Baby E, You are Already Loved.

My Dear Baby E,

I have not worked on any craft projects for the last couple of months.  I've been saving my energy for the greatest craft of all: making you!  It's been a rough ride at times, but I know it's all worth my energy and effort. 

Your daddy and I found out about you when I was 5.5 weeks along on May 27th.  We kept you our little secret for a few weeks.  We had fun whispering and giggling about you, and reveling in the knowledge that your precious little body was quickly forming!  I thought about how I wanted to share the news with our friends and family.  We decided to wait until Uncle Jeremy was back in OR from Texas on vacation with Shannon.  That would be Father's day weekend - June 20th.  We put together little photo books to give to our dads for Father's Day.  Pictures of your daddy and I growing up, of family, and of our parents.  We wrote blurbs to go with each picture and told our dad's how much we appreciated all that they did for us; for being hard workers, and taking us fishing and camping and for loving us.  We told them that we loved them.  And on the last page, we included a picture of my positive pregnancy test picture and your due date, Jan 24, 2011.  We told them that you love them too.  (We know you will. :))  Grandma Anderson started bawling and Grandpa Anderson said, "right on!" with a big grin on his face.  You'll get used to hearing him say "right on" when he's excited about something. :)  Grandpa Miller read the book by himself first while Grandma Miller was doing dishes - she thought it was just a grandpa present for father's day.  Grandpa Miller looked up, grinning and just said, "really!?" He called Grandma Miller over to come read along with him.  Grandma Miller was a little shocked, I think, that her baby was having a baby.  She went back to the kitchen and back to doing dishes.  She takes a little while to process things sometimes, but no fears: she was excited about you. :)  Your aunts and uncles were all excited about you too - and especially your oldest cousin Kaily!  She is so adorable and loving to you already!  Every time I see her, she runs up and says, "Hi Kayla! Hi Baby E!" and gives my tummy a big hug and a kiss.  She is so excited to meet you and play with you!  She said if you are a girl, that she can help change diapers!  I assured her that girl OR boy, she can definitely help! ;)

We waited another week to tell our friends the good news.  We host game nights here and there and decided that would be the best way to share!  We invited our friends for food and games.  Above the food table in the kitchen, I hung up a banner that said, "Bun in the Oven!"  The women all got it, the men were a little slower. :) Your "uncle" Brad took the longest.  He went in the kitchen to talk with your daddy for about 10 minutes, and came back out saying nothing.  I sent him back out in the kitchen.  He refused.  I had to tell him 3 times to go back in the kitchen, before he finally got up from the couch (a little annoyed at me) and went in there.  I had to tell him to look at the banner.  He read it aloud.  Pause....Long pause.  "Are you guys pregnant?" Big nods yes.  "Alright! I'm going to be an uncle!"  It was fun to see our friends get our news.  Gemma was very excited and cannot wait for you to hang out with Silas! 

That same night, I posted this blog on here and also posted on Facebook and let my other friends and distant family read about our home and see who caught on to the big news at the bottom of the page. :)  They were pretty quick!

At that point, I had been feeling pretty well, but was beyond exhausted, and felt queasy towards some foods.  That next week, yikes.  I started the "morning" sickness pretty bad.  It was really like 8 am - 8 pm sickness.  I never have vomited, but I dry heaved a good number of times!! 

Here are some pictures of you growing in my tum!  I'm pretty sure that by the end of this, I'll be sticking straight out like a watermelon!  I'm too short and have no where else for you to go.  Don't make me look too goofy, ok?

8 weeks: (um, and please pardon the underwear...)

 

9 weeks:

10.5 weeks:

11 weeks:

12 weeks:

And finally, we got an ultrasound.  We got to see you!!  The tech said that you were a challenge to get a good photo of!  I told her that you must take after your father. ;)  Finally, we got you though.  We got a lot of good pictures of you!  It was so fun to see you bouncing around, moving your arms and legs.  You even waved to us once.  You have the most precious, adorable little fingers.  I cannot wait until they wrap around one of my fingers.  We saw your heart beating, and saw you put your hand up on your face.  Too cute. :)

Here are your arms and legs:

You can kind of see you waving at us here!

I love you; you are way too precious already. :)

I am so so SO excited about you, Baby E.  I'll be posting more about you soon.

Love,
Your Momma

P.S. Do what you can in there to come out with daddy's dimple, ok??