Shhh....

Dear Baby,

Even though you don't exist yet, that doesn't mean that we aren't getting things ready for you. I didn't buy anything for a long time. I first picked two nursery themes, one for a girl and one for a boy. I knew I would just have to know what you were. But then I found one that I fell in love with. I hope you'll love it too. It is gender neutral and just perfect. I started thinking about a year ago that it would be fun to be surprised by your gender. Your Daddy said the same thing not long after I started thinking it. So the plan is to not find out what you are until you are born. We'll see if I cave when I am actually pregnant, but for now we love the idea of hearing "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" at the moment of your birth.

Anyway, several months ago I started buying small things here and there. For one, shopping for baby stuff is so fun! For another, I am so afraid they'll stop making what I want so I'm buying little by little. I talked your Daddy into buying "just one thing" each month. It usually turns into 3, 4, or 5 things but he doesn't say too much. I get so excited each month when my purchase arrives in the mail! Nothing makes me happier then seeing that brown box on my doorstep! I always open it right away. If it's a book, I read it aloud (either to myself or to whoever is here with me). If it's a stuffed animal, I smile and squeeze it. If it's something for the nursery, I open it and imagine what your room will one day look like. I've already filled one big plastic container and need to buy another one!

Today I bought a window valance and 2 books, Guess How Much I Love You and I Udderly Love You. You have a quite a growing book collection already! I am a teacher so I want for you to fall in love with books early. I think it makes such a difference in a childs life when they love to read and don't dread it.

Your nursery is going to be cow themed.
It's perfect because we live across the street from a cow pasture. I'm sure you'll show an interest in cows early on. The colors are soft and calming. The cows are brown and whimsical. Your room was already painted a pale yellow, which we may or may not change. Although your room is now a stack of boxes, it will someday be full of love and giggles. I hope it is soon, my love.

Love,
Mommy

Your "Siblings"

Dear Baby,

Our family right now, before you, consists of only furry babies (but babies none the less!). I thought I'd tell you a little about them.



The kitties: Dulcie and Klaus. We had them both before we were ready to have a real live baby.

Dulcie is all attitude but a sweetie underneath it all. I'm sure she will hiss at you when you first come home but don't worry, she's harmless! She has a cute stub in place of a tail and a petite pear shaped body. We'll have to keep the door closed to your room or she'll be in your crib I'm sure!

Klaus is such a baby. Or at least he thinks so. He whines, loudly, if he is alone in a room and misses us. He likes to snuggle and will probably follow you around everywhere one day.



And last but not least, there's Sadie! We'd been dreaming of you for over a year already and were feeling pretty empty and sad. We bought our first home (which I can't wait to bring you home to one day...hopefully within the next year or two!) and I no longer could tell Daddy that we couldn't get a dog because we didn't have the room for one. So, we got another baby. A big one! She was a mere 6.5 lbs when we got her at 8 1/2 weeks old, and now (at almost exactly a year later) she's a whopping 52 lbs! I know that you'll love her and I'm so glad you get to experience growing up with a dog, since I never had one as a kid. Sadie...what can I say about Sadie? She is a wild girl but has many more calm moments these days. Thank goodness! She loves to lick! She loves to cuddle! She loves the cats but it isn't mutual. I hope that you will one day play with her and she will no longer need to beg the kitties to play (they always say no anyway). Sadie has made me feel like more of a mommy and I am convinced that puppies are more of a pain then babies (please don't prove me wrong!).

So there is your family, love. I know you'll fit right in whenever you should make your lovely appearance! They may have to warm up to you at first but I think you'll love your furry siblings!

Love,
Mommy

Words of Wisdom

Dear Baby,

Okay, so they aren't my words. I am going to be one of those annoying people that posts lyrics to a song. Please forgive me. This song just is so beyond beautiful in both its melody and lyrics. It speaks to my heart and I hope one day it will speak to yours.

For the Children
By: John Mellencamp

I wish I could give you an answer
As to when life really begins
I wish I could tell you where we went
When our days here come to an end
Wish I could see the future
The same way I see the past
Wish I could draw a conclusion
Why nothing here seems to last

I can't even make a guess
Or an uneducated thought
All I can do here is my best
And be thankful for what we've got

Why do so many suffer?
Oppressed to the end of time
Why does freedom move so slowly?
Unable to speak it's mind
Some say it's a circle
Others think we live on the wing
Why are promises broken
And some think life don't mean a thing

I can't even make a guess
Or an uneducated thought
All I can do here is my best
And be thankful for what we've got

I hope you can be a child of life
With big dreams for everyone
And know that dying's as natural as birth
And our troubles here they don't last long
I have worried about many things
Most of which did not come to pass
Hope you find someone to give you love
And that your love will last

I can't even make a guess
Or an uneducated thought
All I can do here is my best
And be thankful for what we've got
We've got

I do hope so many of these things for you already. I hope that you are a dreamer like me. I hope you have determination and drive like your Daddy. I hope you find love in friends as well as with a life partner one day. I hope you are always thankful for the blessings in your life. I think John Mellencamp says it so well. So there it is Baby, some of my many wishes for you. Remember, I love you already.

Love,
Mommy

Dreaming of you...

Dear Baby,

I haven't met you yet. In fact, you don't exist at all except for in my heart. I don't know if you're a boy or a girl. I don't know if you have red hair or brown. I don't know if you have brown eyes or hazel. But I do know I love you. That's right, I love you already. We've been praying for you for over two years now. And we will continue to pray for you until the moment we are holding you in our arms. We are not the only ones praying for you either. There are people praying for you that we haven't even met in real life. I'm going to continue to write to you. And one day, hopefully, you will read these letters and now just how much you were wanted and loved before you even existed.

Love,
Mommy