as everyone keeps telling me).  We have lots of appointments this month to keep you and I as healthy as possible.  And the best part of my Christmas day?!?!?!? Sitting on the couch at Grandpa and Grandma Butler's when I felt your little hand hit the inside of my belly.  For about 10 min you sat there and moved around.  I know it was you.  I even poked and prodded a little to make you do it again, and you did, briefly.

With all that said,
I love you!  I'm so excited to pick out paint colors, a car seat, a stroller etc.
You're the most amazing thing in my life!
Love,
Mommy

It's a.....

GIRL!!!!

Baby Tomato

Hi Darling!!!

I'm so very very excited to tell you I got to see you yesterday.  As soon as you were on the screen, you make my heart stop and I could already tell how wonderfully beautiful you are.  As the ultrasound technician kept moving the camera around my belly, she said everything was normal.  Your heart, lungs, bones, feet (not club foot), lips (not cleft), nose, brain, stomach, kidneys.  All were perfect and normal.  And your spine is spectacular.  It's straight and perfect.  Your heartbeat was 148 bpm and you weigh 8 oz. I still think you're a girl, daddy still says boy.  You gave us a big yawn, and sucked on your fingers, and looked just like a little baby should.  I was so overjoyed to see you so safe and healthy.  It's crazy to think that's the most in depth I'll ever see you.  Once you're out here, I won't see that heart, lungs, spine etc.  But yesterday I got to see it all.  And they told us they are all normal.  You loved the camera and sat so well to have your picture taken.  You are amazingly beautiful and I can't hardly stand to wait the next 21 weeks to meet you.

The nurse wrote your gender down on a piece of paper, and that paper is tucked away in my purse.  As soon as I'm done writing this, I'm going to shower and daddy and I are going to buy your first outfit.  I'm hoping you'll be able to fit into it the day we bring you home.  In two days honey, I'll know if you're a baby boy tomato, or a baby girl tomato...I'll be thrilled with either one, because yesterday, hearing how normal and perfect you are, were words far more precious to me than what gender you are.

19 Weeks

your beautiful profile and straight spine

it's weird to me that these are almost life-size pictures of you...
you're not much bigger than the palm of my hand

Hello Sweet Potato

My darling Sweet Potato,

We are at the end of 18 weeks. We go to the doctor in 3 DAYS! I'm so ecstatic I can hardly contain myself! I'm still getting sick every morning, but I'm past the feeling icky all day. I'm still loving spicy and ice cream...YUM. I can't wait for the day I get to feel you inside me.

Daddy and I are so excited to go buy your first outfit. Granted, we are picking out two and having the salesperson wrap up whatever the envelope says. We will get to put that beautiful package under our tree for 3 days. The only present under our tree will be you. The excitement may cause me to go crazy.

One of my girls asked me on Monday if I already had my baby. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. Clearly I wasn't showing much that day. Another little girl came up to me today and rubbed my belly saying, you have a baby in there. Yes sweetheart, I do.

I can't even tell you how much better I've felt these last couple of weeks. My only downfall is the panic attacks I get when I'm stressed. I'm not used to my body reacting that way to stressful situations. Chest closing up, heavy breathing and heart pounding. Yes, the doctor will be hearing about this. And hopefully we can adjust some things.

I love you sweetheart, with all my heart, I'm so very excited to see you in 3 days!

Love, Mom

Dear Baby Onion

Hi Baby,

I'm having a hard time calling you an onion this week...but as your daddy says, that just means your full of layers. A student's parent said that means you'll smell and make my eyes water. I believe at some point or another, both those are true.

I'm so happy to tell you that things are going to get better. Things are already better. I'm so much happier and have so much more optimism. I'm happy to see this belly your making in my tummy. I'm so happy to find out in two weeks if you are a little boy or a little girl. I'm so happy again. And me being happy means a healthier you. I'm going to continue to take care of myself and you. Things will be much, much better.

I love soft serve ice cream. I love spicy food, although it does not love me at all. I love naps. I love sweets. I also love you!

Love, with all my heart,

Mommy

Baby Avocado

Ok, ok, so I failed last week when you were an apple/orange to post. Let's be honest. Nothing too exciting happened :)

It was Thanksgiving and we spent the entire week with family. That was fun! We went to McCall for 2 nights and got to hang out and relax. I had a major meltdown on night one because I felt so guilty leaving Appa at home. But once I knew Rachel was there to take care of him, all was better.

We went to the Dr. this week. Happily, they prescribed me another anti nausea pill. I'm not sure how I feel about this one though. First of all, it makes me very very sleepy. And yesterday I threw it up within an 1/2 hour. I think that was my fault though for not eating anything right when I got up.

I had a bad day yesterday...and I'm trying to figure out a way to have less bad days. I told your daddy that I feel like you're taking all the pieces of me away, and I'm left with this person I don't know, and I don't know how to control. Little things set me over the edge and I can't pick myself up from them. Yesterday it was a matter of plans changing, and feeling like I was in the way, everyone's way, all day. Your daddy says he hopes you're getting lots of me and that would make him very happy. He thinks I'm wonderful and thinks you deserve to have my qualities. I think he's crazy. I don't know who I am anymore, and I don't know how to live with me. I can't find "normal" anymore. Sometimes...it's just hard...not being able to grasp your own feelings and take control of the tears. I know it's silly, and I know that I over react. I can tell you and your dad that. I know that. But there's nothing I can do to stop it.

I've started decorating the house. It will eventually all come together and be pretty. We got some news from the doctor as well. They didn't schedule the ultra sound on the 24th, so that means we go in the 21st. I think we're still going to wait until Christmas Eve though to open our gift. It will be the best present under my tree this year! I'm trying to do everything right for you. I'm trying to keep my stress level down (that will help with the circus over). Let's be honest baby, sometimes, I'm scared.

I love you, with all my heart, Mommy