My Sweet Grayson,
Today is Wednesday, June 19, 2013—one week from your
birthday! I can hardly believe that in just seven short days we’ll be holding
you in our arms! Mommy & Daddy are beyond excited to kiss, cuddle, and
enjoy every inch of you!
The past 38 weeks have been the happiest of my life! Mommy
has absolutely savored everything about being pregnant with you! I remember
the day we found out that you were going to join our family—I was so excited,
so nervous, so scared! I immediately wanted nothing more than to protect you—to
help you grow—to make you the healthiest, happiest little boy on the planet! So
I ate my fruits and veggies, took my vitamins, and said many, many prayers! My
love for you only grew each day!
Our path to meeting you wasn’t completely easy, though.
Unfortunately, the day that I had some “spotting” of blood was the scariest day
of my life. I cried and cried on the way to the hospital--I was completely
terrified that something was wrong with our little miracle. Thankfully, my
strong boy was safe, just a bit low on progesterone, so with a little medicine,
we made it through the first trimester! From then on, you grew & grew! I
remember how excited I was to see my belly grow—it meant that you were, too!
When we knew you were safe, we shared the news with our
family and friends. Their reactions were priceless! Granny & Bapsie found
out first, around 6 weeks, and were so shocked! Granny laughed and laughed
while Bapsie was worried about the logistics—as per normal! Once he realized
that Mommy wasn’t planning to give up on medical school, he became much more
excited! Then, Aunt T-T (Tiffany) found out, and boy was she surprised! Then
came Grandma Denise (Daddy’s Mom)—who was so happy that she cried! Finally, we
shared the news with the Rose family at Christmas time with a cute little poem!
You & Mommy got many, many hugs that day! From then on, everyone was
excited to meet you!
I’ll never forget Mommy & Daddy’s trip to Indianapolis
when we were 18 weeks along. That weekend was so special for us! My belly
“popped,” and for the first time, strangers were noticing! The most miraculous
thing about that weekend, though, was when your Papa got to feel you kick for
the first time! Mommy had been enjoying your kicks and flips for many weeks
(which made me so, so, happy, by the way!), but it seemed like every time Daddy
would feel my belly you’d immediately stop moving and simply relax. Finally,
that weekend, you shared your acrobatic skills with Daddy! He loved it more
than I can even describe!
After our trip, we celebrated the halfway point in the
pregnancy (20 weeks), and then it seemed that time flew even faster! We found
out your gender at our gender-reveal party, where Granny baked us a yummy cake
with little blue pacifier charms hidden inside! We were so surprised! Daddy was
convinced we were having a girl, and so was I…until the week before the party.
One night during that week, I dreamed that we would have a bouncing little boy,
and after that, I was convinced! Sure enough, the dream came true! And we
couldn’t be happier! You’ll be SO much fun!
Before long you were so big that Mommy had to wear maternity
clothes! It was then that Daddy & I finally realized it was time for us to
find a bigger house, closer to where Mommy would be doing rotations in the
fall. So we moved to Mt. Sterling, Ky. Daddy carried many heavy boxes and
furniture pieces while Mommy organized and decorated! My favorite room to
prepare was yours—of course! We loved setting up your crib, dresser &
little bookshelves for your rapidly growing collection! But most of all, I
loved preparing your tiny clothes and toys –they made me even more excited to
hold my boy :-)
Finally, we had reached 31 weeks and it was time for our
baby shower. Many loved ones came to our new home to celebrate your impending
arrival! We enjoyed yummy food, hilarious games, and precious time with our
family and friends. All in all, we were showered with many wonderful presents
that you desperately needed! After the shower, we spent lots of time with
Granny & Bapsie and took many childbirth & parenting classes to prepare
as best we could for your debut!
Finally, we had our much-anticipated 36-week appointment. It
was at this appointment that we would find out if Mommy’s cervix was dilated
and if you were in the correct position for birth. Daddy & I were SO
excited! Granny came to most of our appointments, and was extra-excited for
this one, too! We learned that my cervix was already dilated to 2 cm—that’s
already 20% ready for your arrival! Unfortunately, though, Dr. Fuson wasn’t
sure if you were in the correct position. So she scheduled an ultrasound for
the following week, and sure enough, we learned that you were completely
breech. Mommy cried and cried when I learned that I couldn’t give birth to you
naturally, as I had hoped. Then, I quickly realized that God had a plan for you
& I, and if that plan included meeting you via C-Section, then we would
simply have to trust in Him!
And so, we scheduled our C-section, and Mommy spent many,
many hours pouring over books, articles, pamphlets, & websites learning
about C-sections. I even prepared a birth plan describing our preferences for
the surgery & recovery. Finally, Granny & I went to our last
appointment, the 38-week check-up. Your heart rate was 148 and Mommy’s blood
pressure was 110/70—perfect! This time, Granny could clearly see your little
head when they were taking the measurements! We had to laugh about it—my
persistent boy had settled into his position, and he couldn’t help that it was upside
down! After the appointment, Granny & I enjoyed some quality time
together—we devoured “breakfast for lunch” at Denny’s & then went shopping
at a fabric store, a restaurant store, and Burke’s outlet—where we found
adorable socks and bibs for you!
And so, that brings us to today. 38-weeks-and-1-day. I can
hardly believe it, my baby! Mommy is incredibly excited to have you safely in
my arms! I’m also a bit sad—I’ll miss getting to carry you everywhere with me;
I’ll miss feeling your little nudges and kicks; I’ll miss your sweet hiccups;
and I’ll definitely miss my round, big belly! You have already been the biggest
blessing that God could have ever given Daddy & I. We have more love for
you than I thought was humanly possible to possess! I can only imagine how much
more our hearts will swell when we have our baby in our arms! I love you my
sweet one, and cannot wait for your birthday!
Love,
Mommy
Here's our update:
How Far Along: 38 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 30 lbs
Stretchmarks: Yes, I see a few at the lower part of my abdomen, but I continue to
pour on the lotions/creams/oils twice a day!
Sleep: Not as great lately, considering the 3-5 bathroom trips per night :-)
Best Moment this Week: Having our last doctor's appointment and preparing for Grayson's arrival.
Movement: Lots!
Gender: Baby boy
Labor Signs: None, but I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions several times a day and an occasional "real" contraction.
Belly Button: In, but barely!
What I Miss: Nothing
What I am Looking Forward to: Meeting our son!
Milestones: Grayson probably now weighs somewhere between 7 and 8.5 pounds and is between 19 and 21 inches long. He has a firm little grasp, which I can't wait to experience when I hold him for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside of Mommy's tummy. We love you so much already!
38 Weeks
Playing board games! Enjoying our last few nights together!
Packed & Ready
Til Next Time,
Hugs & Kisses,
A Southern Sweetheart
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