Dear Natalie....

Dear Natalie,

Ok baby girl. Mommy thought you would of been here by now wanted you here by now, but you must like the warmness and coziness of my womb all too much. I don't blame ya! I don't like leaving the warmness and coziness of my bed most mornings...so I can fully understand. Now that we are approaching a week away from your due date we are all getting so ready and eager to meet you! Friends, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, your Daddy, your brother John (but he really has not the foggiest notion of your impending arrival, but I can imagine he is growing quite tired of me constantly pointing at my belly all day saying, "baby" and prob wondering what really is this said baby I speak of) and I am so ready to meet you my love. I have to admit though, I am growing pretty impatient by the minute. Patience has never been a strong suit of mine. But, I am always finding myself in situations where God has to repeatedly test my patience and I am having to constantly learn to wait upon His timing...your birth being one of these situations. So, here I am trying my hardest to wait patiently for your arrival. Although, I really have no choice in the matter. You will be here when God see's fit to bring you into this world. Hopefully...that is like tomorrow?! :)

For the last couple of weeks we have been busy finishing up last minute things to prepare for your arrival. Packing our hospital bags, putting your car seat in our cars, having a deep cleaning done in the house, stocking up on last minute grocery items, stocking up on your diapers and wipes, sterilizing breast pump parts, pacifiers and bottle nipples, and washing and folding the last bit of your clothes. Also, in the last couple weeks your Father and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary, which is a blessing, and we had your baby shower this past weekend! It was absolutely beautiful and so so special (your Auntie M threw it for us) and on a rather sad note we just said goodbye to our sweet Charlie pup that was such a big part of our lives this past weekend. Although, we prayerfully considered and knew that this was best for our growing family it is still never easy saying good bye. He was one sweet, amazing dog. I am hopeful you can still meet him one day since he did go to a dear friend of ours. :)

Update on you: I had my 39 week appointment today at the Docs. I saw your cute little body on the ultrasound screen and your precious little heart beating away. To any mother that is expecting this is always a sigh of relief, and so I left the Docs feeling so thankful that you are healthy and growing right along as you should.  As of now I am 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced which probably can acccount for the on and off mild contractions and crampiness I have been having for the past week. It's always exciting to see and hear how much progress you make week to week at my appointments! This is all new to me because I never got this far or got to experience all this with your brother. As you know mommy is attempting to have a vbac birth with you and since we are now down to the final days of you making your entrance in this world I have been rather anxious about this whole experience. I had to have a come to Jesus meeting earlier this evening with all of this. I got very discouraged and I think more nervous and afraid more than anything. My mind was consumed with all the "what if's" and all the possible outcomes of your birth. The enemy had really been attacking my thoughts lately and so I have had to remind myself to, "take every thought captive to Christ"  and just had to soak myself in prayer and claim His blood and promises over u and I.  I just more than anything, however God decides for you to come into this world, want you here safe, healthy and me safe and healthy too. I am so thankful for the many mothers that have offered up so much encouragement these last few months, for those that have kept us covered in constant prayer and the mother's who have been where I am about to be with their vbac and birthing and laboring experiences too! It has been so comforting. I know in a few weeks once your here, and I am rocking you away in your nursery...lol while watching your little brother vandalize your room, I am going to look back on all this crazy anxiousness, nervousness and ridiculous worrying that I have done and just giggle my heart out and think, "what in the world was I thinking?!" Your mommy is a nut! However, *please note* pregnancy hormones have truly amplified this statement. :)

Any who, I wanted to document some little pieces of what's been going on the last few weeks as we wait for you. So excited to just have you in our arms soon enough and expand our little family by two more feet. You have already expanded my heart and brought so much "Joy" so I can only imagine what my heart is going to feel like the moment they place you in my arms and the moment I officially become a mother to two precious little ones!!! Your brother has rocked every inch of my world and being and I can only imagine what the two of you combined are going to do to me! :)

God has been so good my sweet girl. I can't wait for you to know all about His love and just how good our God is! 

I love you baby girl...and please come soon!

Love, 

Mommy

Below are some pics of some of what's been going on the past few weeks!

Cheers to 4 wonderful years!

The beautiful red roses your Daddy got me for our anniversary!

I love your daddy!

Welcome!

Just in case you didn't know! Hehe.

Me, Ni Ni, and GG at my shower. 3 Generations! You will make 4!

   The beautiful handmade quilt your Aunt B made you. 

Shhh! This was my favorite gift!

Shower decor. The baby shoes on the left are mine from when I was a baby, and your ultrasound pic on right was from when we found out you were a GIRL!! 

A little keepsake from the day!

            My friend Emralde and I. She is due with her precious little girl Madalene in December! 
                        This will be your first girlfriend in the world! Can't wait for future play dates! :)

Your Auntie M and I. (She threw our shower.) She is the best!

    Your beautiful Nana and I! You will fall in love with her!

We said prayers for you!

The best baby shower punch ever! I had like 10 cups! lol

                       All the special women who came to celebrate the day! You are so loved!

Tried to snap a pic with your big brother after the shower, but he was not feeling it. I think he was done with all the women at this point. He is a character! Can't wait to see you two together!!

The night we said good bye to our Charlie.

Such a sweet sweet dog!

Had to post this pic. Your brother is christening your room.

You have dropped! Won't be long!!!

I wonder if you will look like me?!?