(Week 8) Tuesday, March 29th

(Week 8) Tuesday, March 29^th

Dear Large Lima Bean,

            Today we went to spin class and had a great time. Every time the instructor told people with bad knees or pregnant women to take it easy on the tension I got a little smile on my face. I am not sure how pregnant you have to be to qualify for easy tension on the spin bike, but I am so for it. Don’t get me wrong, I like working hard and working out, but I definitely want to make sure you are safe. There are still some risks of miscarriage, especially since you are my first pregnancy. All I can really do is wait it out and see how things work.

            After the gym we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s to watch some television shows and eat delicious cheese and pickle sandwiches. Oddly enough, this is not a pregnancy craving. I always think cheese and pickles sound good. You seem to agree with me.

            Cravings: salt and vinegar chips.

            Sickenings: Panda Express.

                                    Loves,

                                                Mama

(Week 8) Monday, March 28th

(Week 8) Monday, March 28^th

Dear Babycakes,

            What a day my little lima bean. Today you made me sleepy and sick, more sleepy and sick than usual. In fact, on the way home from work I started to feel ill and rushed into the house giving Papa the wait one minute finger as I rushed up the stairs to the kitchen sink. Not such a great feeling. However, that didn’t stop me from wanting Café Rio nachos and a chicken salad. So don’t worry, everything will be fine.

            I did learn some things today though, more things to add to the list of food I should not be eating while you are in there. Item one: rare meat, of any kind. Not fish, not cold cuts, not steak. All of these are some of my favorite things, but you are more important that any of them, so I will try to be wary of rawish proteins. Item two: no raw eggs. I cannot say this is much of a loss for me, aside from Caesar dressing. Mayo is not really my thing and I don’t chug raw eggs. And item three: sprouts. Alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts all contain bacteria that are nearly impossible to wash. Again, a little sad about this, but willing to make the sacrifice.

                                    Hugs n' Kisses,

                                                Mama

(Week 7) Tuesday, March 22nd

(Week 7) Tuesday, March 22^nd

Dear Baby,

            You are now probably the size of a blueberry. Can you believe it? You really are growing so fast. You might be developing a cute little face, little tiny arms and legs, fingers and toes, and don’t forget the eyelids. It is kind of strange and kind of gross, but you also have a liver, intestines, and an appendix already. It is all very exciting. But, I have to confess that I am a little relieved that you don’t have ears yet, because we all went to a concert, you included. It was a very loud, very rockin’ and rollin’ concert. Your first concert ever, listening to the greatest hits of a living legend, Jon Bon Jovi.

            First we drove up to Salt Lake to pick up your Grandpa and eat some dinner. You, little one, have been making Mama very sick the last couple of days. Not a lot of eating or sleeping is going on, but don’t worry, I hear that is all normal. I am optimistic because I can still fit comfortably in all of my favorite jeans. Before the concert we stopped at California Pizza Kitchen, one of Mama’s favorites, and you liked the kiwi Italian soda, but the Margarita pizza wasn’t so great.

            Next we headed across from the mall to the concert. Your Uncle Lincoln was very excited. We got the tickets as a Christmas present from your very sweet Grandma Lala and from your dad. They got us great seats and when the man and legend walked out to the edge of the stage on our side we could have spit on him, we were that close. When Jon Jon first came out on stage your uncle nearly wet his pants he was so excited.

            Your Uncle Lincoln hopes that because of this concert you will grow up harboring a great respect for his idol. I wouldn’t be surprised if he contrives a way to hook you up with headphones the minute you are in his arms. Needless to say, we all had a great time. You, Baby Schade, are one lucky little blueberry.

            Cravings: anything with acid. Tomatoes, pickles, banana peppers.

            Sickenings: fish tacos from Guru’s. They were delicious, without the fish.

                                    Loves Always,

                                                Mama

(Week 7) Thursday, March 17th

(Week 7) Thursday, March 17^th

Dear Baby,

            I guess you are not about half the size of a baby pea, 2-5mm. Not very big. Unfortunately we won’t really know until the second week of April, I rescheduled my appointment today, bumping it back from the 23^rd of March to the 3^rd of April. I hope everything goes alright until then. You will be privileged to attend a Bon Jovi concert as well as take a trip to St. George all before you even get to hear the doctor. You are one spoiled little half baby pea.

Today you wanted French fries and would not be denied. On my way home I went over to Tommy’s and ordered fries and friesauce and ate almost all of them, piping hot, before I even got home. Delicious. So good in fact, that Pepper wanted to share with me. I couldn’t say no to that face. Then we all, Papa included, took a little nap on the bed. Mama slept for an hour and Papa went downstairs to watch the BYU tournament game. I came down after halftime and finished it off with him. It was pretty lousy to watch, and you didn’t miss much.

            Then we went out for Papa’s birthday dinner since he is working tomorrow. We decided on Village Inn, Grandpa Gygi and Uncle Linc came too. It was really fun, you wanted hash browns and I started thinking I must be low on starch or something. Pie was good too, but that is not much of a surprise.

            Cravings: hot, salty potatoes.

            Sickenings: stinky dirty dishes in the sink. Papa did them for me, he is so nice.

                                    Loves,

                                                Mama

(Week 6) Sunday, March 13th

(Week 6) Sunday, March 13^th

Dear Baby,

            I have one word for you, daylight savings. Yes, I am blocking it together as one word and am considering it to be one of the foulest four syllables in our entire language. You make me tired, already established that, but then try loosing an hour of sleep and things get ugly fast. That is what happened this Sunday morning. Ugly came out to play, and came out early.

            This morning I had to get ready for church, print off my lesson, make muffins for my class, and take care of Pepper Potts. I am ashamed that this is my first mention of her, but Ppotts is going to be your guardian. She is our little Border Collie puppy, who is no more dog, but I can bet she will love you and play with you everyday. Moving on. It was tough getting up, feeling sick, and getting all of these things done. But, I did it!

            I got to church and had to teach an extra handful of kids because their teacher didn’t show up. Not a bad thing except it meant that everyone only got one muffin. The lesson went well. I taught about parables and how Christ used them to teach his followers while also concealing the messages from those who wanted to persecute him. It was the parable of the sower we discussed in depth and it was delightful. I really love when a lesson comes together and I can hold the attention of my kids for the whole 40 minutes.

            With this lesson I learned that I want to be the fertile ground. I want to be the place where the seeds of the gospel can be planted and grow to their full potential. I don’t want to be the wayside, the stony ground, or the thorny place. I also learned that I want you to be the fertile ground as well, but all I can do is prepare you to the best of my abilities and in the end it is up to you to take care of the seeds planted there.

            Then, in relief society, I thought it would be hard to keep my happy news to myself. Thankfully I came to find out that I don’t mind keeping you a secret for now. It would be hard if something were to go wrong and I wouldn’t have to take all of those happy words back if I spill them out too early. Then we talked about service. How service is what makes us better children and followers of God. How service fosters love and charity. This lesson was meant for me. Lately I have been having some anxiety about raising a child, especially in this crazy, messed up world. But I am also scared you might be born with disabilities. That would be so very hard for me to bear. But I found comfort in the thought that I am surrounded by wonderful women who have gone through the things I will have to go through. They are so willing and ready to help. That lifts the worry a little, but I can’t help wanting you to be healthy, pure, and whole.

                                    Love you so much,

                                                Love Mama

(Week 6) Saturday, March 12th

(Week 6) Saturday, March 12^th

Dear Baby,

            This is Mama. You can pretty much bet that I will be the one writing to you most of the time, since this is after all, my way of keeping journal. However, I have chosen to write letters because it is nice talking to you, even though you are still a speck that doesn’t even have ears or eyes yet. I still love you, tiny baby speck, and think about you all the time. So I just wanted to sit down and talk to you about all the moving around you might have felt me do today.

            First, I gave your Papa a snuggle and kiss when he got home from work this morning. You probably know this, but your dad works the night shift at the prison. Not a fun thing to do, but he does it for you and me. Maybe it is just what we need, especially if Mama has to keep working, even part time, after you are born. The night shift works for us right now and I am looking at it as one of the best blessings. He is home, every day. A big improvement from our first year of marriage, let me tell you.

            After the hug and kiss I went back to sleep for a little while. One thing about you being in there is that I am tired a lot more. But I had to get up at 7:30, so when my alarm went off I rolled out of bed after what seemed only a few minutes, even though it had been an hour. I then got dressed, grabbed my backpack and keys, and swung out the door. Your uncle Lincoln and I were planning on riding our bikes to BYU so we could watch your Grandpa Gygi run in a 10K race.

            Grandpa was still at the house when I got there. He was planning on leaving soon and I told him we would see him in a little while. He left and I was nagging uncle Lincoln to hurry and get ready. This woke up Grandma and she came out to show me some things, baby things, she already has for you. Let me just say that I have already received a few text messages with pictures of baby things. Needless to say, someone is very excited for you to get here.

            Finally we pulled down the bikes and were on our way to the races. The ride only took us about fifteen minutes, but there was one pretty steep hill we decided to climb. I was surprised, but it turns out when I am exercising I don’t feel as sick. This bit of information was logged away so that I can use it in the future. Exercise is a good thing, your Great Grandma Wood even told me that when I called to tell them about you.

            We got to the race and could not find Grandpa. We thought it would be easy, his bald head and all, but there were just too many people. So we hung around for a bit, looking for him. The 5K started and the 10K was supposed to start fifteen minutes afterward, but from a different location. We hustled our butts to start of the race, and there we found him. I handed over my Garmin GPS watch and we were there not five minutes before they started the race. I had my camera and took several pictures of Grandpa as he started the race.

            Next, Uncle Lincoln and I walked back to the where the finish was going to be and cheered for some of the members of Grandpa’s ward. Then we waited for Grandpa to show up. I took more pictures of him as he came around the bend, entered the race track, and crossed the finish line. When he ran past us the first time he asked, “Why do I do this?” I just smiled, remembering that feeling from my swimming days and from my Triathlon race. It is something that always crosses our mind, but we have to decide to slow down or just keep going. Grandpa just kept going. He finished the race in 58:59 and we were all very proud.

            Then we walked around, back to where we parked our bikes, and saw Sister Sherry Dew. Your Grandma Gygi loves her so we stopped by to say hello and I took some pictures with her. Now it was time for breakfast. We headed to Magleby’s Fresh, and dad invited two of his students to come along as well. It was fun and I was so happy to celebrate the finish with my dad. Something to be proud of for sure.

            After that I had to scramble home to get your Dad out of bed and dressed for lunch. Lately I love noodles and salad, not together. But my family was going to Olive Garden for lunch and I did not want to miss out on that delicious salad.

            Cravings: Jdawgs, Rumbi’s, pepperoncinis, and lots of water.

Sickenings: Papa’s favorite Thai Peanut pork.

                        Love you so much,

                                    Mama

(Week 5) Thursday, March 10th

(Week 5) Thursday, March 10^th

Dear Baby,

            It still doesn’t feel real, you being inside Mama. It is a miracle that Mama cannot seem to even wrap her head around. You, the beginnings of a baby, there and making her feel so different. Amazing really. Really amazing!

Today we visited TriCity Medical, just to make sure you really were there, but more about that later. First, Mama wants to tell you about how she let Aunt Nana, Great Grandma Gygi, and Uncle Lincoln know you were there.

            Mama just came out and told Aunt Nana when she went into work the next day. She was very happy, because now she will have two grand nieces or nephews to look after by the end of this year. This is because Mama’s cousin is also pregnant. Her baby will be a little older than you, but only by a little if everything goes right. Which we desperately pray it will. 

            Later Mama tried calling Great Grandma a few times in the morning, but she never answered. Auntie Kelsey actually called Aunt Nana twice, never even saying a word about the secret that Grandpa Gygi told her to keep last night. You were the secret, in case you were wondering. Mama was beginning to wonder if Auntie even knew what the secret really was. So after Auntie called and talked with Nana the second time, your Mama got on the phone and asked her about the secret. She said to Mama, “Ummmm, you’re going to have a baby in nine months.” That brought a bright smile to Mama’s face, and she reminded Auntie that she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, only Great Grandma and Aunt Nana could know about the baby. She said she would keep the secret, and so far, after a whole day, she has done a good job.

            Next Mama texted Uncle Lincoln the news. She told him at the very front of the message that he shouldn’t read the text in class, because if he did he would be smiling like an idiot. Well guess what? He did read it in class and he was smiling like an idiot. He said he was sitting next to one kid in the biggest class he had, not even knowing the kid, he leaned over and said, “I’m an uncle.” The kid told him congratulations, and Uncle Linc probably just kept on smiling. He also asked Mama if she was sure you weren’t just gas. He thinks he is pretty funny. She said she was pretty sure, but that she would find out tonight at the doctor.

            Finally Mama got a hold of Great Grandma on the phone and told her too. She said, “Well, you are the next up for twins in the family. So I pass along the names Gogi and Hugo to you.” Mama smiled at that, but deep down she hoped that you were only one baby. Two would be a handful the first go around, but if you are two, she would make it work. But then she told Grandma it would kind of be like having twins, since her cousin was having a baby so close together.

            Lastly, I want to tell you about the trip to the doctor. The drive was fun and Mama had to gently remind Papa that he can’t pretend to be a Nascar driver anymore, because Mama feels sick easy. So he drove a little slower. They got to the office and guess who helped us, your Aunt Carol. She is a great nurse and Mama loves seeing her at TriCity Medical. She took us into the back and asked why we were there. We told her we just wanted to do another test, to make sure I was pregnant. She asked if we wanted the results to be normal or positive. Mama smiled, because she wanted both a normal and positive result. Carol had to correct herself, “I meant, do you want it to be positive or negative.” We all laughed a little and then we told her we wanted it to be positive. She lifted her eyebrows and said, “Oookaaaaaaay,” like it was something she could doctor. Turns out even the hospital thinks you exist.

            On the drive home we talked a little about where and who we thought should be our doctor with you. Did you know that my doctor right now was the one who delivered me when I was born? Pretty amazing right? Anyways, we talked and decided that he would be a great choice to have as our baby doctor too. Even just writing it down is making me smile. So, you will be visiting with Dr. Willis over the next few months, and we hope he will take great care of you.

            After the doctor’s office we went to Grandma and Grandpa Gygi’s house, shared the even more official news, and had dinner. Another busy, busy day. Many more to come, we hope.

                                    Love you even more,

                                                Mama & Papa

(Week 5) Wednesday, March 9th

(Week 5) Wednesday, March 9th

Dear Baby,

            It is official, the test proved it. You are there. Granted, you are only a little speck, not even visible to the naked eye yet, but you are there. Mama is still feeling sick and Papa is still feeling excited. We drove Ashton up to Layton with uncle Lincoln in the car. At the mall Mama enjoyed her pretzel bites and some of Papa’s Orange Julius. After we got home we stopped and picked up a home pregnancy test. Two pink lines, that meant that you were there. We want to tell you how that all went.

            Mama and Papa, as soon as they had the box in hand they were reading instructions. How the test worked, what to do, how to read it. Turns out it took three minutes so Mama left the test upstairs, vowing to Papa that she wouldn’t look before he did. So we waited, even setting the timer on the stove, for three whole minutes. Then we scrambled upstairs together, flicked on the light, and crouched over the test. Guess what? Two pink bars! You are there. You exist.

            Mama couldn’t contain herself and had to tell someone, so she called your Grandma and Grandpa, who told your Auntie Kelsey. Grandma didn’t sound like she believed it and Grandpa ran out of the room to hurry and tell Kels. Uncle Lincoln wasn’t there, he plays basketball on Wednesday nights, but Mama will be sure he finds out tomorrow. They were all very excited. Papa couldn’t stop smiling the rest of the night. That night, in our prayers we thanked Heavenly Father for you and also asked him to help you grow and be healthy. We already love you so much.

                                    Love you,

                                                Mama & Papa

(Week 5) Tuesday, March 8th

(Week 5) Tuesday, March 8^th

Dear Baby,

We, your hopeful parents, are pretty sure you exist at this point. You have made mama feel strange the last handful of days. At first you might have just been the flu. Mama was feeling a little sick, a little tired; funny though, how it seemed to happen on a schedule. She was usually sick in the morning, right at eight when she got to work. So she started to take crackers and things to eat. Eating made it feel a little better. Then, again, right at noon the sick feelings came again. Only this time when she ate she immediately felt like a nap. Then, I think Monday, your Aunt Nana was sick at work and Mama almost lost it too, not something that usually happens. This is finally when she started to take the hint that something new was happening inside.

This is also when she started to become a little more vocal, especially to Papa about all the sick and tired that was happening. Then the day came, Tuesday. Your cousin Ashton was down visiting and a group including your Grandma, your Uncle, your cousin, your Mama and Papa went out to lunch. When everyone sat down and ordered this is when Papa was sure that Mama was pregnant. She didn’t want to eat a thing. Not a burger, not fries. All she got was a boring turkey sandwich and felt sick the whole time. Now Papa was getting excited.

We decided that after we took cousin Ashton to Layton and drop her off that we will do the test. Papa was originally going to wait for his birthday to come on the 18^th, but it just seemed too far away. Fingers crossed until tomorrow.

                        Love you,

                                    Mama & Papa