Week 35 letter

Dear girly,

This week has been a great week! All of them have been, but today as I reflect on this week so far, I just feel joyful and content. It might have a little something to do with the fact that I get the entire week of from work too :) But also, I have been getting lots of little things done and just thinking about you a lot.

This week, you are about 5.5 lbs and around 18 inches long now, or comparable to the length of a Costco birthday cake! We had another mid-wife appointment yesterday day and everything looks great! We are both right on track with our size and blood pressure and heart rate. All the things they measure. Your daddy and I really can't say enough how much we love Bella Vie (the Birth Center). All the staff are amazing and we just feel so comfortable and at home there. What a blessing to be able to go there for your birth! From now on until you come, I will have an appointment once a week as well!

This week we have also made a lot of progress in the preparations department...your Dad almost has our bedroom done, he's been painting trim for the window most of the day today and *fingers crossed* he will do the carpet next Saturday when I'm at our baby shower and maybe even surprise me by moving our stuff in....(hint, hint love!)

After that we can paint your room and I can start decorating it!! I have been working on your bedding and just love it! I have to decide the official paint color still but it is definitely going to be a light shade of pink, close to cotton candy colored.

Tonight is New Year's Eve and when I think about 2009, I am so blessed and thankful for all that has come with it! Especially this pregnancy! And 2010 brings YOU! into our arms! I was thinking if I should make some resolutions for the year but really can only think of mama ones....here they are:

1. I resolve to love you unconditionally with my whole heart.

2. I resolve to nurture and take care of you with all that I am.

3. I resolve to share the Lord with you in whatever ways He leads me.

Just a few and I'm sure I'll think of more and add to the list over time. I want to/hope to be the best mama I can for you!

Ellie girl, I love you so much and am so excited to meet you!

love,

your mama

Another update!

Here I am at 35 weeks and also showing off our new bedroom wall color that Matt picked out and painted!

Also Matt made his first daddy purchase for the girly! He couldn't resist the hearts!

(In the background is the fabric I am using to make the crib bumpers, a blanket/quilt for her, and in a few other parts of the room. The green with the tiny polka dots is the piping for the bumper and the ties on the bumper.)

Week 34 letter

Dear Ellie girl,

Today is Christmas eve! What a gift YOU are to us this year! We are getting so excited to meet you. This week you are about 5 pounds or comparable to a bag of sugar and almost 18 inches long. Like, I said last week, that feels about right because I sure am feeling full! Of you my love! And it is such a great and special feeling.

This week I have found myself wondering what next year will be like, but I don't want to miss out on what this year is as well. I am so looking forward to all that is to come but I want to soak in the here and now too. Times with loved ones, the last few weeks of just your daddy and I, the little things and the big. I think that is important to live in the moment and a lesson I am always having to remind myself of. What I really want to focus on today and all my days for that matter is the true reason for this Christmas season, and that IS Jesus, who was born to save us! Like our Pastor shared at the Christmas service last night, it IS a beautiful love story.....one I can't wait to share with you! One I hope you will come to know and accept in your heart. We are so blessed and would be lost with out His grace. Baby girl, I am praying for you now and will always.

This week has also brought some special presents for you in the mail! You have so many people who love you so much! Everytime I see my sister she tells me she has gotten you something else and the stuff your Auntie Chare' sent is sooo cute and perfect! I can't wait for you to meet your Aunt Chare'. She has been my best friend for many years and is quite the amazing lady!

Tonight we will go to the Talbot family Christmas in Silverton, with my grandparents, and all my dad's brothers and sisters. It is a large and loud! event but one I have loved for many years! Then we will spend the night with my parents so we can watch your Uncle Zach and Aunt Grace open their presents in the morning and then head home to have Christmas with the Miller family at our house. But not without having Auntie Noel's waffles first! That's also a tradition :)

Next year, with you here we hope to travel to California to share Christmas with my mom and that entire side of the family. (That's right Cali fam! Plan on that and cousins that don't live there, please come too!!) I know I say I can't wait for this and can't wait for that throughout all these letters, but here's another one.....I can't wait for everyone to meet you too! and for another Christmas in California.

Little lady, I love you so much! I am so thankful for you and excited to become your mama. I am so blessed!

love,

mama

note to self...

(source)

Even though at next years Christmas, Ellie will only be 10 months old, this is definitely a tradition or guideline for the way I want to do gifts in our family, for her and for other kids to come :)

4 presents = the perfect amount (in my opinion!)

I'm going to start putting "notes to self" on the blog of things I would like to do, as a mama, wife and just a human being :)

Week 33 letter

Dear Ellie,

Well, this week your size is not compared to something in inches, but rather lbs. as in you are the same weight as an adult duck! Silly websites! but yep, that feels about right ;)

This week has been another great week. We had another midwife appointment and we just LOVE our midwife, Patricia. She is so warm and we just feel right at home with her. She also loves Hypnobabies moms and gets so excited for them. It feels good to know we will be so supported at your birth.

Today is our last class in Portland. I am a little sad for it to be over, but it also means we are just that much closer to you! We will continue to practice and prepare every day for your coming, little girl. We want to do the best we can for you.

Last night, your Auntie Noel, helped me get a Christmas tree and decorate it. We weren't going to have one this year, but I am so glad we got one. It's nice to snuggle on the couch with your daddy and just soak in the pretty view of those colored lights. I can't wait to see your reaction to all things Christmas next year. Your Auntie Noel is quite the little elf between constantly singing Christmas songs, making presents, and she also keeps telling me she is finding more and more presents for you! She loves you so much! I am sure she will be a special person in your life; she always has been in mine.

We are so excited for you to come into our lives. About 6 weeks +/- to go!!

love,

mama

...How lovely are your branches....

The christmas tree that almost WASN'T....

But I'm so GLAD we decided to go for it! Big thanks to Noel, my personal elf who made it all possible for me, and danced around my house singing Christmas songs while helping me decorate this beauty!

Even though that pic of me with Noel is horrible (lazy eye!) I am still posting because I know that my mom and Grandma Linnartz will appreciate it :)

Photo update!

33 weeks!

Matt's making quite the progress too! Soooo thankful for him and his hard hard work!

things I'm thinking about....

1. More frequent posting is probably coming this blogs way as we really are starting to get close to the girl's arrival!

2. The fact that after making the switch to Bella Vie, it looks like our insurance covered 100% of the pro-rated cost of Salem Nurse Midwives through the 29 weeks we were with them! This is AWESOME!! Praise the Lord!

3. How much WE love Hypnobabies!

4. That I really want to clean all the light fixtures in my house :)

5. Christmas is 10 days away, woohoo! Looking forward to family time!

6. Lunch!

7. How much I am looking forward to being a mom and hanging out with my mom friends!

8. The fact that the shirts I am wearing today don't exactly cover my belly, but I'm thankful for the kind of maternity jeans that have the band that comes up high so it just looks like I have a purple, white and navy shirt on! I keep finding my wardrobe "malfunctions" entertaining!

9. Chips and Salsa, did I mention lunch ;)

10. How I think it is neat that Bella Vie called me today to reschedule my appointment for tomorrow because my midwife is IN a birth and the new receptionist that called me is actually someone I know.

11. Ellie's room and what I need/want to do to decorate it and how the week after Christmas I have A LOT of sewing to do! I am so thankful to be able to create a special place for her.

12. My grandparents in California and the goodies they sent us this week!

13. Cute girly clothes...so fun!

14. About being pregnant at Christmas and what Mary must have felt and been going through. How amazing, humbling, and overwhelming it must have been to be carrying the Son of God and feeling him grow, stretch and move inside her. How I'm sure as a mother she wondered and dreamed of what His future would be like, His personality, His voice, everything! How thankful she was for her Savior. and I am as well!

15. God is good!

Not a complaint, just an observation!

Seriously this week, I think I have two cute little feet in my ribs! Definitely a new feeling in the pregnancy world. 7 weeks to go and it kinda feels like I might just be running out of space in there due to the shortness of my torso...

i love my girl!

that's all....... :)

Menu Plan Monday #7

Another week, another menu plan! Which is good because our fridge is EMPTY!!

Mon: Mexican Ravioli and Salad

Tue: Leftovers, leftovers!

Wed: Grilled talapia fish tacos, beans and rice

Thur: Crockpot Chili, cornbread, and salad

Fri: Steak, Baked potatoes, and steamed or grilled veggies (never had the Steak meal last week!)

Now I'm off to "enjoy" Winco....

After reading this list again, I just realized that 3 of our meals contain beans!.......uh-oh :)

Week 32 letter

Dear Ellie June,

This week you are compared to the length of knee high boots, so random! But in other words, it means you are between 16 and 17 inches long and about 4lbs. I am definitely feeling like you are that size! I really feel like I am ALL baby belly now! It's crazy to think you've still got growing to do in there cause it doesn't feel like there's lot of room left. I think I can finally feel body parts sticking out here and there. I don't know what is what but it is very neat to feel!

Something else that has seemed to become at least once a day thing is your hiccups! Cute, funny, and weird feeling all at the same time! It's probably cause I give you spicy food :) I love spicy food and maybe you will too!

Last weekend, I finally made up my mind about your bedding, which I will be making and hopefully starting on soon! Your daddy and I both love the alphabet fabric I found and I am going to incorporate the alphabet in a few ways throughout the decor of your room. Hopefully this will encourage a love for reading and writing at an early age :)

This week I got to hang out with your Uncle Zach and Aunt Gracie! I love those two and you will too! It will be fun for you to be close in age with them. While Gracie took a nap, Zach and I mad a bunch of snowflakes to decorate the windows with. Maybe this can be one of our traditions when you become his age. I am looking forward to having Christmas season traditions with you like an advent calendar and decorating the Christmas tree and making snowflakes! It will be fun to do a annual family Christmas card too and watch you grow over the years.

Speaking of Christmas, makes me think a little about presents and let me tell you baby girl, YOU are the BEST present I could possibly have for this Christmas!!

I love you my little one!

love,

mama

So thankful for my handyman husband!

I came home today to find closet doors installed!! on our new closet in our new room. All the drywall is up and he is mudding it like a madman. He has been working so hard and diligently to get this done. Our goal is to move into our new room by Christmas. I am so thankful for all the ways Matt has helped make our house a home!

As soon as we get into our "new" room, we get to make our old one Ellie's! She and I are both so blessed to have Matt in our life.

I love you my sweet and amazing husband!

Menu Plan Monday #6

Yay for 6 weeks of consistency!!

Monday: Meat Lasagna with spinach added in (checking off the leafy greens requirement/suggestion of my midwife!)

Tuesday: Leftovers as usual! Gotta love youth group nights :)

Wednesday: White Bean Soup with Kale (leafy greens-check!)

Thursday: Healthy! Pita Wraps with Hummus, Spinach (leafy greens!), grilled chicken and other veggies

Friday: Steak, baked potatoes, grilled veggies or salad

Week 31 letter

Dear daughter of mine,

Wow! That is crazy to say and type, to call you daughter!! What a special privilege. And it will be great to hear you call me mama when the time comes too! Girly, this week you are about 16 inches long or the length of miniskirt (according to this weeks funny email) and still are about 3.5 lbs. Though the email told me that from here on out you'll gain about 1/2 a pound week until birth.

Speaking of birth, we are still getting ready each day, doing our homework and other things to prepare. I am SO happy we made the switch to the birth center and that is all I can see when I picture your birth now. It really is such a beautiful place to have such a beautiful experience of you entering our world!

I had my first official appointment with my new midwife this week and I just love her! She is so kind, warm and friendly. One neat thing from the appointment was that she drew the position of you on my belly! In a few weeks she actually paint it all on, but this at least let me know that you are head down! Which is perfect and it made perfect sense when she said your on your side and your feet and hands are on my right side because that's exactly where I feel your kicks and pokes!

You sure do seem to get shy when I am trying to show off your dance moves to someone else though! Every time I try to get your Auntie Noel to feel you moving, you freeze up and won't give her any action and the other night I was laying in bed watching you move all around but as soon as I got your dad to come watch, we got nothing! I'm taking it to just mean you're playful and can tease with the best of them.....hmmm...wonder where you might get that from?......yeah, I think your dad!

Last Saturday, we went a registered for you at Babies R Us. I tried not to overwhelm your dad too much with all the babies gadgets and gizmos! Some stuff was super cute and some of it is just so so cheesy and not our style at all. I was a little surprised too that your dad and I have different tastes in some of it, but in the end, I think I heard him say "I'll just have to learn to accept all the PINK!" Ha! I have never really been a pink person either, but when you throw in oranges and yellows and fun prints, I can't help but get excited to see you in the little clothes or wrapped in the soft blankets!

Just like with the pink thing, I am sure having you in my life will change many more things about me, but in the best ways! I know my life will be so much richer because of it. That being your mom and knowing you will make me a better person, sister, daughter, and friend. I look forward to all that YOU will teach ME! I love you so much Ellie girl!

love,

mama

Menu Plan Monday #5

Sunday: Crock pot soup using leftover Turkey (with garbanzos, black, and kidney beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, garlic, and onion-just whatever I could think to throw in!) topped with pepperjack cheese OF COURSE!

Monday: Chicken Enchilada Lasagna (Been on my plan for 3 weeks now and I still haven't gotten to make it! Tonights the night!)

Tuesday: Leftovers, leftovers!

Wednesday: Shepards Pie using more Thanksgiving leftovers like mashed potatoes and green beans, etc.)

Thursday: Spaghetti with meat sauce and Salad (easy!)

Friday: ?? Who knows!!

*Yay for 5 weeks of menu planning! It makes shopping soooo much easier on the wallet, faster and generally more enjoyable!

Updates!

30 weeks!

Family Photo!

30 Week letter

Dear Ellie June,

This week you are the size of a Chihuahua! But you are WAY cute and certainly don't have an annoying yippy bark! But it means you are just over 15 inches long and about 3.5 lbs. I also read that now when you are awake, you have your eyes open! wow! You are growing more and more every day girly!

This week was Thanksgiving and we have SO much to be thankful for! I am so thankful for your daddy and you! We both commented how excited we are that at Thanksgiving next year you'll be there too. Last night, we talked about you a lot and just how blessed we are that everything is coming together and how we are not worried at all about anything. We feel such a peace about what's going on in our lives, the decisions we are making, and also what is to come.

We've been consistently practicing our Hypnobabies and each time it really draws us together as a team. I love that it makes your dad feel just as much of a part of all this as I do. I know he loves you so so much! He is so excited to meet you!

This week we also made a BIG decision about where we are going to have you. We are switching from the hospital to a Birth Center that is just out of town in the country. It is beautiful and perfect. It looks just like a bed and breakfast on the inside and out and we are confident that it is the perfect place to have you. It also means we are switching midwives, but now we will just have one we meet with everytime vs. 5 at the the other place we were using and you never knew who you would get, even for the birth!

For the next 5 weeks, I start going to appointments every other week and then after that, I will go every week. Wow! It's really getting close! I think we are having you at the perfect time for so many reasons! All these holidays are making the weeks fly by!

Since we spent time with so much family this week, a lot of people were asking about you and how I was feeling. Your dad and I just couldn't stop gushing and beaming over it, really! I have been feeling SO great and I truly love being pregnant and he loves it too! We are just really soaking up all this special time has to offer and thankful for all that we have. When people tell me I have that pregnant "glow" I believe them because I feel it inside too! You make me glow with love and joy my little lady! You really do!

I love you with all my heart!

love,

mama

Menu Plan Monday #4 (on Tuesday!)

This week I gotta say I have it pretty easy with Thanksgiving!

Monday: Veggie Pizza (we never had it last week)

Tuesday: Thanksgiving Dinner #1 with the Youth Group

Wednesday: Kari's Chicken Enchilada Lasagna (we never had it last week)

Thursday: Thanksgiving Dinner #2

Friday: Leftovers!!! Oooohh I can't wait :)

Saturday: Date in Portland with my love!

Week 29 letter

Dear Loaf of Bread length Ellie,

You are about 15.5 inches this week and approximately 3 pounds now. I promise, if I continue these weekly letters after your born, I won’t tell you your height and weight in them anymore. Just maybe in the letters where I write about your doctors appointments- it seems like that’s just what moms do!

Baby girl, you continue to amaze me! Feeling you move all around is the neatest feeling ever. It has changed in the last few weeks from faster movements to slower rolls and probably stretches! I’m guessing it’s because you have less and less room in there with all the growing you are doing.

This past weekend, we went to our first *Hypnobabies class. It was so great! I was very curious about what it would be like and maybe a little worried that your daddy would be skeptical, but we both enjoyed it so much. We have learned a lot already and are excited for the next 5 weeks, and really beyond that because we will continue to practice it even after the class ends up until you are born. The class comes with daily homework, stuff for your daddy to read to me and then things for me to do on my own. It is neat to know that each and every day/night, I will be doing something in preparation for you. And every part of it is calming and relaxing, what a treat!

We also on a whim decided to check out a store in town that sells used baby stuff. We were so amazed at just how much they had to offer there! And how cute so much of it was! We (or maybe more me!) had to restrain ourselves from making a few purchases, but just could not leave without buying you a teensy little swimsuit for next summer We both fell in love with it! It is white and has little cherries all over it and a little skirt. Your daddy commented he liked it because it was modest! Spoken like a true father of a daughter! I’m sure he’ll be wanting to approve your swimwear for the next 18 years, and I love him for it!!

Something I am seeing so much lately is just how much God is providing for you and us in this time! It is such a blessing and neat assurance. Knowing that our Heavenly Father has everything worked out and a perfect plan is such a great feeling of freedom. Just today, a friend of ours from church who is also the guy that built our kitchen cabinets, told me he has a tradition of blessing families in the church with a custom made changing table for their nurseries! I was just amazed at this generous gift and even more so because it is the one piece of furniture we were lacking! Everything else we needed has been given to us already. I was just going to use the long counter in our bathroom since the bathroom is connected to your room, but now we will have a changing table handmade! especially for you!!

I hope as you read through these letters one day and we tell you about this time, that God being in the midst of all this is something that you can’t help but see. That you will be drawn closer to Him, just knowing that He was a part of your life before you were even born. That it is Him who created you and loved you even before you ever came into our lives. We love you because He first loved us!

and girlie, let me tell you......You are SO loved!

love,

mama


*For our friends and family members who read this blog, if you would like to know more about Hypnobabies, please check out this link. It explains A LOT about the program! We are very confident in this program and excited to put it to use!

Menu Plan Monday #3

Mon: Spaghetti with Ground Turkey Breast meat sauce, garlic bread, and green beans

Tues: Youth Group Night=leftovers!

Wed: Grilled Burritos a' la' the George Forman!

Thurs: Homemade Veggie Pizza and Salad

Fri: Kari's Easy Enchilada Lasagna! (at least I think it's Kari's recipe!)


P.S. By the time I post Menu Plan Monday #14, Ellie should be almost here!!!

Nursery and bedding inspirations....

I found this cute fabric on Etsy......it might just become some of the bedding and the colors we do the room around......love it!

Fabric # 2 could make for a cute crib sheet!

Fabric #3...I'm thinking curtains and bedskirt!

Baby Registry @ Wishlist.com

I found a neat site that can combine our baby registry wants from mulitple places into a one stop shop! It shows what we want and then when you clickon the item it will take you directly to the place to order (the individual's site). It is called Wishlist.com. This sort of thing would be great for Christmas lists too :)

This is great because so far the carseat/stroller we want is from Sears, one of the babycarriers I want is from Etsy.com, and I'm sure the majority of other things will be from Target or Babies-R-Us. But this way, friends and family can see it all in one simple place!

Here's a link to our registry for the little lady! But it's also on the sidebar of the blog!......you know, just in case ;)

Week 28 letter

Dear Ellie,

This week you are the length of a churro (about 15 in.) and weigh about 2.5 lbs. This week was really special because on Monday, we got to see you!! We had another ultrasound, a 3D-4D one and it really showed what you are looking like! I was just so in awe of your cuteness! I couldn’t stop saying it.

The whole ultrasound experience in itself was great and it definitely came with a set of memorable moments, because of a few things. First, when we went to leave the house, the car would not start at all! So we quickly realized we were going to have to walk to the appointment. Fortunately, it’s about 9 blocks away from our house so we were only a little late. I had to ask your daddy to slow down though cause he was speed walking! Or maybe I am just getting slower?? Probably more of the latter.

Then, once we got to the appt. you had other plans for showing us your face because you were hiding behind both your feet and your hands for the longest time! The tech was shaking, wiggling, and jiggling my belly FOREVER! to try and get you to move, but you must be a little yoga baby because you were perfectly content in your pretzel position.

I was almost ready to give up and tell the tech, it was ok if we didn’t get any of your face, but then you finally revealed it to us! Wow! It really took my love for you to a whole other level getting to see your cute face! And to think it, will be a million times better to see it once you’re outside of me!

Seeing you really made me think about how close it is! This week is the beginning of the 3rd trimester, which means just 12 weeks left! Wow! I am really starting to look forward to working on you room, even though we are still probably a month from being able to do that! I think I am changing my mind on the color of it too, but still figuring all that out!

This weekend, we start our baby classes in Portland for the next 6 Saturdays and also we are going to pick up the cloth diapers we were able to get for you off of craigslist (Thanks Des!!) I am so glad we are going to do cloth and thankful especially for the financial savings! Your Grandma Kathy is helping us out with paying for them too! So it is an even bigger savings to us! Between that and all the baby stuff we are getting from your other Grandparents, including the crib! we are so very blessed.

Well, Ellie girl, time to end this weeks letter. You are so so loved!!

love,

mama

I am officially smitten with this cutie!

Here's Ellie, at 28 weeks. I am loving those chubby cheeks and cute nose!

Menu Plan Monday #2

My menu actually starts on Sunday cause that's when I go grocery shopping. Which means I am also going to review what I made last night.

Sunday: Caulifower Soup (the recipe sounded so tasty!) **This sadly SUCKED for me!! But Matt liked it.....I think my appetite is still off from being sick though.
Also with Salad and good bread!

Monday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad or maybe another veggie side

Tuesday: Leftovers (cuz' it's youth group night!)

Wednesday: Pasta with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, and turkey sausage. (When I told Matt it wouldn't be the normal spaghetti I usually make, he was a bit concerned.....that'll teach me to tell him ahead of time :)

Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie

Friday: We'll figure that one out when we get there!

Week 27 letter

Dear pot roast sized Ellie girl,

This week you are approx. 14 inches from head to heel and 2 lbs! You are getting bigger each day my little love! I hope your home is nice and cozy in there.

This weeks letter is a little late because I have had a bad cold most of the week, it has had me laid out! It makes me wonder what it will be like when I have you to take care of and I am sick? Because I haven't even wanted to take care of myself with the way I have been feeling but I guess that's when the mama super powers kick in and you do what you gotta do! Your dad has been so sweet to do tons for me and check on me all day, even while not feeling so hot himself! I love him.

I think I have finally felt you hiccuping in there! It took me a while to realize it, but once I figured it out, it's so cute. Also, this week, while in the bath, I got to SEE you move in my belly. It was weird and so awesome! I love getting to feel it all.

There's a lot coming up this next week. On Monday, we get to see you again!! with a 3-D ultrasound, tues/wed one of your future buddies; Jameson is going to be born!, Friday we have another midwife appointment (the sugar test one), and Saturday we start our baby birthing classes that will go for 6 Saturdays! Wow! Oh and also this next week, we move into the 3rd trimester! Only 12 +/- weeks to go from there!! I still have lots to do :)

Baby girl, I love you so much! I can't wait to meet you and hold you in my arms!

love,

your mama

Menu Plan Monday #1

Menu planning is something I definitely want to do as a mama and a wife for that matter and with Matt and I cracking down on our budget and spending, I think now is the perfect time to start!

Since this week's grocery budget is now extra small due to a mathematical error on my part (and yes! I get paid to do accounting for my job!) I figured I need to get creative and try to use some of the random things I still have on hand.

One specifically being a good amount of broccoli! So here's my menu for the next 4 days (cause Fri we'll wing it since we have a BABY class at the hospital!)

Mon: Homemade Broccoli/Cheddar Soup with leftover cornbread

Tue/Wed: Crock Pot Beef Stew and Salad (cause a crock pot dinner makes enough for 2 nights at least!)

Thur: Mexi-Skillet (basically ground beef, noodles, corn, cheese, salsa!) and Salad

Yay for cooking!

Here's a link to the site where I got the idea!

Bump Update

Apparently I don't like to do my hair before taking these pictures!

But at least I'm smiling :) That's for you Grandma Linnartz!

23 weeks

25 weeks

26 weeks

and just because it's so tiny and cute and i love it! a little present we got in the mail :)

Week 26 letter

Dear Length of a Burp Cloth (or 14in long) baby girl,

This week you are also about 1 and 2/3lbs , getting bigger all the time! Only 14 weeks to go! Less than 100 days now! Well, give or take. I don’t expect you to be early or on-time so I’m not getting my heart set on the estimated due date of Feb. 1st so I am just telling people the beginning of February. I love that you are going to be a February baby, or possibly a January baby (if you were to be early).

Hopefully you’re here by Valentines day, what a sweet perfect gift for a day all about love. We already love you sooo much! I was telling your daddy the other night how much he is going to just melt over being able to hold you and snuggle you and have you sleep on his chest when your still brand new and tiny. He has no idea what’s in store! You are going to break his heart in the best possible way! Mine too!

This past week I am noticing that you seem to wake up with us when the alarm goes off at 4:22 AM each morning since we take your dad to his drop of point for his ride to work. It makes me wonder if that time will stay the same once you arrive? Even if it does, my guess is after eating or maybe a diaper change, you’ll fall back to sleep, since right now we do every morning once we get back and climb in the cozy warm bed. Of course, not without you getting a little dance party on first!

I am so excited for mornings with you! Well, really every part of the day! But since my work schedule is going to be 12-5 once I return to work part time, I know that time in the morning until I go will be cherished. I am sure it will be hard to leave you, especially in the beginning but I also know you’ll be in good hands! And hopefully, like we are planning, I’ll eventually be able to stay at home with you with in a few years.

I’m looking forward to going on walks during our mornings, just having special hang out time, maybe some play dates in there with special friends and also coming to our church’s mom’s group when it meets. I can’t believe I’m going to be a mom! It’s still very weird to think of kind of, but I am sure it will really hit me once you are here. What a blessing and honor though!!

You mean so much to me baby girl! I love you so much!

Love,

mama

Week 25 letter

Dear Ellie-girl,

Yup, that IS your name! There is no changing my mind now, and I don’t think Matt can change his from now on either (right, love?) He calls you that now so I am pretty sure, well, like 99.9%, that it will be your name. I LOVE it!! And so does everyone we tell.

This week you are approximately 13.5 inches long and approx. 1.5 lbs. You’re growing in there, that’s for sure! Because I am growing too! My belly is getting rounder each day and I love it. You’re daddy is still giving you love each day with a poke or a pat and on this past Sunday evening, as I was laying on my side on the couch, he FINALLY got to feel you kick!! It was so great!! He was really surprised at it and excited. The next night he really got to feel you moving a lot.

I am so thankful for the special moments he and I get to spend together now in anticipation of you!! I know I will cherish them always. We talk and dream about you a lot. We are so thankful for you and are excited to meet you little lady. We’re still making progress on our room so hopefully about the middle of next month we can start on yours. I need to find some fabric to make your bedding because I can’t seem to find any bedding sets I like anywhere! It will make it that much more special to have it be handmade especially for you I think.

I had another mid-wife appointment last week and she said everything was looking great, that we were measuring right on track and your heartbeat sounded perfect. My next appointment will be the glucose screening one where they test for pregnancy diabetes and also the midwife told me they should be able to start determining your position then just by feeling my belly. That part will be neat!

I love feeling you move all the time now, I feel you kick, squirm, and do flips! Those are my favorite because they are so involved and last the longest. It is such a neat sensation. I think at this point you can start to hear outside noises more distinctly so we should start playing you some music. I bet that could really spur on your dance parties!


Well, my little babe. That’s it for this week’s letter. I love you so so much!

Love,

mama

Week 24 letter

Dear length of a foot long hotdog girl!,

This weeks' comparison makes me think of the couple of times your daddy and I have had cheap dates at costco for the $1.50 polish dog and drink deal! You're worth WAY more than $1.50!! Try like times a gazillion.

We are having so much fun thinking about you and watching me/you grow. I love my bump and your daddy makes sure to keep patting, squeezing, and jiggling!! you just a little bit each day. I know it's just his way of showing his love for you. He's a funny guy! I can't wait for you to meet him.

I love how much you have been moving inside me all throughout the day and when I lay down for bed at night. It is the most surreal and neat feeling. With as much as you move, I am sure you are taking after your daddy in that way! Though I am the one squirming at night when we are trying to sleep, when he pretty much stays in one spot from the moment his head hits the pillow. Our sleeping isn't the best, but we are also getting lots of cuddling in too!!

This past weekend I went to Baby's R Us to check it out for the first time. I took pictures with my camera of things I liked and the majority of them were blankets! I must have taken pics of like 6 different blankets or blanket sets! I guess I really just can't wait to snuggle you all wrapped up in a cute or pretty soft blanket. I also bought you a super cute jumper type of summer outfit with a really bright flowery print. It won't fit you until your about 6 months old, but it will be perfect for next summer. I am going to have so much fun dressing you and eventually doing your hair when your old enough/have enough! I am thinking right now that you will be bald when you're born and probably stay that way for a while! I was bald and Matt was too, my mom taped bows to my head for pictures!! ha! But we're a beanie family, so we'll have you wearing lots of cute ones too.

This week at our church's high school youth group which your dad and I help out with, I found myself thinking of you and praying for you. Tom, the youth pastor was talking about sharing Christ with others and I was thinking about sharing Him with you, when you are ready. Just praying that a relationship with Jesus is something you will have in your life, that your dad and I can share Him with you and teach you about Him, that as you get older and become a high schooler or even earlier in your life that you will have a desire and boldness to share Him with others. I know your dad and I both feel that our relationships with Jesus are a huge part of our lives and that we would be lost with out Him. I hope as a family we can always be learning about, praying to, and seeking Jesus together. That as we all grow over the years we can be open and encouraging to one another about our relationships with the Lord.

Oh, I have so many hopes, dreams, and prayers for you my little babe. I love you with all my heart!

love,

mama

a list....

Wow! That ticker on the right says 112 days left, that means in 12 more days we will be in the last 100 days of pregnancy, (GIVE OR TAKE!! a few or several I guess, if she's late!)

But really what that makes me think about is WHAT I STILL WANT TO DO before she's here:.....so......A LIST! (which won't include some of the obvious things like finish our room and hers!)


-Make our home more warm and homey for fall! I need some fall smelling candles, a pumpkin on my porch, a cozy blanket to cuddle up with on the couch, etc.

-Clean and organize my craft room! Get rid of A LOT of the stuff in it too!

-Find some good crockpot meals for the fall/winter to make on Sundays.

-Do one sweet thing, either little or big for my husband EVERY day!

-Go on more walks! Alone, with a friend (Kari, you interested?) or with Matt. Enjoy that fresh fall air!

-Bake some banana bread with all the black bananas in our freezer :)

-Sew/or buy a curtain for the front door

-Continue to dream of, pray for, and nuture this growing baby girl in my belly!!

My birthday present and another BUMP update!

22 ALMOST 23 weeks!

Week 23 letter

Dear "I hope your name stays" Ellie,

This week you are compared to being the length and weight of a Harry Potter book or 11 1/2 inches long and about 1 pound! I don't know if you'll be into Harry Potter but I sure can't wait to read with you as we tuck you in at night and I also hope you develop a love for reading like

I have had growing up.

This week I have really started to feel you moving all around in my belly. You are tossing and turning all day long but also settle down at night which hopefully means you'll be good sleeper at night, but we'll see. Even though you are still at night, I seem to be the one that has been tossing and turning ALL night long. I am really starting to drive your dad crazy with it! But we're both hanging in there :)

Today is my birthday and I am 26! You're daddy and I spent the day working on our soon-to-be bedroom so then we can move on to working on your room. He installed french doors for our new room and I can already picture those special times that we are all piled in the bed on a weekend morning when you come wake us up, with the nice morning light streaming in all around us! I am looking forward to so many special moments to come, both little and big!

You're daddy has really been so great, spoiling me and just making me feel so special. I can tell he is so excited to meet you and get to do all kinds of things with you! I'm sure he'll teach you all about hot rods, toys, and power tools! But also about things like being able to talk to anyone, being a good tipper, and being polite and considerate to people he meets! He always makes a point to ask the checkers at grocery stores or people who ring us up, "How is your day?" while looking them in the eyes. He really makes an effort. It is something he has taught me to do to and I think it really does make a difference in peoples days!

Baby girl, I am so excited to think on my next birthday you will be here with us! Knowing that is a birthday present in itself! I also can't wait for your birthdays through out the years. I always want to make them a special day for you. I have lots of ideas I'm already thinking of. They will be a day where we make sure to celebrate you in many many ways!

I love you my book sized babe!

Love,

mama

Week 22 letter

Dear Length of a package of Oreo's (or 11inch long) baby girl,

Yes, the email this week actually compared you to oreos! For the record your dad like the double stuffed ones and likes to combine 2 of those together! If I was feeding you oreos this week, you might also be able to taste them. Time to step up the broccoli and brussel sprouts for ya :)

Speaking of things I am feeding you, I am noticing when you get a little sugar, like from the apple I was eating yesterday, you are moving up a storm in my belly. The neatest feeling. I love it! Your daddy keeps putting his hands on you when were hanging out at home and I always hope you'll give him something he can feel, but we know that is still a little ways off. We'll be patient for you! You are so worth it.

You got some clothes in the mail this week from your Reno Grandma, we gotta come up with what we're going to call her....I know Grandma might be hard to take for someone who is perpetually 29 years old! (Right mom??) I can tell she is excited to meet you and having fun picking out things for you. Some of the clothes are for a newborn and are so teensy tiny. When I showed them to your dad, he was like, is that really going to fit her? I love the stripes and polka dot tiny tee shirts and your daddy loves the little "beanies". Of course he does, as he is rarely without a hat or beanie.

I can't wait to see you in those clothes, to hold you and snuggle you in your blankets! I recently found my baby blanket and thought it will be so special for you to use as well. It was made by your Great Grandma, who you hopefully, are going to be named after. Her name is Ellouise and as of right now, we still love Ellie. For me, that is your name, no ifs ands or buts about it, I am set on it, but your daddy still wants to look at some name books. I think it will be the one though! As we laid in our bed last night talking about you I asked him if we can just make it so already, I don't need to look in a book.

We love to talk about you. I don't think a day goes by that we don't talk about you or something related to you, or our dreams for us a family, or how we will/want to do things. We love you baby girl! We are so excited to be your parents!

Love,

mama

Her room: Inspirations....

Here are some of my nursery inspirations so far. I do love the bird silhouettes and like I mentioned before I can see them as some what of a theme, but I don't want to go to overboard with the bird idea either.

I like the branches of this tree and the birds out of different papers but wouldn't use the quote.I like this tree even better, it is more the overall idea I want to do for a mural.
Love the embroidery hoops collections with fun fabrics!

Love the vintage baby dresses!

This is a fave too!

Things I *think* I want for sure: light buttery yellow walls, a tree mural with leaves cut out of different cool patterned papers, some art prints from Etsy! (like above), an embroidery hoop collection on another wall, her name somewhere in the room....

For the Grandma in Reno and Auntie Chare'!!

20 week bumpness

21 week bumpness

Baby yoga! She's folded in half and her knees are almost touching her nose!

Love this girl!

Week 21 letter

Dear Carrot Sized Baby Girl,

Some of the emails measure you head to bum and others head to foot. Head to foot this week you are about 10 ½ inches long approximately. From here on out according the books and emails, babies grow at different rates. I also know you are practicing swallowing this week and tasting what I am tasting and I REALLY know you are moving in there!

Yesterday, all afternoon as I sat at my desk, it felt like you were doing gymnastics! It was so neat! I look forward to the day when your daddy will be able to feel you kicking on the outside, right now the feelings are still all felt inside. It’ll come though.

Each day now and going forward is really just such a blessing. Your daddy and I both are just so excited and happy where were at and for what is to come! I am working on getting used to calling you: her and she! I was so used to saying It, but I am happy to call you my little girl! Right now, our top name pick is Ellie and I can see myself calling you “Ellie-girl” as a nickname. I really do love the name Ellie and hope it is the one we stick with, it just feels so right.

You are getting spoiled all ready, little lady! Your Grandma Talbot (my mom) called to let me know she’s sending a box of a bunch of cute pink stuff that she picked out for you. I can tell she is very excited about you. And just yesterday, Matt came home to find a can of chalkboard paint tied with a ribbon and note from your future friend, Nelida Dalgas and her parents. I know we will have fun with that as you get to that age where you want to scribble and draw and practice writing your name.

I hope to always give you opportunities to be creative and artsy. Even if it doesn’t become a passion for you as you grow older, which is totally fine, I know that something will, I do want to expose you to creating with all kinds of things at a young age. Finger painting, chalk, crayons, makers, fabric, yarn, toilet paper rolls!, things collected from outdoors, rocks, whatever! I want to encourage you to dream and make things with your hands and what is around you. I can't wait to do those things together :)

I love you little lady! So so much!

Love,

mama

love this!

Even though I have...errr....had! every intention of making my own Diaper Bag as I have for a couple friends in the past as well as plan to make diaper bags for a few other preggo friends coming up......I have completely fallen in love with this bag! I think I will be saving my pennies for it, or requesting it as a birthday present. I think I can safely say....it's THE ONE!.....i love it! It will even look good when Matt carries it too, the grey makes it man-friendly, don't ya think!

P.S. Now that we know She's a she, you'll be seeing lots more things I like and inspiration for her room making their way onto the blog!

P.S.S. I think I am feeling birds as somewhat of a theme, you'll see what I mean when you see more of my inspirations coming soon!

Week 20 letter

Dear baby GIRL!!!,

Yes, that's right! This week we found out such special news, that you are a GIRL! We couldn't be happier and are so excited to now be referring to you as she or her. You are exactly what we both wanted. Not that we would have been disappointed if you were a boy, but it was just really neat to see that you were what I thought you were all along and what your daddy decided just recently he wanted.

Little lady, we just can't wait to meet you! We got to see tons of pictures of you at the ultrasound and everything looked great. You were completely folded in half with you feet up by your face for most of it and we watched you knee yourself in the head a couple times. It was soo cute and funny. The tech said you were quite the wiggle worm and wouldn't stay still which I am sure you get from your daddy!

We are at the Oktoberfest this weekend, staying with your grandparents in Mt. Angel, the town I grew up in and feeding you lots of fish tacos and other yummy things. Next year will be fun to have you on the outside of me and showing you off to everyone. This morning we played with your Auntie Gracie who snuggled right up on your daddy's lap and loved on him. I could tell how much it meant to him and knew right then and there you will have him wrapped around your little fingers. Here's a little tip: Let him teach you about hot rods when you get a little older and I am sure he will share all HIS toys with you! :) That's right, I said his! Just wait until you see the collection I am talking about!

Speaking of your Auntie Gracie, she will be three years older than you when you are born and I am sure you will be close friends because of it. How neat for both of you! And I know Zach will play the protector for you too as he does for Grace.

You are soooo loved by so many people, who were also so excited to hear you are a girl and who can't wait to meet you either.

We love you baby girl!!!

love,

mama

P.S. For the record, you are the size of a large cantaloupe this week, head to bum or the length of a banana, head to feet. The ultrasound also told us you weigh 10 oz! and your mama has gained 1 pound to match each one of those ounces from the beginning of getting pregnant, so 10lbs total now! (Which the midwife says is right on track, thankfully :)

Week 19 letter

Dear 6" Subway sandwich sized babe,

Wow! 6 inches long from head to bum, which means you're actually bigger than that including your legs! I can't believe it, I also can't believe we are almost 1/2 way through the pregnancy. I am thinking about you a lot little babe. I wonder all the time what you will look like, be like, everything! We get to see you on the ultrasound in just 8 days and I can't wait!

Your daddy is touching, poking, pinching, rubbing, patting my belly A LOT!! I am trying to get better about not swatting away his hand but it really does take some getting used to! Maybe it is just preparing me for all the people that will just reach out and touch my belly in the coming months!

Speaking of my belly, if I thought I was popping out a few weeks ago that was nothing, I think now I am finally seeing the true popping out of the belly. A few people have noticed it too and let me know! Which I love because, I want to look pregnant not just big :) I catch your daddy looking at me from the side as we will be walking somewhere all the time. We have been talking about you together so much and I love it. I love the dreaming and planning and that I get to do it with him. It makes me feel like were building a strong team together.

I just sent the deposit for our labor "preparation" class today which I'll share more on later but it felt good to know we have a plan for that and we will get to spend 6 weeks, 3 hours a week at a class learning all about how to bring you into the world! It's in Portland on Saturdays and I am sure we will make the most of those 6 Saturdays in Portland as well after our class by visiting McMenamins or some of our other favorite spots. That too will be a special time for just your daddy and I as we prepare for you to come, just getting to spend those last weeks before you come with some quality time together. We know that the best thing we can do for you is be strong in our marriage and though we have certainly had some bumps in the road, we have also come so far and I have such a faith and trust in us. I love your daddy so much! Through good times and bad, and happy and sad! I know, I know, THAT was cheesy!

Another cool thing we plan to do for you is to use cloth diapers. We have decided to use the brand Fuzzibunz after talking to a friend who uses them and just this morning when I was checking one of the blogs I follow, I discovered they are doing a giveaway to set up a family with free diapers from Fuzzibunz. This would be so great for us to win since one of the main reasons we have decided to go with cloth is the financial aspect and savings! Yes, they are a investment to start with but the savings over the entire time you'll be in diapers is HUGE! Like $2K plus huge! and saving that money and any money we can for that matter means, the sooner I can stay home more with you.

We are working toward that little babe! I want you to know that! We want for me to be able to be with you as much as possible and as soon as we can, I will work less and less but for now or the next couple years I am going to have to continue to work part time. We have already begun to make sacrifices and save and pay off our debt to achieve that and when I think about it, those sacrifices are nothing compared to what we will be getting in return! We love you soo much our little Sandwich baby! We can't wait to see you next week at our appointment!

love always,

mama

Week 18 letter

Dear Fair-Sized Pickle Babe,

Oooh! There we go again, making my mouth water by the food your compared to this week and baby, let me tell you that I have definitely eaten a lot of pickles lately. But then again, I have always eaten a lot of pickles, pregnant or not! I wonder if you’ll be a pickle lover too, your daddy and I both are!

You are 5 and a ½ inches this week from head to bum! Wow! And last night as I laid in bed, I am sure I felt you moving around in there. Can’t wait for those real kicks or to be able to tell where your head or feet are. You are getting bigger and so am I. Your daddy has taken to patting my belly this week, which I’ll be honest is taking some getting used to and not getting defensive about like I used to. I actually knocked his hand away yesterday while we were on the couch and caused him to spill his drink (which was in his other hand) all over him! He wasn’t so thrilled about the wet shorts but I'll admit I was kinda amused by it!

All in all things are going great, we are slowly but surely working away at the projects we want to have done before you arrive and I’m sure this fall/early winter will keep us busy with those. One project I’m excited about is painting one of the doors in the kitchen with chalkboard paint. It has 2 insets and the top one will be mine for writing grocery lists, menu plans, etc but the bottom will be yours (eventually) to keep you entertained when your hanging out in the kitchen with me. I know it will be awhile after you arrive until you’ll even be able to use it but I love that we are planning it for you now as well as other things. I just hope it doesn’t encourage you to draw on the rest of the doors and walls that are at your level, so we’ll have to be sure to teach you about that! Though something tells me, having your kids draw on a wall they shouldn’t is also just one of those “milestones” that most kids go through!

Your daddy and I talked about the things we do and don’t want to do with you last night, the things that will be treats for you and what won’t, how we will discipline you and about the adventures we want to take you on. We also just talked about how we will live in the day to day and what our time together will be like. I am glad we have these dreams, ideas, and goals, I know some of it will be a real wake up call to us or unexpected or sometimes the reality will be wild and crazy and hard, but I also know that it will be SO SO worth it! We both love you so incredibly much pickle babe! We are so excited to meet you in approx. 22ish more weeks!

love,

your mama

BUMP pics for grandma!

18 weeks

Matt wanted to show his "progress" as well!!

Week 17 letter

Dear Baked Potato sized babe,

Yum! Each week as you are compared to food items in my email updates from the websites, it never fails to make me hungry!

This morning as I was driving to work, I passed some school buses and it made me think of all the things I am looking forward to with you. Of course there are so many obvious ones, but as for school related ones I am looking forward to: back to school shopping and fashion shows with your new clothes, having a back to school fancy special dinner for you like this one , helping you plan that perfect outfit for the first day of school, helping you with your homework and projects, picking you up from school and hearing about your day, making you lunch in fun creative ways and putting notes and surprises in it!, going to your school programs, plays, sports, etc. I always loved school (for the most part!) and loved all those things about it. I hope you will feel that way too.

Tomorrow means 3 weeks until we know what you are, which we can't wait for so the name game can go full force! I am constantly throwing ideas out there to your daddy! Most of which he's not a fan of, but I know we will make a good decision together in the right time. Also, I just can't wait to know so I can start planning your nursery or start acting on the plans I already have I guess I should say! I have plans for both girl or boy and I love them :)

Your dad has been working away at painting our cabinets to get the kitchen finished and then I think he will be onto our new bedroom so we can move out of ours/soon to be yours now. He's such a good worker and has done so much to make our house a home. I am proud of him and love him for it!

Potato babe, I am thinking you are probably getting annoyed at me pushing on my belly as I lie in bed each night thinking of you. I think a few nights ago when I pushed that you pushed or kicked back and that was so cool, so that's why I am keeping it up! I do think I've been feeling you some other times too and I love it, I can't wait for even more to come.

Well, my love, that is your letter for this week. I love writing to you and hope it is something I will continue even when you are on the outside. You are so special to me!

I love you!

love,

mama

Week 16 letter

Dear Avocado sized babe,

Well, this week you are 16 weeks old! We had another midwife appointment yesterday and everything is looking great. She said your size is right where it supposed to be and we also got to hear your heart beating. I had heard it at the ultrasound but it was a first for your dad. I don't really know what his 1st reaction was since I couldn't see his face but it was nice to hear that strong fast beat so easily this time around. I had to go get my blood drawn this morning and it was no big deal, actually the guy that did it was so nice and good at it, I barely felt a thing. Which was much to my relief, however of course I also am telling myself not to be a baby about a little needle poke if I am planning to give birth naturally because they don't even compare! ha!

Other good news was that I had only gained one more pound in the last month, so that is 2 pounds to date since the beginning of all this, which is fine by me :) The midwife said not to be surprised it between now and the next appointment, we see quite a different number since that is normal for the 2nd trimester. Also probably because in the next couple weeks, you will double in weight and grow about 2 more inches I think.

We also were able to make our appointment to find out if you will be a boy or a girl, and that is for Sept. 17th. (Just so you know Mom!)

In other news, food is finally tasting better :) and I have actually cooked some decent dinners lately! I am loving this tomato/orange pepper chopped with basil, balsamic, garlic, and salt and pepper mix topped on a grilled slice of bread. kinda like a brushetta I think. Mmm! I've made that a few times.

I also think I am starting to pop more! The midwife said the top of my uterus is just under my belly button so I think in the next few weeks it will be moving behind it and above it, which will definitely make me look popped.

Well, babe of mine, that is the scoop for this week. I love you soo much! Every night I am praying for you and our (the 3 of us) life together!

love,

your mama

Week 15 letter

Dear Orange sized babe,

This morning I found myself thinking of what your personality will be like? I got to spend some time with a super cute and sweet almost 1 year old and his parents on Sunday when I took their pictures and I had such a blast. Just seeing them together, playing, loving on each other, cracking up at his expressions, I got so excited for our times like that to come. I wonder what you will be like at 1 year, 4 years (like your Uncle Zach is right now!) and then as a teenager.

I hope and pray that we will always have a strong and close relationship, that you will be able to talk openly and honestly with your dad and I. That you can share your struggles, pain, joys, hopes, excitements with us. I hope that you will always feel like you can be real with us, that you won’t have to hide your feelings and emotions from us. I hope that we will pray together as a family, especially when you are a teenager and it becomes awkward! I hope that you will come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you will cling to Him in all things and have a passion for Him. I pray that your dad and I can be good examples for you of how to love the Lord and how to love others.

I wonder what you will want to be when you grow up, I wonder if you will be adventurous or more timid, will you be shy or outgoing? Will you be artsy and creative or maybe really into sports or music, or all of the above! Please know, little one, that we will always support, encourage, and challenge you in whatever you do, just as our parents have done for us and as we have done for one another in marriage….

Little orange babe, I think I have been feeling you or at least feeling my body growing and stretching to accommodate you! I really can’t wait to feel those kicks and hiccups. If you get hiccups anything like me they will probably make me jump out of my chair or something because I get them so bad and loud! Your daddy loves to tease me about them.

In less than a week we have our next midwife appointment, I am assuming they will listen for your heartbeat again, probably at every appointment I think, and I am glad because your daddy will be there again and fingers crossed we get to hear it together! I wonder all the time what labor will be like and how your daddy and I will work together as a team during that time. I know he will be strong and supportive, but I am also so curious about that time for us too. In a big -looking forward to it- sort of way!!

Well, my citrus baby, I love you so much and more and more everyday!

Love,

your mama

a good excuse to clean my bathroom mirror!

                     

i think this speaks for itself, right? :)  

p.s. Sorry for the toilet in the back ground!!

Week 14 letter

Dear Large Lemon sized babe,

It's funny that you are compared to a lemon this week because I have been drinking a lot of lemonade lately. I especially crave it after waking up from a sweaty weekend afternoon nap! We are now officially in the 2nd trimester, woo hoo!! 6 more weeks and we'll know if you are a boy or a girl!! I've posted a poll on the side so all 2 of my readers can make guesses! (Hi mom!)

I think you are a girl like I've said before, but maybe it is because I want you to be a girl. And I only really have girl names and my plans for a girl nursery, I just love love love! BUT no matter what, if you are a boy, you really will be loved just the same! Boy or girl, nothing will change that!

My mom thinks you're a boy and at the ultrasound Robin called you a boy when looking at you on the screen, so we will see if the grandmas know what they are talking about :) In other news this week, several people have told me "I look great!" I think meaning, I'm not showing and you can't tell I'm pregnant, but let me tell you... I am oh so ready for the showing part! I want to pop and I know it will happen soon enough, but I just love seeing baby bellies out there and am excited for mine to come!

On the food front little one, I know you are tasting a lot of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches lately and I'm sorry for that, but still nothing seems to taste good with the exception of those! and when I think of something to make that should tasted good , it never tastes like I am expecting....maybe my tastebuds are just off due to hormones.

Speaking of hormones, I surprised myself this week with 2 cry fests, really over stupid stuff. Since I found out I was pregnant, I really have been feeling so great, happy, content, etc. but then out of nowhere this week, I've had those 2 crys....oh well, it just means my body's doing its thing!

I realize these letters to you are really more about me than you right now and basically just a weekly recap of what's going on and how I'm feeling, but hopefully one day when you are older and are pregnant with a babe of your own or supporting your wife in her pregnancy, they will be an encouragement to you. These letters are becoming a part of our history, little love! We have so much to look forward to and so many memories to make!

I love you babe of mine!

love always,

your mama

Week 13 letter

Dear peach-sized babe,

Measuring you in terms of fruit is pretty funny! Each week the highschoolers ask at youth group what fruit you are this week! They get a kick out of it. To be honest, I am not quite sure if the beginning of week 13 marks the end of the 1st trimester or the end of the week, but none the less, I really do feel like my body is moving into the 2nd trimester. I can't believe we're a third of the way through!! I am feeling so much better, not that I was ever feeling miserable, but I can definitely tell my nausea and tiredness are going away.

Now, I think I am beginning to possibly feel something else, and according to what I have read, it could be YOU! Not for sure, but maybe....it could also be gas :) but there's nothing proving that if you know what I mean either. It's like weird little pressure really quick in my low belly region, mostly on the side the ultrasound check said you were more on. Maybe it's you little one, if so, how neat it is and I am sure as you get bigger it will only get so much more stronger!

Last night I saw your Auntie Grace and Uncle Zach, they are very aware of you being in my belly when I ask them where you are and what I have in my belly. Grace tried to tell me that she had a baby dinosaur in her belly!! She's too cute and I'm sure since you will only be 3 years apart in age, you will be buddies. Especially if you're a girl but even if you're a boy. Zach will be 5 years older than you and I am sure he will make a fun Uncle for you too! I hope you call them Uncle Zach and Auntie Gracie, while you are young, I think it will be so cute and turn a few heads, huh?! But as you get older, I'm sure those prefixes will fall off.....oh to even think of the day when they have their licenses and you want to go do something "cool" with your aunt or uncle! One of my aunts is about 11 years older than me and she was always one of my favorite people to hang out with cause she still seemed like a fun older sister, not like another cousins mom :) That same Aunt will hopefully be starting a family here in the next year which could mean you could have a 2nd cousin? that will be close to your age!

Family is something that has always been a huge part of my life growing up, I have always loved the get togethers! The Talbot side is large and LOUD! (probably where your momma gets her loud talking from!) and then the Linnartz side is still loud but not as much as the Talbots, and then your daddy's side, they are much more quiet and don't get together as often as we would like, but we will spend a lot of time with your Gramma Miller and Grampa Miller at least. Looks like you'll be hanging out with Gramma Miller a couple of days a week as well, which is such a blessing!

Little Peach babe, I am so thankful for you and excited about you. It's only about 6 more weeks until we get to find out if you're a boy or a girl and see you in another ultrasound!! I can't wait for your daddy to be there for that! I can't wait for him to feel you kick too!

I love you little fruit!!

love,

mama

Week 12 letter

Dear babe,

This week you are still being called the size of a plum and you are about 2.5 inches long. This week I had another midwife appt. and we were anticipating hearing your heartbeat but well, you weren't having it! Which of course got me a little freaked out but instead we got to have this, which is even more special....

Through tears in the midwifes office I managed to joke that maybe you just wanted to be seen before you were heard....maybe that is saying something about the personality you will come to have. Waiting a day to know if you were really in there was overwhelming to say the least but it also reminded me WHO is in control of all of this, and that is definitely NOT me. The Lord is so good, faithful, and sovereign. He reminded me of that this week. Even if things would have had a different outcome, I know God is always with me and will never let me go!  I thank the Lord for this gift of you, my sweet babe EVERY single day!

It was so neat to see you move on the ultrasound screen and to hear you little heart beating so strong and fast! The tech thought maybe the reason that we couldn't hear it before is because you are more towards my back then the front of me.

Well, since this has been the biggest thing in this past couple days I haven't really thought about how I've been feeling physically but thinking about it now, I think my body is moving out of the 1st trimester symptoms. Not really any nausea this week and no puking and I think that time in the afternoon when I am usually wiped and craving a nap, I'm starting to have my normal energy back :)

That's really all I got this week......Little one, I love you soo soo much!!

love, 

your mama

Week 11 letter

Dear plum sized babe,

Well, let me just say that this week I am definitely feeling your presence! By that I mean, from a crazy nosebleed yesterday to my insomnia last night to puking in my garbage can in the nick of time at work this morning. But baby, you are worth it all!

I can’t believe you are now the size of a plum but yet you only weigh as much as 2 packets of sugar!! Also your head makes up most of your body right now. This week you start practicing swallowing the amniotic fluid you’re in which I think means you can taste what I’m eating. Admittedly, it’s not much variety these days and basically whatever just sounds/tastes good at the time, which may or may not include some chocolate! And for sure pickles!! But I do want to especially get back on track on the super healthy eating as I get into the 2nd trimester and am hopefully feeling better. I owe it to ya little babe! and to myself for that matter :)

Wow, I really can’t believe were coming up on 1/3 of the pregnancy already being over. I am sure the rest will go by fast as well. I am truly enjoying and loving every minute of. I am just so thankful that God has blessed us with you!

This coming weekend we’re going to the church’s Family Camp. I wonder what next year will be like as we take you along. You will still be pretty little but we aspire to be able to still go. Next spring, your daddy will hopefully tackle a project for us that will ensure that. We were able to get the cutest vintage teardrop-type of camper and if we could have that ready for next summer, I think we will for sure be able to go.

We are going to have so much fun with you! I am looking forward to all the adventures to come…

Love you so so much,

mama

Week 10 letter

Dear Prune sized babe,

Did you know I love you so much and cannot wait to meet you!! It’s true! Did you know I also have this feeling that you are a girl, I just can’t shake it. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t matter to me, if we discover you are a boy, I will still love you just as much, but it’s just my feeling. It’s kinda like whenever I pictured the man I was going to marry, I always pictured your daddy (I’m talking about when we were broken up-which is a story I’ll share with you some day…) But it was always this peace I had, just like I have when I think of you being a girl! In my head I sometimes catch myself referring to you as a she or her.

Funny thing is though your daddy called me today and said he was going to take a vow not to shave his beard again until we had a boy! He said imagine if we have like 3 girls and he is still unshaven and you and your sisters would be asking him why!?! I laughed and then was RELIEVED when he told me he was just joking!

Speaking of your daddy, he has been so great so far with this pregnancy, with cravings and my changing body to whatever I need. He likes to call my sensitive sense of smell my “spidey sense” for some odd reason! I know he is excited for you to come. He’s working hard on getting things done and he’s already making sacrifices for you. The other night we went on a walk and he was saying the craziest silliest things that had me laughing until tears were coming out of my eyes, I can’t wait to laugh like that with you too!

This past week has brought a few more trips to the porcelain throne to empty my stomach, but like I keep saying it’s all worth it for you, love. And seriously, from 3:00-5:00pm, I am mentally and physically pretty much useless, just craving a nap and counting down the minutes until work is over but I hang in there. I can count the naps I’ve taken since finding out about you on one hand, that is just a luxury I don’t have, but at the same time, sometimes I think they throw of my nights sleep, if they’re too late in the day or too long. Details, details, boring I know. I just wanna record it all though.

Along with this blog I’m also using a pregnancy journal that is called My Belly Book. It is soo cute and totally my style, not cheesy at all! I’ve actually had it for almost 2 years, just waiting in my underwear drawer for when this time would come. Your mom is basically a big dork! You’ll come to find out!!

Well, little prune baby, that’s my letter for this week. I love you tons and tons!

Love,

Your mama

Week 9 letter

Dear medium green olive sized babe,

Yum! I like green olives and I'm sure that I'll like you sooo much that the expression "I just wanna eat you up!!" will be used frequently once I get to meet your little self. Not literally of course, but you always hear about moms saying that about their kids, their sweet smelling skin, their chubby little rolls, and so on. Yup, I'm pretty sure I will be one of those moms :)

Yesterday was our first midwife appointment. It was basically only a talking appointment, she went over a lot of information, gave me a binder with said information and then asked a lot of questions about my health history. She did attempt to listen for your heartbeat but told me from the get go that it was very unlikely we would hear it and she was right, no hearing could be had. Which was kinda a bummer but it doesn't at all mean you're not in there growing strong. We were told that it can be heard between 10-12 weeks and that we would try again at my next appointment which will be at 12.5 weeks. I cannot wait! At least it's not too far off.

Your daddy came with me and told me as we were leaving he was sad not to be able to hear it, I can't wait for him to feel you kick more than anything. I can't wait to see the look on his face!! That's still a while off though.

Yesterday, I slept something like 14 hours!! I fell asleep around 6:30 until 8ish woke up for a bit and was back asleep by 9:00 and slept until almost 8 this morning. I didn't even wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep, only once to pee and then I was out again like a light! I must have really needed it.

The past 2 weeks food hasn't really been the same, I have had more nausea then before and am only wanting to eat what sounds good, which is not much variety...the midwife told me not to worry though and just to focus on eating good when I was feeling better. She said you're still getting everything you need :)

It's kinda crazy to think that it comes solely from me! I love you little olive baby!

Love always,
mama