October 29, 2008

We are on your first trip to Florida.  It's just the two of us though, since it's a business trip.  Last week we were in PA & NJ and next week we spend two days in Columbia and a night in Greenwood.  This should be the end of our business travel, though.

Daddy is going to KC the weekend of the 6th and we are going up to Calgary on December 12 -- but that should be it.  Thank goodness.

The three of us will all go to KC for Christmas, and then Daddy is hoping to go to Daytona in February...but just for a long weekend.  After that trip, we'll just settle in and wait for you to arrive!

Next Wednesday Grandma is coming to Charleston for your new cousin's birth.  She'll be in town for ten days, and Grandpa will arrive a week later and stay for the weekend.  They are extremely excited to meet you.

Daddy is hoping to get your nursery painted and crib put together before they arrive.  It's all so exciting, but don't worry, I promise life will slow way down when you are born to give you time to get acclimated to us and us time to enjoy you and get to know you.  As of yesterday you are 20 weeks -- we're half way there!!!

20 weeks

Love it!

We're ready!

October 16, 2008

Last night a contractor who was doing door-to-door marketing in Bedford, PA for me passed away.  His wife called to tell me this morning.  It was shocking.

Bill had called me on Tuesday and told me he was going to the hospital for 4 to 5 days, but that he would be back next week.  In fact, I was supposed to meet him in person for the first time next Thursday when I'm in Pennsylvania.  We've been working together for about 3 months but had never met in person.

Life is truly a wonderful blessing, but it's hard, sometimes very hard.  I spent the rest of the morning calling and emailing people to let them know Bill is gone.  I hope that's something you don't have to do very often.  It's terribly hard to be the one to break the news that will break someone's heart.

I believe that the important thing is to remember that despite the fact that life isn't fair, that hearts break and some questions are never satisfactorily answered, everything does happen according to God's plan.  And His plan is perfect.  We may not understand it and at times we may hate it, but it is perfect.  If you hold onto that you can survive anything -- even breaking people's hearts.

October 15, 2008

As you'll surely realize early on, I'm a planner.  Sometimes my planning spills over into worrying, but I try hard to prevent this.  Nevertheless, it does happen.

My latest worry is about 13-20 years away -- your teenage years.  Being a teenager is a crazy phase.  You gain your independence, start to recognize your own wants, needs and desires apart from your friends and family, and you're faced with some of the biggest challenges and decisions of your entire life.

Daddy loved his teenage years, but I struggled.  In retrospect, we were both blessed with good parents, consistent teaching and an understanding of right and wrong, so neither of us made any mistakes that could prevent us from following our dreams -- but we're both lucky to have had things turn out as well as they did.

I hope that we are able to help you understand and value right and wrong, to believe in yourself and your instincts in the face of hard decisions, and to trust us enough to turn to us for help, guidance, forgiveness and love.

I hope that you follow in your Daddy's footsteps in that you survive adolescence having enjoyed yourself, not having been to jail, rehab or an extended hospital stay, and still having all of your dreams open to you.

I know that the foundation of this will be your understanding of God and His plan for your life, our ability to raise you within a strict but loving home and your complete confidence in our love for you.  I will continue to pray for the parenting skills necessary to make this all happen, and Daddy and I promise to do our best.

October 15, 2008

I am feeling so much better.  I have my energy back and I rarely feel any nausea at all.  It's wonderful.

Plus, I'm really starting "to show."  I've been gaining weight pretty steadily, but now it's really showing in my belly which is fun.

Your Aunt Erin loaned me all sorts of maternity clothes when we were in KC -- so many that I may not have to buy any more!

As for you, according to the books you are about the size of an avocado and you're getting toenails and your scalp pattern is developing.  Plus, you're heart is pumping 25 quarts of blood each day.  It is all so exciting.

Daddy and I get to see you this Thursday.  We go in for our ultrasound.  We're not planning to find out whether you are a boy or girl.  As you'll find out, I love suprises and we're both pretty traditional.

I can't decide if I think you're a boy or a girl.  I'm craving protein which some say means you're a boy, but I'm gaining weight like you're a girl -- more evenly throughout my body. 

It's crazy, but while this is definitely the most obvious "unknown" about you, it's really just the tip of the iceberg.  There are so incredibly many characteristics about you that are already formed.  We are so excited to meet you!

16 weeks

October 10, 2008

Yesterday was your ultrasound.  Daddy and I managed to contain our curiosity, and we didn't find out if you're a boy or girl.  We would both just really like for it to be a surprise -- and based ont he way your legs were crossed, you agree.

Of course, later in the procedure the tech was showing us your legs, and I didn't see anything to make me think you're a boy, so I'm leaning towards girl.

We did get to see your heart and stomach and kidneys and brain and spine and 10 fingers -- you were alternately waving and shaking your fist at us...I hope that's not a sign of things to come!

The tech also moved up your due date based on your size (7 oz.)  Now you're due on March 17 -- St. Patrick's Day.  Daddy is thrilled.  I just hope you don't take your Irish heritage too seriously.

The whole experience was wonderful.  We were so excited to see you and see that you are growing and developing so well.  Only five more months until we get to meet you!