23 Weeks

Dear Baby,

Your dad is working late tonight. It doesn't happen a lot, thank goodness. I just miss him so much when we don't get to sit down and have dinner and spend our evenings together. Speaking of dinner though, have I told you what a great cook your dad is? Delicious! Of course I'll be providing your meals for a good while. But he can't wait to start cooking for you too. Now don't get me wrong, you'll eat just fine when your dad's not home. I can cook. Your dad just likes to add a little bit more pizazz to his meals. It's something he truly enjoys. But take tonight for example. I made a scrumptiously delicious pot of white chedder macaroni and cheese...and added sausage!! Ummmm, fancy!

Oh, and I read that you can now hear all the way through my belly. Yay!! I've been looking forward to this. My car CD player isn't working and I do not have a radio antenna, so I could use some company when I'm driving by myself. I hope you enjoyed the songs I sang to you on the way home today. I can't wait to sing to you while you're in my arms.

I'll make sure your dad tells you goodnight when he gets home.

I love you,
Mama

22 Weeks

Hey Baby,

I think you look forward to Thursday night yoga just as much as I do. I definitely feel some downward facing dog going on in there! I am so thankful for your movements. Last Saturday morning your dad and I were eating breakfast in bed and for some reason I started to worry that maybe I was just creating in my head what I thought was you moving and maybe I hadn't really felt any movement at all. Just as my mind was starting to get the better of me, I prayed for God to remind me that you are in His hands. You are being fearfully and wonderfully knit together and I have faith in that promise. Well...it wasn't a few minutes later that low in my belly, I felt a clear as day, no question about it, THUMP THUMP THUMP! It was amazing! God heard my prayer and whispered in your ear to give me a little assurance :) And now I feel your taps and thumps every day and I so look forward to them.

Sorry for the short letter this week, but I have to go. Your dad just got back from Kroger with my weekly 2 gallon milk supply and he is now making some sugar cookies :)

I love you, I love you, I love you,
Mama

Sofia

So I've been terrible about posting new photo shoots lately. I don't know...I guess it's just been a little distracting growing my first human being inside me and all :)

But a few weekends ago I had a session with the Guy family, which included the very cute, very fast moving 2 year old Sofia.

21 Weeks...almost. And a really BIG event!

Dear Baby,

You won't be 21 weeks until tomorrow. But I wanted to write you early because you were a part of something really big last night and I wanted you to know about it. Last night your Great Uncle Nathan was elected to be the next Governor of our state. And you were there!



It was such an exciting and emotional night. I believe that one day you will actually learn about the November 2010 election day in school. And you will no doubt grow up in our family learning about what a privilege and responsibility it is to vote. And last night was an example of the power people have to make change just by their individual involvement and willingness to say, "No more. This is the kind of state and nation I want to live in and I won't settle for anything less."

But really I can't wait for you to meet and know your Uncle Nathan and Aunt Sandra. And to tell you about this race and their integrity. You will learn what it means to take the high road and not lose focus on your goal. You will learn what it looks like to lean on faith and family when you are being attacked and surrounded by lies and deceit. You will learn about the strength and courage it takes to answer the call to serve and protect people you love, people you don't know, even people trying to persecute you. You will learn about a man who at the end of every day, after all the stones have been thrown, has a heart full of truth and wisdom, and a foundation built on faith in God, and so he was victorious.

"We cannot control the evil tounges of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them." ~Cato the Elder (Roman orator and politician, 234 BC - 149 BC)


I was holding your cousin Maeve when it was announced that Nathan won the race and we were all cheering as he stepped up to the microphone. Your Uncle Nathan then raised his hand up in the air and shouted, "To God be the glory, great things HE has done!" Maeve asked me what he was doing and I told her he was praising and thanking God first. That is what I want you to learn child. To God be the glory and it is God that is in control. I'm telling you, you will be so proud of your family. Not to mention you'll be raised in a better state!

The only thing that would have made last night better would have been to have Grandma Deal and Grandma and Pop Dunagan with us. Their pride and love would have filled up that room brighter than any star. You would have even felt it all the way in my belly! But their spirit was no doubt present. And their role and involvement in this achievement began long before any committee, organization, or campaign was formed. And speaking of stories, kid I can't wait to tell you about your Great Grandparents. That's really where Uncle Nathan and Aunt Sandra's story begins.

It won't be long before you are with us to see the rest of this story unfold. But you know what is the best part?!?! I was already pumped about you trying Aunt Sandra's greens and cornbread for the first time...but now you just might be trying them out in the Governor's mansion ;)

Love,
Mama

Yee Haw!! 20 Weeks!

Dear Baby,

What a great week! Your dad turned 31 this week. I know it sounds old, but I promise it's not. He still has so much energy. You might even have a hard time keeping up with him. You also turned 20 weeks today!!! We're half way there! I get to meet you in only a short 20 weeks. If it goes as fast as this first 20, I might as well see you tomorrow. We also had an ultrasound this week. Your sisters were very interested...



I want to go ahead and apologize if having sound waves shot in to your warm, cozy little home was annoying or uncomfortable. But it was so cool! You were making little sucking movements with your lips and drinking away. Daddy says you must take after me already if you're staying so hydrated. Another similarity we already have? Your legs kid! Good grief. Your dad now calls you Legs McDowell.



I'm trying to relax my abs as much as possible because I felt bad you looked so cramped in there.



If you have my leg length, I hope you take after your daddy's strength and coordination. Maybe you'll play soccer or basketball or be quite the dancer. But that will have to come from your Uncle Tyler. Unfortunately the rhythm gene skipped your dad and I. Although, I feel like I've got some pretty good moves, but your dad says I just look like I'm marching. We'll wait and see what you think.

I also found out…I am feeling you! A lot more then I thought I was. During the ultrasound I thought my stomach was growling. Nope. The Doc informed me that was you. She showed me what you were doing that made me feel the growl. The next day I was in my toning class and during a thigh buster move I felt the same growl. Is that your way of saying, "GO MAMA GO! YOU CAN DO IT!" Or was it, "MAMA, GO LAY ON THE COUCH AND EAT SOME ICE CREAM!" Hmmmmmm? I wonder…

I love you so much baby, from your little sucking lips to your long flamingo legs. I'll see you in 20 weeks.

Love,
Mama

Week 18

Dear Baby,

Holy crow kid, you're growing like crazy! I had a pair of my regular pants that still fit last week. 5 days later...no go. That means growth in less than one week. That is FAST. Sometimes I catch my profile in the mirror and I'll call your dad to come look and we'll be all, "Ahhhhhhh, we're pregnant and there's really a baby in there!!" I think I'm feeling some of the early signs of movement, but I'm still waiting for an upper cut or good solid round house kick. Whatever you feel like. Oh, and your room is really starting to come together...well, just in my head at the moment. But it's going to look great and you will love it, I promise.

I already love you more than cereal and the color green.

Love,
Mama

In case you missed that bump...

Week 16

Dear Baby,

Yesterday you turned 16 weeks old. So...Happy 16th Week Pre-Birthday!!! I can't believe in 5 months and roughly 17 days I will be holding you. I just wanted to tell you thank you for letting me feel better. Not that you were too hard on me during the earlier months. But I am enjoying having most of my energy and appetite back. And it couldn't have come at a better time, with the start of Fall and everything. The weather is incredible! I'm sure you'll love Fall as much as I do. I plan on spending a LOT of outside time with you. And if the weather starts making you feel a little frisky as well, feel free to give me a little nudge or flutter. I promise I won't mind. And by the way, you are really going to LOVE your Daddy! He's got so much to teach you it's crazy. Plus he's a lot of fun and he likes to laugh. It's really easy to make him laugh too. Although sometimes he laughs when you're not trying to be funny, which can make you mad. But then you realize, why fight it?!?! And you start laughing right along with him :)

We are so ready to teach you unconditional love.

Love,
Mama