Count it: 28 weeks (7 months)

Izzie-boo,

For the most part, I've tried not to share the less-than-comfortable parts of our journey in growing you.  Your dad and I watched the 3rd Narnia movie, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" today and a line toward the end helped me put into words something I've been feeling a lot throughout this pregnancy.  Prince Caspian says something like, "I need to stop dwelling so much on what's been taken from me and instead think about what I've been given."

During pregnancy, it's easy to feel sorry for yourself.  Because you're taking special care to nourish and protect the little life growing inside, you have to remember to DO certain new things and to NOT DO others that you might miss a lot.  Your daddy has been helping out more around the house, taking on chores that are harder for me now--trash, litter box, some cleaning and all of the heavy lifting.  He has been so thoughtful to protect you and me in a ton of little ways.

Of course, it's totally worth it! I would never do anything to hurt you and I want to do everything possible to make you healthy, strong, happy and successful in life.

The aches and pains of pregnancy have taken a toll.  I have this deep, strange pain in my right butt check (posterior pelvic pain) that gives me trouble (but not as much this last week!).  As you grow in my belly, my body adjusts to the new center of gravity, the changing shape and the squished-ness of my organs.  I have trouble breathing sometimes, my feet and ankles swell and I general "ick" every now and then.  The way I move is just different because I'm not used to a big bump on my tummy (that's you!).  It won't last too much longer and this whole experience has been pretty amazing to watch and document.

Your dad and I have wanted this for a couple of years and we're finally getting the chance.  We won't let the discomforts and new responsibilities get us down (at least not for long) because we know what a blessing and joy you will be in our lives.

Your dad actually told me the other day that he wants you to JUST GET HERE already! :)  We've been expecting you and thinking about the day we'll meet you for 7 months today...and it can't come fast enough.