ouch.

dearest baby girl,

these games we are playing are not fun games.

1. i know you find enjoyment in using my rib cage as a jungle gym - but come on! stay out. pushing, kicking, punching, & sticking your little extremities in between my ribs is now off limits. thank you.

2. the cute hiccups you like to get are now limited between the hours of 9am-9pm. anything that happens outside of these hours will be considered a misdemeanor offense with punishment to be determined at the age of 16. [punishment possibilities: permanent curfew of 9pm. the loss of the privilege of driving. no cellphone].

3. i would also like to take the time to say thank you for the your spunky & boisterous demeanor. but, please...stop doing gymnastics on my bladder.

thank you for your cooperation.

love,
mommy

ps: i love you regardless.

-------------------------------------------------------------

29.5 weeks

doctors appt today went great! baby girl's heartrate has slowed down from 170 beats/min to about 145 beats/min - which is normal & good! she has moved to the head down position [which isn't necessarily a permanent position yet] hence the rib kicking. baby girl is approximately 2.5 lbs & 15 inches long. mommy has normal blood pressure & has gained 20 lbs to date.

things are looking good - 10 [ish] weeks to go!!!!!

A word from daddy...

This is Erik here. Proud expecting father of a little baby girl.

Jess has been prodding me to participate in this blog for a while and I have been procrastinating because the task of talking about this experience is daunting. It’s hard to know how to sum up everything that’s on my mind. I’m obviously not as affected by Jess being pregnant as she is but I’m anticipating that my life will be equally affected. This baby consumes the majority of Jess’s attention and thoughts and I expect nothing less from her. Jess is a very selfless person who spends most of her thoughts and energy on her family and friends. She is going to be a great mom, she already IS being a great mom.

My subtle anticipation for the arrival of our daughter is much less obvious. I sometimes go in our nursery and look at all the cute little pink stuff that Jess has perfectly waiting in all the right spots. I look at the crib and think about how weird it is that a little human being is going to be sleeping in there soon. I look at the little booties and wonder how someone’s feet could be so small. I wonder what she is going to look like. It’s hard to imagine someone when they’ve never existed before, I can only picture the image of a baby’s outline usually with dark curly hair, but there is no face. I can’t wait to see my girls face. It’s hard to think about her at work or school when I don’t know what she looks like. I already know how much I’ll look forward to seeing her everyday.

I try not to believe much in fear or worry and I can say that I haven’t been overly afraid of this journey and what is inevitably in store. Most of life is challenging and I expect nothing less of raising children. I have received one of the most precious gifts in life of being raised in a loving family that depends on God and believes in integrity. If I can be as much like my dad as possible, my daughter will hopefully be as much like my sister Kinsey as possible, both of whom are some of the most loving and admirable people I know. I trust in the abilities of Jess to be the mom that God wants her to be, because of the character that she has and the family that she has had as an example. I know this will lead me closer to God. It has to. This world is too dangerous and painful for me not to trust that God is in control. Cars drive too fast and sickness arrives too swiftly. I cannot protect her from everything but I can trust that God has a plan for our lives and that is what is best.

I want to be a dad with passion, integrity and humility. My family needs me to be a man who will fight for them as well as provide for them. They need me to not only lead by teaching but by living. They need me to demonstrate what is important in life, and prove that I believe it by living for it. If I live for money, my daughter will live for money. If I live to glorify God and love others, my daughter will do the same. This is my greatest challenge. To live life with the right purpose and be willing to admit when I haven’t been doing that.

Jess, I love you very much and I am so excited to build a family and a life with you. God could not have done a better job of finding my other half. Thank you for being a great wife and thank you for doing such a great job of being pregnant, even when she won’t get out of your ribs.

Baby girl, I love you very much and I am so excited to see your face and welcome you to our family. Your job is to just keep being little and cute and we’ll take it from there.


Erik

28. 5 weeks

3rd trimester

the start of 3rd trimester. yes! we spent some much needed time at home this past week. so wonderful. 3 days out at mahoney state park with the the hustad/lovelace/miller clan, a baby shower, & much needed time with friends & family. my parents were able to come visit us as well! my wonderful sister.in.laws threw for us the most wonderful shower!! thanks ash & kins. you two are the best! our baby girl got spoiled! we have the most wonderful family & friends! thank you thank you!

here are some pics of the nursery so far. its coming along.

my sister.in.law ashley took some fun maternity pics while we were back as well. here's just a glimpse...

the time is going quickly. i'm feeling the baby more & more each day. her little kicks are much stronger & my belly dances from side to side. her schedule is somewhat predictable now, which is pretty amazing. can't believe she will be with us in 3 months. :)