Our Love Story Continued......

My dear baby boy,

Is it possible to even put into words how excited I am to meet you? I have been waiting for you much longer than the last 39 weeks....I dreamed about you long before I even met your daddy. And now...you're about to join the little family we have already made with each other. Our love for you is already overflowing. You have made us so happy!

I've been meaning to write you little notes and letters throughout pregnancy, but it seems that time has just flown by at the speed of light. I do have lots of fun memories of the last 10 months and want you to know someday, just how much I loved being the one that brought you into this world. I would never trade any moment of this time with you growing inside of me and it has been more amazing than I ever imagined it could be.

Do you know that I felt your flutters and kicks at 16 weeks?! I was at work when I first felt you...browsing the web for baby things (not surprising!). I wanted so badly for your dad to feel them too, but it was too early. Only something that you and I could share.

Your dad is the one who came up with your middle name....I loved it instantly! What could be more perfect than a name with a meaning? And yours is all about where we fell in love with each other. Plus, it's sort of fun telling people your middle name is named after a bar. :-)

We were so excited and nervous when we went to see Dr. Starr for your 20 week appointment on December 10, 2010. We thought for sure you were going to be a little girl! All we had for reference are your girl cousins....so we just assumed we'd made a baby girl too. But to our surprise you were definitely a BOY on the ultrasound. But even better than that news was seeing you move around on the screen...your 10 little fingers and toes, your cute nose and face...it was one of the best moments we've ever had. You were growing and thriving and healthy....and a BOY!

The Christmas of 2010 was definitely one that was all about buying baby boy clothes! I think you received more gifts than anyone else on either side of the family!

We moved on January 1, 2011 into a new house so you could have your own room. I was a little sad to leave our old apartment on Aberdeen - so many happy memories there with daddy...that's where we found out we were pregnant with you! But the new place is much bigger and sometimes I just sit in the living room thinking about what it will be like to have a little crawler in the house. Gramma and Grampa came and helped me put together your room and I just love it. I didn't want you to be pegged into the traditional "boy" decor (no cars, trucks or dinosaurs until you're old enough to ask for them!)....so it's full of blues and greens (soothing, right?!) and just circles for pattern. Nana and Papa gave us your rocker and sometimes I sit in there and think about holding you and watching you sleep.

You've been really active the whole time you've been baking away....always kicking and rolling - never letting me forget you're in there! I love it - it was so great when your daddy could finally feel your kicks. You like to do it at night when we're laying in bed. One of my favorite memories is when you were kicking pretty hard and your dad put his face on my belly and said to you "Luke, be a good boy, stop kicking your mom" and then you promptly kicked him in the face. I hope that's not a glimpse into what's to come!!

In February, dad had a work trip to San Antonio so we met him there for a long weekend. I was 29 weeks pregnant and felt really good the whole weekend. We had a great time and it was our little "get away" before our family of two becomes three.

At the beginning of March, there were THREE showers for you. You are so very loved now - even before you've made your grand debut! Daddy's friends had a couples shower for us at Ryan and Neely's house. The next day daddy's family threw a shower for us with lots of friends of Nana and Papa's. The next weekend, Auntie Amber threw a shower for us in Eldora. It was overwhelming to see just how many people are excited about your arrival and who love you so much already. You are one lucky little boy.

We've taken a few classes to prepare us for your arrival....I've always been ready for you, but it was good to take the classes to remind us of all of the little things we didn't know about. Also helped us mentally prepare for the actual "childbirth" part. :-) Unlike what you're Auntie Amber used to think, you don't come from a cabbage patch.

Some other little facts about your time inside the safety of my belly...

--I did pretty well with the weight gain until these last few weeks. I was hoping to keep it to 30 lbs, but at 38 weeks I was at 33 lbs. We'll see what the rest brings!

--I've got some major swelling going on in my feet, ankles, calves (yes, they are cankles) and hands. I also have numbness in my right hand, fingers, wrist. Seems to be swelling related and it's really difficult to grasp a pen to write or even turn the shower on in the morning.

--You are still very active, even at 39 weeks! I keep reading about how you'll slow down as you get bigger - and maybe you have a little bit - but for the most part you don't like to let me forget for a second you're still in there.

--I've been getting up to pee every night about 4-5 times on average...for the last several months. I actually can't remember the last time I didn't wake up in the night - which is good practice for when you get here!

--I exercised quite a bit until the last month and a half or so....I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions since about 20 weeks and it seemed every time I exercied they would come more frequently and harder. So....I gave it up for the most part. I do still try to walk as much as possible, but it's harder every day.

--We researched lots of daycare options and decided to do a nanny-share when I go back to work. We met another great family and they are having a baby boy any day, too. You'll have a little friend to play with later this summer and a nanny to watch over you while we are at work.

--Some of the best moments in my day are when I'm laying in bed or sitting at work and I feel you move. I watch my belly twist and contort into all sorts of shapes and there's nothing better in the world. You're so big now that we can almost make out your little body parts - knees and elbows, feet and hands...

Only another week (give or take) of being able to shelter you from this world and all the things in it. I am beyond excited and ready to meet you, but feel a little sad knowing that once you're here, some of my protection goes away. Your dad and I will do everything we can to make sure you know you are loved every single day of your life.

Luke, we love you so much and can't WAIT for you to get here. So hurry up! Mama's ready!