Here Comes YOU!

Dear Baby Girl,

Today I feel nervous.  Excited. 

At different times throughout the day my heart starts beating faster and I get this shot of adrenaline.

And I can’t stop smiling. 

I was wondering why this feeling felt somewhat familiar to me, and then I remembered; this day feels just like my wedding day did 6 years ago.  Like, something big… REALLY BIG, is happening.  But until it happens, we just sit and wait. 

It is a feeling that my life is about to change.  That what happens over the next several hours will be etched into my memory for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow, you will be a week past your due date and the doctor said today that if nothing happens over the next few hours, they will induce tonight at midnight! 

This just got so real. 

Your momma just pulled your crib next to our bed and hung your blankets over the side of it.  She was crying happy tears. 

Baby, we can’t wait to meet you.

Love,

Your daddy. 

Tomorrow!

Dear Baby Girl,

Tomorrow is when you are supposed to come!  You are supposedly 20 inches, 7.25 lbs., and the size of a small watermelon.  The biggest of all the fruits!   

I think you are going to come later than expected.  You are building so much anticipation!

Our hospital bags are packed.  I bought an extra toothbrush and toothpaste to put in the bag because I was afraid I’d forget to bring those with me. 

All 4 of your grandparents are here.  We are all hanging out every night, waiting on you, Baby!

Your momma tried putting clothespins on her toes.  She heard that that should send her into labor.  And she ate a whole pineapple in one sitting...  Google. 

Your car seat is installed.  We realized car seats don’t fit in our Jetta.  We are actually considering getting a new car now.  In the meantime, your momma sits in the back seat. 

You have a lot of clothes.  A lot of clothes.  You’ll like them. 

And, enjoy the split second when you are born because for that split second, you will be the youngest person in the world!  That will be pretty crazy!  Right?

Come soon, Baby!

See you soon.

Love,

Your daddy

They Say...

Dear Baby Girl,

A week and a half until your expected arrival.  You are 6.8 pounds and 19.75 inches - the size of a leek, which is a vegetable that is a cousin to onions and garlic.

Baby Girl,


They say girls rebel during their teenage years.  How about you just don't do that, k?

They say we'll have doubts.  Doubts are normal.  What is important is the process of overcoming doubts which will ultimately build confidence.

They say labor will be painful.  Your momma will say it is worth it.

They say we won't sleep for months.  I can't think of someone I'd rather lose sleep over.  

They say you will hold us back.  Baby Girl, you will propel us to the things we really value in life.

They say you will cry a lot.  We will do our best to understand what your fears are, and teach you how to face them.

They say you will be a lot of hard work.  Hard work ALWAYS results in great reward.

They say you'll change our lives.  You already have.

They say we won't have any more adventures.  Baby Girl, understand that YOU are our greatest adventure.

Love,

Your daddy.

Your Different Stages

Dear Baby Girl,

It is expected that we will finally be able to meet you in about 2 and a half weeks!  You are now approximately 6.3 pounds and 19.26 inches - the size of a Swiss Chard.  A Swiss Chard is a leafy vegetable, often used in Mediterranean dishes.

I am going to take you to spring training in March, your first baseball game!  We'll probably go see the White Sox.  

If you are like your momma, you're likely to be very athletic.  You may take after your aunt Sarah and have a love for football.

We saw a bunch of little cheerleaders, probably 5 or 6 years old, do a dance routine for the halftime show at the Suns game the other day.  I wonder if you will be into that sort of thing.  They were really cute.

I find my mind wandering quite a bit, wondering what you'll be like at different ages and stages.  I wonder if you'll ever go through a mean stage.  I don't think I ever had a mean stage.  

Do you like tennis?  Every once in a while your mom and I play tennis.  We aren't very good but we try hard.

I saw a high school football game the other day and there were high school girls in circles, talking and wearing a lot of makeup.  And the high school boys were really loud and had weird voices. They gave the girls a lot of attention and some of the girls pretended not to like it.  High school is such an awkward age.

We watched a movie last night about a girl in high school who struggled with anorexia.  She just wanted people to accept her.  I think she put too much stock into what people thought of her because when people told her she was overweight, she decided to do whatever it would take to change.  The crazy part was that she found support from people in online forums who were going through the same thing as her.  This helped to encourage her that what she was doing was normal and okay.  I think whatever decisions you face, you'll find support on either side of the fence.  I think it can be dangerous to make decisions based on what other people think.  Just be you, Baby Girl.

Can't wait to meet you soon!

Your daddy.

A Couple of Tips on Being Happy

Dear Baby Girl,

You are now "negative" 5 weeks old.  5.25 lbs and 18 inches - the size of a honeydew melon!  In a little over a month you will make your arrival, if everything goes to plan.  

I've been through so many emotions during the past 8 months.  From being scared of the idea of being a dad, to being excited about the possibilities, to being worried for your well being, to being thankful for your existence.  I also have a feeling of simply wondering if I'm ready.  

Baby Girl, it is important to allow yourself to work through your emotions rather than escaping them.  Our brains are wired in interesting ways.  If you avoid emotions rather than working through them, you will add unneeded stress to your life, allowing things to build inside of you which can be difficult to ever move past.  

The other day, I brought our car in to the mechanic.  It didn't feel like a major issue, it felt like something small that the mechanic could fix pretty quickly.  A while after dropping the car off, the mechanic called and told me I was facing a very large and costly repair.  After getting a second opinion and receiving the same diagnosis, I sat down and felt really disappointed for a few minutes.  I knew it was out of my control, I knew God was going to provide for us - He already had, actually.  I knew it was going to be okay, but I couldn't move past it until I let it sting for a little bit.  So I let it sting.  

It's okay to be sad about things, Baby Girl.  It's okay to be frustrated when life gives you a dose of "bad".  But just know that it is equally important to acknowledge that everything happens for a reason, embrace it, and then move past it.  I think a large part of being happy in life is learning how to deal with "bad".  

In my observations, there are three types of people.  Those made of rubber, glass, and elastic.  Be elastic.  If you're rubber, the bad simply bounces off of you without it really affecting you.  This is problematic because if you never allow the bad to affect you, you will lack the ability to allow it to shape you.  If you're glass, the bad shatters you on contact.  This leaves you vulnerable.  Being elastic allows the bad to take hold for a brief time.  This allows you to see the bad for what it is, learn about it, learn from it, learn how to deal with it.  Then as quickly as it came at you, throw it back to where it came from.  The people who are truly happy in life are the ones who have figured out how to be elastic.

Another component of happiness is in managing your expectations.  Pessimists expect the worst and optimists expect the best.  I think you should always hope for the best, while preparing for the worst.  This way if the worst happens, you are ready for it and you know how to handle it.  But if the best happens, you have reason to celebrate.  And don't forget to celebrate!  Some of the best memories in life are formed when you are able to celebrate.  

I love you Baby Girl, 

Can't wait to meet you soon!

Your daddy. 

3 Predictions About You

Dear Baby Girl,

As I sit here in Starbucks, writing my first of many letters to you throughout the course of your life, I can’t help but feel like this is somewhat of a surreal experience.  It is like viewing into a portal that looks into the future.  A future that I can’t see in detail, but is filled with wonder, excitement and possibilities.  

Right now you are “negative” 7 weeks old, or so we expect.  You are 4.25 lbs., up a half pound from last week (good job, baby!  Keep growing!).  You are 17 inches, the size of a pineapple.  I can’t believe how much I already love you – and I haven’t even met you yet.  And while I haven’t met you, I still feel like I know you.  Here are 3 observations I’ve made.

1. You aren’t a picky eater.  You haven’t given your momma any terribly strong cravings, but based on what I’ve seen more of in the cupboard lately, I would guess your favorite foods are the following: apples, most fruit and veggies, French toast, breakfast sausage, Senor Taco, cereal (especially Corn Chex) and mac ‘n’ cheese.  This makes me think you will embrace variety in your life.  While routine can be a good thing, complacency often is not.  We all need change at times, and for some it can be difficult to be open to this.  But, Baby Girl, you will soon find that there is so much to explore in this world, so much to see and so much to do. 

2. You like to high five people, especially your dad.  It seems you can go several hours without much activity, yet as soon as I place my hand near you, you start kicking.  I say kicking because that is what people always assume a baby is doing in the womb, but I’m convinced you are giving your dad high fives.  I love it.  You are a daddy’s girl already.  I think this means that you aren’t afraid of people.  I think you are a go-getter, someone who isn’t intimidated by people.  I’ll bet you will be outgoing, social and full of love for people.  You can thank your mom for those qualities.  Never stop high-fiving people.  You are really going to go places, Baby Girl.

3. You like music and dancing, especially to bass-heavy songs.  In fact, your favorite song is “All about the Bass” by Meghan Trainor.  You start dancing like a little superstar when you hear music.  I love that enthusiasm!  And when momma plays her cello, especially on those low notes, you just think that is the coolest thing.  Your sense of rhythm and love for music tells me you are definitely our child.  Whether you play piano, flute, sing, dance, or play cello like your momma, I hope you find a way to express yourself musically.  I think you will have quite a gift you can use.

Your daddy can’t wait for you to make your appearance.  While I’d prefer you to stay put a few more weeks, know that we are ready for you whenever you decide to come.  We have your car seat, clothes for you to wear, a crib and your momma has your nursery looking so cool.  You are going to have a great style thanks to your momma.  We will be so happy when you are here.  

Anxiously waiting to meet you,

Your daddy.