(Week 31) Wednesday, August 24th

(Week 31) Wednesday, August 24^th

Baby Boy,

            Papa and I celebrated our Anniversary today. Yes celebrated, though it was a whole day early. That is just how scheduling goes sometimes and you make do with your precious time. Our time, just papa and mama time, is dwindling fast. I am excited for your arrival, but will miss time with my favorite man in the world. Him and me time has always been one of my favorite things for the last five years.  Five whole years together and I have never been more assured that we are ready for you to be an addition to our family. So never fear, you will be welcomed into out family and not shunned. We already love you too much for that, baby boy.

            We decided to eat at Shabu Shabu. It is so delicious. This restaurant is based around a hot pot that you cook in and eat from. Veggies, meat, and seasonings are provided for you. You fill the pot with the things you like. Then it boils and bubbles, a great place to warm up in the winter I bet. Then you cook your meat in the broth. You swirl it for a few seconds or a minute or three. Then you eat it with rice and soy sauce. Mmmmmm. I tell you baby boy, that was a good dinner. Papa ate his favorite sushi and Mama had some of the cooked stuff to protect you against bacteria. Oh the sacrifices I make for you little one.

            We ate until we were bursting, which for me was not a huge leap from where I started. With you taking up all my tummy room it doesn’t take much for me to feel like I am bursting!

            Papa and I held hands, took pictures, and sang in the car. I hope these happy scenes will only continue after you are born. I know at first we will both be frazzled, but when things calm down I want to be the kind of Mom and Dad that holds hands in the car. I love holding hands in the car. Oh, and singing too. You will just have to deal with that I’m afraid. Papa and I were born to be rock stars.

                        Love to you little one,

                                    Mama

(Week 31) Saturday, August 19th

(Week 31) Saturday, August 19^th

Dear Little Munchkin,

            Today was a busy day for us little one. Today was the day of the Big Neighborhood Block Party. Your papa has been working so hard to pull this thing off and mama has been loafing. I know, shame on me to use you as en excuse to be lazy, but I cannot help myself. You wear me out little one. I feel like an old sweater, stretched to the max, threadbare, and that one more trip into the washer will tear me to pieces. Unfortunately I have much longer to go before you will be ready and we will be ready for you.

            Anyways, back to the par-tay! Burgers, dogs, buns—check. Décor—check. Carnival games—check. Movie—check. Yard work—check. It was a long haul but I got the invitations out a week ago and have been collaborating with some of the neighborhood gals to make sure we had the food and help we would need, as well as some carnival prizes.

            Well baby boy, you will be glad to hear it was a success! Papas games were oooed and awwwed over. He was beaming from ear to ear beneath his hat brim. I sat in the shade, thanks to a kindly neighbor and a gargantuan umbrella, and handed out prizes for kiddies who had won tickets. Then we ate and chatted. Then we watched How To Train Your Dragon while being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

            You had a good time too. Trust me. You kicked and rolled, you reveled in delicious burger juices, and you settled down to listen to the movie. A very good party indeed. Next year you will be here to witness the tradition for yourself and I cannot wait!

                        Loves always,

                                    Mama

Cravings: Burgers and JDawg sauce. Slurp!

Sickenings: Stinky bug spray.

(Week 30) Saturday, August 13th

(Week 30) Saturday, August 13^th

Baby Boy Schade,

            Today was another great day of vacation. Almost the entire day was spent at the Lake. We rode around in the canoe, we sat in the sun, and we napped in the shade. We ate turkey sandwiches for lunch, played on the floaties, and got to see your Great Grands Wood for lunch. Every moment was bliss except for one thing. Pepper Potts was missing. Unfortunately we had to leave her home due to a really long story. Other than that we all had a great time together.

            Papa and Uncle Lincoln did really well with the canoe. I took a lot of pictures and we can’t wait for you to be part of our adventures next year. Bear Lake, as you will discover, has become a bit of a tradition in our family. The water is so beautifully blue. Granted, it can be a little cold, but on hot days like this one it feels just like heaven.

            For dinner we tired a Mexican restaurant that was not fantastic and shared some Bear Lake Raspberry shakes. Very good. Then we just sat around the camp, all of us too pooped out to do much more. Mark this one down as one of my favorite days of summer.

                        Thinking about you always,

                                    Mama

(Week 30) Friday, August 12th

(Week 30) Friday, August 12^th

Dear Baby Boy,

            Today we made a semi long drive to Bear Lake for some vacation time. You did surprisingly well on the way up and Papa and Uncle Lincoln made sure Mama kept eating snacks. We packed up the new “family car” and headed out around 8am. We got to the lake around noon, met up with the G’s, Aunt Kelsey, and Aunt Nana.

            Grandpa Gygi bought a canoe on Tuesday and was so excited for the Maiden voyage. I was too! At first it was wobbly with you, me, and Grandpa all in the canoe. Once I relaxed a little though, it was so much fun. We spent most of our afternoon on the lake and went back to camp around 4pm.

            The first night we had a great Dutch Oven dinner supplied by Grandpa. He is an expert with that stuff. Delicious chicken and a yummy Raspberry Cobbler.

            Though the day was wonderful, sleeping was another matter. I am so grateful for the air mattress, because I cannot imagine how uncomfortable I would have been with out it. I am not saying I was perfectly comfortable, but I did get some sleep. Temperature wise it was perfect. Both Papa and I were never too hot or too cold. We were just right all night.

                        Love you little bear,

                                    Mama

(Week 29) Friday, August 5th

(Week 29) Friday, August 5^th

Baby Boy,

            The dreadful day has come. Today your Aunt Whitney called and wants to find a time at the end of this month for a baby shower. Not that I don’t like baby showers. I love them. However, she also asked if I wanted the SILS to pitch in for a big gift or all just get small things. Then she pretty much told me the best and only way to go is with a big gift. That is all nice and fine, but I have yet to pick out anything for you. Thanks to Nicole I have an infant car seat, a playpen, a bouncer, and a jogging stroller. Aside from that, I have no clue where to even begin.

            So baby boy, my hands were finally tied. I HAD to set up a baby registry. It is out of control all of the things they have for babies now. Play mats, and toys, and bottles galore. Not to mention the bedding, the strollers, the wash cloths. My head has been spinning. It is really hard for me to pick out expensive things for other people to buy for our growing family. I would almost rather have no presents at all, but then you would come home from the hospital with a laundry basket for a bed. We probably can’t have that.

            Some of the things I picked out include an everyday double stroller, a convertible car seat, and a baby bouncer that is supposedly incredible. Those were the hard things.

            The easy things included a first aid kit, onesies, burp cloths, and swaddling blankets. With those things we know you will at least have some of the basics covered.

            Also, I think we have your room theme pretty much nailed down. We have known from the beginning that your room would house your Grandpa Kirk’s old plane propellers. They are huge and beautiful. So we decided to go with an adventure traveling theme. Planes, trains, cars, boats, and all the places you can go in them. I really like natural and neutral colors for everything; specifically blues, grays, greens, browns, and tans. G.G. is going nuts while she knits up blankets and hats for you. You will certainly be warm when you arrive.

            As you can see, there are some people getting very excited about your arrival. I am certainly one of them. Things are chugging along out here and I have the feeling you will be in my arms before we know it.

                        Loves,

                                    Mama

(Week 28) Thursday, August 4th

(Week 28) Thursday, August 4^th

Baby,

            For the past few weeks you have seriously wanted some cobbler. I crave it, dream about it, and drool when I look up recipes. I however, needed a better excuse for cobber than just wanting it. So I organized a little gathering with some of my friends. Tonight was a cobbler and crisp night at our house and you were in heaven. All of the food was delicious and settled our craving.

            I just have to tell you that you have one amazing Papa. We have not been doing so well in the cleaning department and there were scads of stuff cluttered around the house. Most of it we just didn’t have a place for yet, so it lingered in the living room and the downstairs. So your amazing dad took the initiative and cleaned up the entire house so my friends could come over. Your G.G. also came over to help. They did amazing work! Mr. Clean has nothing on what your Papa can do with such a short timeline. I love him so much. He knows exactly how to make me feel loved and cared for. I know, without a doubt, he will do the same for you.

                        I love you little one,

                                    Mama

Cravings: Cobbler, any kind at all

Sickenings: Yard work

(Week 28) Wednesday, August 3rd

(Week 28) Wednesday, August 3^rd

Dear Baby Boy,

            Today we went for another checkup with Dr. Willis. An hour before the appointment I had to drink some insanely nasty sugar water so they could test me for gestational diabetes. I tell you, that highly concentrated fruit punch is not something I want to indulge in again. It was like drinking syrup, the sugar so intense it burned all the way down my throat. Not pleasant, especially when I couldn’t eat or drink anything after I had it.

            When we arrived at the office they got me in fairly quickly because they had to test my blood before the hour was up. It is a good thing I am not diabetic because I do not like having my finger pricked, especially when I don’t get a Hello Kitty Band-Aid after. It hurts for a long while afterword. Other than a sore finger everything is looking normal. In fact, Dr. Willis is calling me Mary Poppins because this pregnancy is practically perfect in every way. Good news for you and me little buddy.

            Dr. Willis came in and had an awkward and stiff looking girl follow him in. Instead of shaking our hands she actually gave a stiff bow in our direction. She looked a little lost, a little intimidated, and a lot rigid. She kept her arms tight to her sides and responded with jerky head bobs in the affirmative. The first thing Dr. Willis said to me was, “Oh my heck! Are you pregnant?”

            I smiled and said in my serious voice, “We weren’t sure, so we are coming in to have you check.”

            The med student looked horrified as she stared at my wide girth. Her eyes got all gawky and worried. Then Dr. Willis, Papa, and I all grinned and chuckled. I still don’t know if she got the joke.

That, little boy, is why I love Dr. Willis. I feel a little bad for the awkward intern, but at the same time he is the best doctor to teach other, soon to be doctors how to lighten things up a little. He is so laid back and knows how to keep me relaxed and feeling good.

Well, keep up all those good workouts. I love getting battered from the inside while trying to sleep. Really, I do. I love being able to feel you in there, moving and kicking. Helps me feel more at ease not having to worry about what it means if you stop moving.

            Love you lots,

                        Your Mom