Hi little Bel,

Weeks 36-37 have been full of surprise presents and your dad's and my amazement as my big (and growing) belly...not to mention my bloated feet/ankles/legs. Below are a couple of days apart.

At my office, I haven't been the only pregnant one--Through the last 9 months, there have been three of us, all pregnant at the same time.  We're actually all due within a week of each other--pretty neat.  So the office threw us 3 a baby shower! We had a lovely time guessing co-worker baby pictures, eating sweets and opening gifts.  This little monkey came from them-he is really soft (like you I bet!).  The book below is supposed to be my "homework" during maternity leave... ;)


 Your cat brothers have had a great time with all the shipping boxes, bags and paper from  your presents...

I still have to take a photo inventory of all your cool presents: Aunt Andrea sent a box of books and cute clothes, as well as a couple of pampering goodies for me and movie gift card $$ for us.

Aunt Alison (Nash) made a really cool blanket for you--it was in that bag in the pictures...poor bag. LOL

Aunt Corey sent some really special books and your first mixtape full of fun songs. 

I can't wait to introduce you to all of these people~wonderful people that we know.  I can't tell you how many of our friends, family and even those we don't really know well that have been praying for us and for you this year.  It's been incredible.

Aunt Sammi ("Duntie") works at a christian organization called Compassion International.  She has co-workers who have been praying for you and for your dad and me the last couple of years.  She said that a few of them have homemade gifts for you--We are very blessed.

Another of those special people is Shannon (Rease) Bryan.  We met her in Portland, Jamaica (in the Peace Corps) and your dad and she did NOT get along at first.  I thought they might kill each other, but I kind of liked Shannon all along.  She is one of the most organized, thoughtful and kind people I know.  I was immediately impressed with the confidence she felt as a woman in Jamaica, and how she used that comfortability and confidence to her advantage--to help people (especially teachers and school communities) where she lived/worked.  She spent 4 years in the USPC, and we knew her for 2 of those.  Now, she is a dear friend who lives in Atlanta, GA.  She and her husband (boyfriend when we met them!) are having a wedding party this September and I'd really like to go and celebrate with them.  You'd like Ricardo too--he's pretty quiet, but a big sweetheart.

Anyway, Shannon has a knack for making cool stuff with almost totally reused materials.  I'm always looking for jewelry/gifts to buy on her Etsy shop.  Well, she recently surprised us by sending this amazing cat to us FOR YOU: We named her "Guvnuh" after Shannon's nickname in Portland.  She has a special front pocket for your stuff and her body is made out of a pair of Shannon's jeans that I remember her wearing all the time in Jamaica.

Pretty cool if you ask me (and I am fairly discerning when it comes to this stuff).

What else...

Your dad has finished his 6 Saturday study classes in preparation for his big PE licensure test on April 12th.  Now, he just has to put more time in to review materials on his own, take the practice test on April 6th and then the real test on the 12th.  I think he'll do fine, but he's stressed about it--and how it will affect his availability for me and you! Don't tell him I say so, but he's doing a great job of taking care of us (and I think he always will).

My last day of work (for a while) will be Friday, April 5th.  If you don't already come out by then, it seems like we'll have a little quiet time getting ready for labor--at least it would be nice if things work out that way.  I can do a little shopping, cooking and cleaning to make sure we're prepared.  And sleeping...I'd like to catch up on sleep before it's too late. :)

That's all for now. xoxo