Valentine, I'm glad you're mine.

I sent your daddy fancy lil cupcakes for Valentines' Day.

Hi sweetie pie. It's been a week of sweets as we just had Valentines' Day on Thursday. Your dad and I went a little crazy with our desserts too-cupcakes, girl scout cookies, splurge cereal and ice cream.  Sometimes, it just makes you feel better to indulge and we now need to clean up our act! Seriously, though--we've been having fun.  Your dad was so thoughtful this Valentines' Day-he got me the softest tee shirt that says "Don't give up" on it.  I love it because sometimes life is hard and your partner is the one who is there to stand with you, cry with you, say, "hey, that's not fair" and who encourages you to be the best person you can.  "Don't give up" is just as important a saying as "I love you" or "you're so pretty," because it keeps you moving forward.  I'm so lucky to have him for a partner through life. He made me 4 cards and bought me delicious gourmet pickles too...I was spoiled this year!

At least I surprised him with a cupcake delivery.  We ate at a Chinese place for dinner and I got to have scallops. It was, all in all, such a lovely day.  Your dad's been spending Saturdays lately at a study class for a big engineering test coming up and he's had so much on his mind.  I thank God and give Josh lots of credit for still having patience with your mom and for still treating me like a treasure.  I can only expect that you will come to know and appreciate this about him too!  He ordered a book for us to read called, "The Happiest Baby on Block" that's all about making sure you sleep good and stay comfortable during your first weeks out of the womb.

This week, your carseat and pusher came in, along with your changing pad and other stuff!
I think we secured a bassinet for you to sleep in while you're really little on Craigslist tonight, too, which is pretty exciting.  Your grandparents have been so generous to "sponsor" some of the big ticket items that we'll need to care for you--we really only have a few things left to get: cloth diapers, breast pump...and a million little things I know I'm forgetting.

What else--I went to get checked out at the midwifery clinic on Tuesday and they said that all is well.  The midwife pointed out to me how you were laying and finally solved the mystery of "what is this really hard pointy part near my belly button."  She said that it's most likely your cute little booty. :)

Keep doing what you're doing in there, girl! Grow and develop just like the Lord designed.  I made sure to get more fish oil gel stuff today so that I can do what I can to help your brain development.  Dad reminds me to take my vitamins every night, just about...sometimes I forget.

This coming week is #33 for us.  I'm going to try hard to get in some exercise and eat more veggies (instead of sugar/carbs).

Love love love from mom. Can't wait to hold you!

Your mom and dad...the covenant.

Your dad sees us from different angles...
Here's what I see.

I love your dad very much and I'm so lucky that he loves me back.
I'm gonna lose all this weight when we're breastfeeding...but for now, it's okay.
P.S. My clothes were too tight in that last bunch of dad's pics. Next time, I choose the wardrobe!

31 Weeks

Your mom let me take pictures of her lovely tummy on Sunday. She told me not to make her look bad so I promised I'd do my best. I think you both look lovely :*

I don't know, Izzie. Maternity doesn't look that good on me and I hope I wear parenthood better. I don't know if I've just put on what feels like major weight this week or if I'm just starting to feel waddly and round all over because I'm supposed to.  Either way, I'm finding it harder and harder to feel cute.

Your dad tries to assure me that I look like I'm "supposed to" and that he loves seeing my belly and hips and baby-feeders looming large, because it's bringing us YOU and it means my body's doing what we want it to.  I know it's true...it just feels really awkward sometimes.

I document you growing in my tummy and all the bodily changes because I want to remember this time. I want you to be able to look at these and marvel at how tiny you were...and how large you made ME! :)

Hey little Bel.
Your dad and I (at uncle Nick's behest) just ate SO much at this fondue place called The Melting Pot in Littleton.  You started moving in my tummy a lot after every course--the cheese course, salad, main and dessert. I think we both liked the caesar salad best of all.  I hope you're okay with the amount of sugar I had at the end there...I'll make up for it over the weekend-will make sure to give you lots of veggies and  limited sugar/carbs/fat. Gotta get on the straight and narrow before our next doctor appointment on Tuesday

Auntie Un sent us some money to go spend on a special treat and what better way to spend it than dinner with a good PCV friend at such a delicious event. Although I feel like my whole middle body may explode...it was a lovely night out.

Heading toward week 31 now--the Superbowl is this weekend and daddy and I are going to venture out to the mega-baby store: BabiesRUs.  This is our first time trying to pick out the clothes and gadgets that you will live in and we're hoping to make some good, albeit thrifty, decisions. Lord have mercy on us (and you), because we feel kind of overwhelmed with all of the "stuff" of preparing for you.  I hope we get most of it right so that you will be safe and comfortable.

Love,
Mom

Psssst. It's dad. This is Nick...