Full of Thankfulness

Hello Baby,

Today is Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday and this year, more than ever, I have so much to be thankful for. At the top of my thankful list is YOU, my sweet papaya. I'm so thankful that you're (finally) growing inside me, a new life that will be here with us this time next year to celebrate with. Hopefully by then you can at least enjoy some yummy pureed sweet potatoes. Maybe we'll throw in a marshmallow or 2 :D

I'm thankful that your heart continues to grow and beat normally.

I'm thankful that you're kicking more and more each and every day.

I'm thankful that I got to lay in bed this morning with Daddy and SEE you kicking.

I'm thankful that I still have so much to look forward to with you growing in my belly and watching you grow once you come into the world.

I'm thankful for our great family, who although we didn't get to spend today with, look forward to plenty of holidays with them and watching them swoon over you and spoil you like crazy.

I'm thankful for your big sister, Stella, who always (ok, almost always!) makes me smile and who I hope will love you as much as we do. And I'll be extra thankful if she doesn't try to eat you!

I'm thankful for your Uncle Danno for introducing me to your Daddy. And for all our friends, near and far, who have been there for us, sharing our happiness.

And finally, I'm so thankful for your Daddy, who I'm sure will be as great a father - loving, caring, and playful - as he is a wonderful husband. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I'm thankful that he has stuck by me when all I could do was focus the better part of my time, attention and heart on my search to unite with you. He is a great man, overflowing with love and patience, and I'm beyond thankful for his help and dedication to make you our reality.

Oh baby, I love you so much and I'm so thankful that I have you and your Daddy in my life. I'm so thankful that we are going to be a family.

XOXO
Mommy

I saw you kick!

Hello Baby,

Yesterday, on the day you turned 22 weeks, on football Sunday, while laying on the couch... I saw you kick! I was looking down at my belly and just to my left of my belly button, there you were. Kick.

Daddy didn't see that first kick but in hopes that you did it again, he started videotaping us. All of a sudden someone's shy in front of the camera. You were pretty quiet so no notable vid to post

But at least Daddy got to feel you. He had his hand on my belly and he said he could feel something rubbing along the palm of his hand. It was like you were moving your lil foot back and forth. He was pretty excited. As was I when I saw you kick.

Then today, I got to hear your heartbeat on the doppler and I get to see you again on Wed, hopefully Daddy will come too to see his lil papaya. Whooohoo for 2 more firsts!

XOXO
Mommy

Another Comparison

Hello Baby,

Only one word can sum up exactly 15 pounds, and it's not freshman, it's "WOW!!"!!

July 18, 2010	November 14, 2010

And speaking of 15, today you weighed 15 ounces, just 1 ounce shy of a pound, another WOW!! Since today is November 15, I'll have to say that our lucky number is 15.

XOXO
Mommy

Namaste Baby!

Hello Baby,

That's us on our way to our first prenatal yoga class yesterday, minus Big Sister :)

I forgot how much I enjoy doing yoga and it's so much better doing it for two because doing everything with you in tow, sweetie, is so much better. Even though it was slower and gentler, which I can definitely appreciate, it was a great workout, and the long relaxation at the end was well deserved. I'm a bit sore today and tired, what else is new, but can't wait to do it again. I think it pooped you out too because when I went to see your heartbeat today, you were very cooperative - laying on your back with one arm behind your head. Ha, now your Dada thinks you're a boy because you were in the same chill position that he enjoys. Little does he know that your Mama was laying in the same position and the tech commented that you took after me - bottom line, I don't think you gave us any clue to your sex. But only 19 weeks till we find out!!

Your heart was great by the way. The doctor viewed it in great detail and said every thing's looking good. Such a relief.

I will see you again next Wednesday, my butterfly flutterer!

XOXO

Mommy

Kick it!

Hello Baby,

You kicked, you moved, you fluttered! I don't know how to describe it - Daddy calls it a goldfish swimming, I like to think of it as a butterfly fluttering - but just before 2 am this morning, I felt you!!!! I woke up Daddy so he could feel you too. He laid his hand down on my belly and just waited and then boom, you did it again. Flutter, flutter! Then you did it again and again. Such great moments in our bonding... in your little life, in my big tummy! And I'm so glad that Daddy got to feel your first little movements with me.

We were in seventh heaven, especially after I told the Dr today that I hadn't felt anything yet and he said any day now. Well, to be more specific, he should have said any hour now!

I can't wait for you to wake up and give me some more boom boom pows!

You made my day... my morning... my life! I love you so much my little banana.

XOXO

Mommy

Whooah! We're Halfway There!

Hello Baby,

Today is our halfway mark, little banana! Look at how big I've gotten... and look at your cute big sister working her way into our photo!

Can't believe I am already 20 weeks pregnant today with just 20 more to go. These first 20 weeks have gone by so quickly, that although I want to enjoy every minute of you growing inside me, I am hoping that the next 20 go by just as quickly because I want to meet you SO badly. I can't stop thinking about the day we meet you and I become your Mommy. Sometimes, I get lost in my daydreams about you. In some dreams, you're a boy, some you're a girl. I have no idea what you are. I just love that you are ours!

Daddy and I keep talking about how there's so much to do to get ready for your arrival and since this first half has flown by, we need to focus on all things baby because I'm sure this second half is going to go by just as fast. And now that I'm not feeling sick, and my cold is gone, I have to start nesting when I'm not off in la-la land. There's choosing a girl's name, getting the nursery ready, organizing the house, and preparing for labor.

First thing I'm finally going to do is sign up for prenatal yoga classes this week. Daddy and I are also going to start walking a few times a week. I need to get in good shape so you can enter this world without much effort and pain. Whenever I see pictures of the path that lead you to me and I think of your journey from where you are to where you need to be, I get so worried and anxious. It's this long, tight canal and I just want to make things as easy for you as possible. I don't want you getting stuck in there. I just want you to whiz right into our loving arms. Hence, the importance of exercise.

Now that I'm feeling better and I'm not inhaling soup for every meal, I'm trying to be more observant of eating well. Proper nutrition must start now while your brain is still developing. It would be great if you follow Daddy and Grampa and go to Cornell, so I have to do my job to help you grow big smart brain cells. Good thing I like fruits and veggies. And hopefully you will too.

In addition, I've gained 3 more pounds than the 10 I was supposed to up until now so I have to be more observant to only gain 1 pound a week from now on. This is more about my vanity than you're life. But still very important :)

Most important is that your heart is still beating strong and you are healthy despite how sick I've been. I love that you're inside your little safe place being protected from my ailments. I just hope that your heart continues to beat well.

Tomorrow I finally go back to work after being home for just about 2 weeks, ugh, that's going to be hard but at least I get to leave early to go see Dr. C and make sure everything is looking good. Then on Wednesday, we go for our heart test. Hoping it's a good first week of DST.

XOXO

Mommy