(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

(Week 27) Sunday, July 24th

(Week 27) Sunday, July 24^th

My Little One,

            I can’t believe I have not put any name ideas in these letters yet. This is probably the one thing that is constantly crawling into my brain and distracting me. I have a gigantic long list of names that I have been adding to for years. Some of the names have been dropped off, but many of them remain. Names are very important to me because I grew up always loving my name. My name was unique and beautiful. It also holds personal meaning for my parents. I want the same thing for you. Luckily you already have personal family weight in your name since your first name will be Kenneth. That is your daddy’s name, your grandpa’s name, and your great grandpa’s name. You will be representing several generations of Kenneths on this earth. I love that. We also assume you will go by your middle name, the one Papa and I will give you.

I honestly thought picking a baby name would be easy, but boy was I wrong. Papa and I have gone through the list several times and we want to make sure your name is something just for you. This job can be tough, especially when we haven’t seen you yet. Also, I have been surprised at how often we disagree about a name. Despite it all, we have been able to narrow down the list and though we have not made a final decision we know what we like. Here are just some of our favorites, the first one being our most favorite choice so far.

           

Kenneth Blake Schade

            Kenneth Raylond Schade

            Kenneth Clyve Schade

            Kenneth Hayes Schade

            Kenneth Tate Schade

            Kenneth Vance Schade

            Kenneth Crewe Schade

           

            We hope to choose the perfect name for you and will make the final decision only when we meet you in person. We want to choose a name you can be proud of and one that has character. As mentioned, Blake is probably our favorite choice so far. We love the way it sounds as a full name as well as just Blake. We love how it is simple, yet dignified. It is a strong name and nothing too babyish to be stuck with for the rest of your life. Also, I like how you can’t shorten it for a nickname. Blake is Blake, one syllable. Papa thinks he is going to call you his K.B. Toy, but we will just see how long Mama will let that last. I might call you Kabe, or Kabes. Most likely though, I will just call you Baby Blake for a long while, because I have been thinking that in my mind ever since we decided this was our favorite. Sorry kid, you might just have to live with it.

                        Love you,

                                    Mama

(Week 26) Wednesday, July 20th

(Week 26) Wednesday, July 20^th

Little Baby,

            Let the craziness begin. We are gutting the whole house, just for you. We started in the Master Bed room and have been working our way from room to room. Man alive we have so much junk! Piles and piles of clothes and shoes have made it to Savers these past weeks and boy howdy I am glad to be rid of some of it. Of course I hope to add more as time goes by, but really we will just have to see how productive I am. So house cleaning, check!

            Item number two, yard work. You can pretty much forget about it at this point. I tire out so quickly now and it seems like every time it is cool enough for me to mow the lawn, it rains. Yes, I believe it is a sign from heaven that I should not be pushing a heavy load of cut grass around the yard. Usually I get the front done and totally skip the back. Weeds are rampant in our grass and it is looking a little yellow. This is because our sprinklers are broken and Papa hasn’t had the time to fix them yet. We need to replace three valves. Yeesh! Not excited about that, but something we will have to do eventually I am sure. So yard work, no check.

            Item number three is baby stuff. You should see all of the amazingly cute things they have for baby boys. Unfortunately they are also very expensive things. This overwhelms me and I am putting off the baby registry as long as I can. You do have some things already though. G.G. Shawnka is ready to spoil you rotten. I also snatch up cheap onesies whenever I see them for a reasonable price. So baby shopping, half a check.

            Hope all is going well in there for you. I can’t wait to meet you, but I am also afraid your due date is approaching all too rapidly. Eek!

                        Love Always,

                                    Mama

(Week 24) Wednesday, July 6th

(Week 24) Wednesday, July 6th

Dear Baby Boy,

            Yes, our visit to Dr. Willis today revealed you are at 24 weeks, if you can believe it. I was thrilled to see our due date move up to October 20^th, but I am also thinking that day is going to come so fast! Papa and I have so many things to get done and those several extra days would have come in handy. I am so excited to get to meet you sooner than expected.

            Our appointment also showed us that you are completely normal; at least, as normal as you can be with parents like Papa and I. There were no abnormalities on the ultrasound, phew! Our next appointment is in one month, and Dr. Willis will test me for gestational diabetes. Little did I know that your grandmother had it during her second and third pregnancies, so I could have it too. I’m not worried about it though. These past weeks were not a good example of healthy eating. Otter pops end up being my breakfast and midnight snack. I also had doughnuts, hotdogs, ice cream, and other junk. I am guessing this is because I missed having those foods the first few months and went a little sugar crazy. No worries though baby, we are back on track. I have several healthy, happy baby snacks packed away in the pantry to help get us through the next couple of weeks. I have been told a sugar free diet will help my skin stretch easier in the last trimester, but we will see how much will power I have at that point. You already wriggle a good deal, but I don’t think that has anything to do with sugar intake.

            As for wriggling little one, you are already playing tricks on your Uncle Lincoln. He pesters you every time I visit Grandma and Grandpa’s house. He will poke you, and talk to you, and try to get you to move. You never do. I think Uncle Lincoln is still having a bit of a hard time accepting that you are an actually baby in there instead of just a firm pillow. When he sees me he always says, “Wow, you are sooooo pregnant.” I like to hear it, so I don’t kick him. Then when I tell him you are moving, he hurries over and presses his hand against my belly. You suddenly freeze. I laugh. Once my stomach growled and Uncle Linc’s eyes widened in delight. He thought he felt you for the first time, but I disappointed him. I have the feeling even once he feels you kick he still won’t believe you are a baby until he is holding you in his arms. He still smiles though. I can tell he is excited to be the best uncle in the world.

            Papa always has a silly grin on his face too. When that happens I know he is thinking about you. He gets a little overwhelmed by baby stuff: cribs, strollers, baby room, playpens. One thing you will learn about Papa is he sometimes worries about money, but mostly he just worries we will never have enough. Mama worries about this too sometimes. Then we both shrug and decided we will make it work because we have always made it work. You have great aunts and uncles who are willing to share their baby stuff with you. You have two amazing grandmas who will spoil you rotten. I know you will have everything you will ever need!

            Well baby, keep up the good work as far as growing goes. I will do my best to keep up with the rest of all this craziness.

                        Loves,

                                    Mama

Cravings: Homemade nachos

Sickenings: Too much soda pop.

(Week 21 or 22ish) Wednesday, June 29th

(Week 21 or 22ish) Wednesday, June 29^th

Dear Bump,

            Lately you have been acting like the biggest wiggle wart ever. It seems the instant I lie down for a break you start up the acrobatics. I actually saw my stomach jump several times last night. Do you know what this means? I think it might be time to invest in a body pillow. You will not put up with me lying on my back for long. You start throwing your fists and kicking those little feet. Obviously neither of us is very comfortable. So body pillow it is.

            One thing I love most about this week is the fact that you can hear Papa. When he starts talking you go nuts. When I sing in the car with the radio, nada. When I read the scriptures to you, nothin’. When I tell you stories, not a peep. Then if Papa puts is scratchy face close to my belly and starts calling you son, suddenly you can’t stop moving. I still love it, even though you mostly ignore me. This morning Papa felt a couple good kicks before falling asleep. I, of course, had to get out of bed, but it was nice to cuddle, all three of us.

            I still can’t wait to meet you. Now that we know you are a boy the fun is just beginning for Mama. I am in heaven looking at baby boy shoes, baby boy hats, and baby boy nursery stuff. Sometimes it still seems like seeing you in person is so far away. Then I think of all the things around the house I need to get done and it seems all to close.

                        Love you lots,

                                    Mama