Letter to Violet

Dear Violet,

I haven't written about my pregnancy week by week, but I wanted you to know how many times I've written this letter to you in my head. I want to tell you what it's been like over the past few months..

From the very beginning, you set yourself apart from my pregnancy with your brother. When I first felt you move, I remember being amazed by the fact that you didn't just 'punch' or 'kick' mommy, you moved with your whole body. For the past 10 months, you've made yourself comfy in there..using up every nook and cranny. I can place my hands on my belly and know exactly how you're laying. I've called you 'feisty' more than once because you are a very active little girl. I'll feel a big push out my one side and reach down with my hand to feel your little hand or foot sticking way out. You respond to my every touch, shifting and moving all around in there. In some ways, I feel like I already know you..like we've already met.

My pregnancy with you hasn't been very easy on my body. In the earlier days, I experienced complete and utter exhaustion. I napped with Noah napped..and then some! I've had a lot of back pain, which has made me walk around looking like I'm a 90 year old woman. My doctor tells me that you have your little head resting on a nerve in there. Although my body may not be comfortable and pain free, when I feel you moving around in there, everything stops and I marvel at the miracle of you!

Everyone, including the doctors, thought that I would deliver early with you. I honestly never thought we'd make it to February. I was sure that you'd be my little January girl and here we are, February 5th and you're still not quite ready to meet the world yet. Believe me when I tell you that we cannot wait to meet you! You're teaching us a pretty big lesson in patience! This is another difference between your pregnancy and your brother's. I remember feeling with him that I wanted to keep him to myself just a little longer. I didn't yet know what it was like to hold my precious child in my arms. Now that I know what it feels like to look into my son's eyes, I long for the moment that I get to meet you, my beautiful daughter.

We already love you so much, sweetheart! Your brother (although we know that he doesn't know exactly what it will mean to have a 'baby sistur') tells us daily that "baby Hobit is No-nah's gurl." Yes, he calls you Hobit, but he's working on it :). He loves mommies belly and gives you kisses and hugs every day. He's a special little boy and I can't wait to watch the two of you form a bond that only a brother and sister can have.

I know that you'll come when you're ready - at God's most special and perfect time. Just know that I sit here dreaming about counting your little fingers and toes and feeling you against my chest. I can't wait for your daddy to take you into his arms and love you in a way that is truly beautiful. He loves with everything he has. I look forward to watching your grandparents meet you with complete and utter joy in their hearts. There are so many people waiting here to snuggle and love you!

With all my love,
Mama

16 Weeks

I wanted to start a blog documenting this pregnancy, much like I did with the first. I'm 4 months today and so far things have been a lot different from the first time around. My pregnancy with Noah was pretty darn easy. Aside from a growing belly, I wouldn't even have known that I was pregnant. My pregnancy with Baby #2 has been equally enjoyable and exciting, just add in some minor nausea, extreme tiredness (I nap, nap, and then nap), and bad acne. Now that I'm in my 2nd Trimester, all of those things have evened out a bit, but are not gone completely (except for the nausea).

I must be carrying differently this time because I have found that the belly band, which I lived in while pregnant with Noah, is a big no-go. I managed to wear it for about 5 min...from the time I put it on upstairs until I made it downstairs. It's just really, really uncomfortable! This means that maternity clothes have made an appearance much sooner. I'm also showing much sooner than I did with Noah. Brian and I were comparing belly pictures last night and I'm showing about 3-4 weeks earlier. My 20 week pictures with Noah look like my 16 week pictures with Baby #2. I love this though because it is so special to be able to look down and see physical proof that my sweet baby is growing. It makes the connection that much stronger.

So far I've had a few pregnancy cravings and aversions. I can't get enough orange juice and on the same hand, I can't stay far enough away from chicken. I don't mind eating chicken that was prepared in a restaurant, but I want nothing to do with cooking it right now. This make meal preparation pretty tricky. We ate chicken a lot before this pregnancy. I've also had very typical pregnancy cravings - pickles and olives..mmm! I've noticed that I want salt, salt, & more salt..(it's a good thing that my blood pressure is really low).


I'll leave you with an adorable picture of Noah loving 'mommy's baby'

(When asked if he wants a boy or a girl..he always says 'gurl'. Brother or sister...'sister')