We just had your baby shower this weekend. Your granny spent a lot of time and effort to make sure everything was perfect. They had stuffed monkeys hanging from a tree, and everything was safari-themed. Here are some photos that your great-grandpa took (that's why he's not in the pictures):
There are some other photos from your granny and great aunt that I will post as soon as I can get them!
We only have a little over 7 more weeks to go before we get to meet. (I started this about a week ago. We now have around 6 more weeks to go). I've never been more excited for anything in my life, and I don't think I've ever done anything more important in my life. It's like everything else pales in comparison to you entering in our lives. I will really miss being able to feel you move around in my belly. You move around the most around 11 pm, but it seems like you've recently started moving around a lot in the morning too. I've been extremely thirsty in the past couple of weeks. I've also gotten stretch marks in the past couple of weeks too! They aren't bad (yet).Granny had twins, and she still had the kind of stretch marks that faded so much you couldn't see them anymore. Maybe these will be like hers. I like to tell you that I know its not your fault and it is worth every pregnancy-associated symptom to have you! I talk to you all the time, though you are still in my belly :).
It's funny to me, because I've gotten more compliments on my appearance since I've been pregnant than when I was very fit doing Crossfit. I've wondered if they are trying to help me feel better about the weight I've gained. However, I honestly believe they really think I look good, though I think I look a bit like a chipmunk storing nuts in its cheeks for the winter, lol! Pregnant women have a pregnancy glow, and I think there may be something that can be seen beyond physical appearance as well. Maybe people can tell how happy I am to be having you.
I like to listen to books on tape when I am in my car, because there is rarely anything uplifting that plays on the radio anymore. I recently listened to Mitch Albom's "The Time Keeper" and started a book called, "Building Better Families." Here are some questions that you can expect to hear from me a lot as you grow up, and I am doing my best to raise you to be a happy, loving, respectful, and kind person with integrity and grit:
What can you learn from this experience? (You can make any situation something positive as long as you see it for what it really is- an opportunity to grow).
How could you have handled that better? (This is a question that I ask myself often).
How will that help you become the best version of yourself?
The last question comes from the "Building Better Families" audio book. I've just started it, but it has already been so insightful and helpful, It has shared different ideas that I have thought about but have had a difficult time putting into words. It feels nice to hear someone else confirm something that I already know. I don't think the author is a member of the church, but the ideas that he shares are the same as what we know already- they may just be worded a little differently. I think it is interesting how you can say something in a different way and things finally connect and make sense to someone. He basically said that we live in families to help each other grow as individuals. We have come to earth to become the very best version of ourselves. He also said that, if I ask you those questions, I should expect you to ask me the same questions. That our kids will hold us accountable for every inconsistency. For example, if I try to teach you that you don't need to watch a lot of TV but I do, you won't learn that as a true principle. Needless to say, my little one, I have a huge responsibility ahead of me, because there are some things that I need to change about myself in order to be the best example for you. I would never be able to convince your dad to get rid of many of the movies that he has, but I might be able to convince him to put them into storage. He loves car movies like the Fast and the Furious series, but these movies objectify women as sex symbols. They idolize money, recklessness, power, and conflict. I just think you are going to see me as being so controlling. I don't want you to think that, and I will do my best to try not to seem controlling. Often when we are young (and regardless of whether we are young), we don't realize what kind of impact our culture is having on us. The entertainment industry brainwashes us by exposure. If we expose ourselves enough to these things, what we put into our minds is eventually what we become.
I love you, my little one. You and your dad are my best friends. I want you to become the very best version of yourself. I know you will help me do the same, because I will experience tremendous growth as a mother. See you soon, my precious gift!
Love Eternally,
Mom
