Nursery Pictures

Dear Munchkin,
We have finally finished the nursery. Everything is all set for your arrival. The only thing missing is you! Of course, I am sure I will be in here every day "fixing" things and adding finishing touches. But for the most part, this is how your room is going to look:

I hope you like it as much as we do.

Love, Mom

Past Two Days

Dear Munchkin,
There has been a lot to write about these past few days! Yesterday your Daddy and I had a doctor appointment and then went to our final birth and baby class. We missed our fifth class a few weeks ago and luckily our teacher let us sit in on another one she was teaching. I am really glad we were able to attend since the topic was newborn care. Then this morning, my work place, threw me a surprise baby shower!
Doctor's Visit- You passed your NST with flying colors. I always worry a bit about passing when we go in, because some doctors are really strict about them. I understand the concern, but the last thing I want to do is fail the test and then be sent over to the hospital for a check up. It's expensive and time consuming. Your Daddy and I meet with Doctor D afterwards for a brief chat. After our last conversation about the induction, we had lots of questions. At the time, we were feeling overwhelmed with the possibility of your early arrival, so this was a good time to talk about our future plans. Basically, if your lungs are mature on the 3rd, then I would go to the hospital Sunday evening (the 5th) and start on some medication to induce labor. You probably be born the next day on the 6th. There are different methods of induction, so the medication used would also depend on what my cervix is doing "on it's own". If your lungs are not mature, then we adopt a wait and see philosophy along with scheduling C-Section at 39 weeks. If your lungs are borderline, we also follow that same plan. Doctor Davis's hope (and ours) is that I would go into labor naturally before 39 weeks to avoid the C-section. Since overall things are looking good, Doctor Davis is pretty confident that you will be here in a few weeks. At the very most, I will be pregnant for about 5 more weeks and maybe have only 2 weeks left.
Birth & Baby Class- Our last birth & baby class was about newborn care. We covered a lot of basic subjects such as diapering, bathing, burping, swaddling, and crying. We watched a long video about your typical day and night day. Each couple had a "baby" to practice on. Your Dad and I did a pretty good job. Most of the information was common sense. Of course, a lot of our solutions, we will be making up as we go along. Lucky for you, the firstborn are the experiment!
Work Shower- This morning, Carlton Scale threw a baby shower for me. They told me that we had a safety meeting in the conference room and when I arrived, it was all decked out. Everyone was there (including the service techs) and it was so adorable. There was a huge breakfast spread, cute decorations, and tons of gifts. It was pretty funny, because after the food was gone, so were the men! The girls in the office went crazy with the gifts. You got a Baby Einstein jumper, clothes, blankets, bottles, shampoo, sheets, and all kinds of toys. It was truly overwhelming to see how much my co-workers care about our family. One of my co-workers took some pictures, so I should be able to post some next week when she sends them to me. We have been so blessed with three showers and now your nursery is really full.
This weekend I am going to have my prenatal massage and plan to finish up the nursery. I need to put away all the new gifts and tweak it up just a little. Then I will post some pictures for all to enjoy.
I love you,
Mom

Weekend Update

Dear Munchkin,
What a whirlwind weekend! It was very exciting, fun, overwhelming, emotional, exhausting, busy, and joyful. The weekend got started on Thursday night when we picked up Grandma Lumsden and Aunt Diane from the airport. They arrived about 8 and we finally settled into bed about 11:30. Your Daddy and I had to work on Friday morning, so the twins cruised Greensboro until it was time for the first event. Then the girls picked me up at work and we were off to start our weekend!
Moses Cone Baby Shower-Your Daddy's co-workers got together and threw us quite a party. It was so fun and everything looked totally adorable. I certainly wasn't expecting such a big deal! Here are some pictures from the afternoon:
Daddy, Mommy, Grandma, and Aunt Diane

Guess the baby food game. I totally lost. Wet Wipes. Anyone who knows me can appreciate my face in this picture.
Delicious Cake
Tons of Baby Gifts

Daddy Boot Camp- On Saturday morning your Daddy enlisted in Daddy Boot Camp. It's a class offered at the hospital for guys taught by guys. It's all about learning the tricks of the trade from a man's perspective. They also have real live infants in the class. Once you are old enough, your Daddy might be asked to volunteer his services to other new parents. I have pressed your Daddy for details from camp, but he has just said it was lots of fun and very informative. Oh, how I would like to have been a fly on the wall that morning!
Baby Shower- Four of my best friends got together and planned an awesome baby shower for our family. It was hosted by Missy, Ann Marvin, MaryScot, and Stewart. It was so sweet and they thought of every little detail. They made sure to have tons of yummy food that I could eat every single bite of. Even a special desert served to us! It was such a great mix of family, college friends, work friends, and church friends. Events like this always make me think about how grateful I am to have so many women in my life whom I cherish. These friendship are so special and have truly made me the person I am today. Once everyone had their fill of yummy food, we played the first game. MaryScot (ever-the-teacher) had us guess the baby animal. For example, a dog would have a puppy. If only they were that easy! Then after the game, I opened gifts. There are so many presents. Eloise and EmmaScot (Ann Marvin's girls) helped play Santa and brought me all the gifts. I can't even begin to name off all the fun stuff we received. Your nursery is totally stocked now. After the presents, we played a game called dirty diaper. Each diaper had a candy bar melted in it and we had to figure it out which one was which. I did fair better at this game, but it was still hard. Then things started winding down. I stayed behind to catch up with friends who had traveled to see me. All in all, it was just a fantastic afternoon. Check out some of the gifts below:
Wreath of Diapers Mrs. Jolly, Amy, and Amber
Piggy Bank from Dad & Debra
Homemade Blanket from Grandma (Which of course made me bawl!)
Framed Picture for your Nursery
Sunday-On Sunday, we attacked your nursery. It's not totally complete, but it is almost done. There are just a few finishing touches I need to add. I am going to post some pictures of the finished product this week or weekend. I have to say, it looks so fabulous. I could just stand in there for hours and I can't wait to see you sleeping in the crib!
NST Monday- Monday morning, you passed the NST with no problem. I saw a different doctor and everything was fine. My legs and feet have become quite swollen in the past few days, but since my BP and weight gain are on track, it shouldn't be an issue. I see Doctor Davis on Thursday and I am going to ask him about the backup plan if your lungs are not mature. There are so many details running through my head right now, it's not even funny!
I love you very much, Mom

Final Countdown

Dear Baby-
This morning we had an ultrasound and meeting with Doctor Davis. All is well with you and you now have an estimated weight of a whooping 5lbs 10ozs! My weight is up 7.2lbs (the highest it's been so far!), my blood pressure was 120/70, and your heart rate was 138. You are big. As in 94th percentile big. Doctor Davis presented us with two options. The first would be to continue to ride out the pregnancy and see what happens. Once you reach 4500grams (between 9-10lbs), they would take you via C-Section. Most likely, if we decided to wait, you would be born @ 37-38 weeks and would be a big baby. The second is to induce labor after 36 weeks. They will perform an amniocentesis test to see if your lungs are fully mature. If they are, then I would be induced at the hospital within a few days of the test. Basically, it gives me a chance to deliver you naturally with less risk of complications whilst yielding a smaller baby. Given the choice, your Daddy and I decided that this would be the best option for us. I know that I would do whatever is medically necessary for your health and safety, but given the opportunity to avoid major abdominal surgery, I will take it. Of course, there is still a chance that I could labor and still end up having a C-Section. Plus the amniocentesis is not without risk. Doctor Davis had his nurse set up the amnio test for Friday October 3rd @ 7:45 AM. The test results should be back that afternoon. Doctor Davis is going to be on-call starting Monday October 6th in the afternoon and we would probably be admitted to the hospital sometime early that week. So if all goes well, I will know on the 3rd when the induction will take place. You might be born about 3 weeks. Say it with me people "3 WEEKS!". At this point, there are still a lot of variables up in the air. If your lungs aren't mature, then the plan changes and we reevaluate. For the moment, I will continue my normal routine and keep all my standing doctor's appointments. Until October 3rd, I wait patiently. As I have been for the past 8 months for your arrival. Thank goodness my baby showers are this weekend and my Mom will here! These next few weeks are going to be impossibly slow......
I love you,
Mom
PS- 3 Weeks! 3 Weeks! 3 Weeks!

Catching Up

Dear Baby,
This week has been busy! Every time I felt like I had a moment to write you a letter, it seemed like something came up. (I must confess sometimes that something was a N-A-P) I am really starting to slow down these days. It is very frustrating for me since I usually have a go, go, go attitude and try to attend every event. But I truly believe that after September, things will be a little calmer. Here is an update of the stuff that have been going on in Munchkinland the past couple of days:
Gifts-Our neighbor, Faye, came over last weekend bearing gifts. She has a year old grand daughter who has outgrown 2 baby swings and a highchair. Everything she gave us is in excellent shape. We stripped everything that we could wash, hosed all of the plastic down, and replaced the highchair cover. Now it looks brand new! I know some of the items are on our registry and we might end up getting duplicates. But at least we will have some different options, might be able to leave somethings with the Grandparents, or give back to friends who have helped us. We are so lucky to have such thoughtful neighbors!
Friday's NST- I had another NST on Friday afternoon. The nurse said that this was the best NST she had seen in over 20 years of nursing. At first, you were just sleeping. Then after about 10 minutes, you totally woke up. We kept seeing spike after spike. All the nurses crowded into the room to watch my belly move. It was awesome to have someone else see your movements. I was so proud of you, my little gymnast!
Doctor Appointment- Yesterday morning I went in for my NST and follow up. I have been having some sharp shooting pains below my belly button on my right side for a couple of days. It was painful enough that I woke up crying on Sunday night and my sleep has been totally out of whack. It doesn't feel like contractions, but I needed to make sure that this was supposed to be happening. I was supposed to go in @ 4:15 PM yesterday, but I ended up calling @ 8 AM and seeing the doctor @ 9 AM instead. Your Dad went with me since he was concerned about the pain as well. The NST was fine, you passed after about 45 minutes on the monitor. Doctor Davis told me that he thinks this pain is an positional uterine/round ligament issue. Basically the muscles are stretching, pulling, tearing, or ripping. Perfectly normal for pregnancy, nothing really to do but rest and Tylenol. I decided to stay home from work yesterday and catch up on the missing sleep from the night before. I took a Tylenol PM last night and actually slept for 4 straight hours. Woo-hoo! Hopefully these muscles will eventually get used to their new workload. Breastfeeding Class- Last night, I attended a breastfeeding workshop. I was surprised to see so many Dads in audience. I told your Daddy it was just for girls! Our teacher, Leslie is a lactation consultant for Women's hospital. The class was packed and it was very helpful. Of course, like all the new things we are going to learn, this will take practice. But I am extremely committed to the idea that this will be the best option for us. We had a brief introduction of ourselves (each table), watched a video, and then she began the lecture. Leslie took us through step by step teaching us what to do and what is supposed to happen. All in all, it was very informative and I fairly confident in my abilities. One very reassuring point she made was that there is plenty of help available. The second part of the workshop is in a couple weeks. Even though I wasn't feeling in tip-top shape, I am really glad I attended anyway.
This Week- Right now, I am feeling really anxious about the ultrasound scheduled for Thursday morning. It will tell us if you are on target for weight gain. Hopefully I have been doing a good enough job with diet/medication and your weight is within normal range. Fingers crossed. Thursday night, our family starts arriving for the fun shower weekend. I am sure I will have lots pictures come Monday. I will write soon.
I love you,
Mom

32 Weeks

Dearest Baby-

Today I am 32 weeks pregnant. We are 8/9 of the way through our pregnancy journey together. Now entering the home stretch and starting to count down the days! My pregnancy ticker is less than 60 days. Yikes. I remember when it was something like 245 days and I thought the Fall would never get here! It's already September and time is only going to move more rapidly until you are born. You and I had a busy month in August. It was filled with lots of doctor appointments, classes, and first experiences. It was last month that your Daddy and others finally felt you kick. We have completed most of our birth & baby classes and learned a lot of new things. The list of things "to-do-for-baby" is slowing dwindling. Next weekend, we are being given two baby showers and Grandma Lumsden comes to visit. Your nursery should be well stocked and decorated after that weekend! I am becoming increasingly preoccupied with thoughts about meeting you and how our family dynamic is going to change. Excitement, worry, anticipation, anxiety, nervousness, awe, wonder, love, overwhelming, amazement, happy, thrilled, curiosity, and scared are all words that race through my brain round the clock. As I near the end, I am also feeling a bit of sadness. Not in the traditional sense, but because I am going to have to share you with the world soon. Right now, it's just you and me. But I also know how many people are anxiously waiting for you and how much love will surround you. Selfishly, I am only a *little* sad.

I love you very much,

Mom

NST/Birth & Baby Class

Dear Munchkin,
This week marked the beginning of my twice weekly Non Stress Tests (NST) and checkups with the doctor. All my stats were basically the same: a total weight gain of 2 lbs, BP of 122/70, and your heart rate was in the low to mid 140s. They hooked me up to the monitors and everything looked good. The doctors are looking for 3 big spikes (or 5 little ones) in your heart rate during a 20 minute period. The only thing that stinks (beside going in twice a week) is that if you are asleep or non-active during the test, they may order an ultrasound just in case. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate them being proactive, but at this point it's a little annoying. Plus I already have an ultrasound scheduled next week to check your size. Doctor Davis said everything else was good, but I still have a little infection in my urine. I might have to stay on a low dose antibiotics until you are born, but we see what happens in the next few weeks. He has also tried to work the other doctors into my appointments, so I become familiar with them in case he isn't able to deliver you. I hope that isn't the case, but it might be a good idea to meet these other docs anyway.
In the evening, your Daddy and I went to our 4th Birth & Baby Class. We spent the first part of class reviewing stuff, playing a game, watching a video on pushing positions, and going over a C-Section. During the game, the water broke on the pregnancy pack. It was literally leaking gel all over the guy that was wearing it. It was really funny since we had just gone over what to do when this happens to the girls in our class. The C-Section information was very interesting to me. In some ways, it seems nice to schedule your birth and not have to go through labor, but it so.does.not.look.fun. Especially afterwards. Whenever you are born, I will just have to take what comes my way and make the best of it. At the moment, how you enter this world is out of my control and I just want you to get here safely. The last half of class was spent touring the maternity ward and checking out all the different parts of the hospital. It was really cool. We visited the nursery, saw the OR, checked out the birthing suites, chatted with the nurses, and ended up in a labor & delivery room. Cheryl went over all the different features of the room and some of the guidelines for the hospital. One thing I have been a little worried about is crowd control. Your Daddy and I are so blessed to have lots of family and friends. But it kind of makes me anxious to have a lot of people around me when I give birth. That seems selfish, doesn't it? The hospital limits you to 2 support people while you actually give birth. So your Daddy and your Grandma Lumsden are it. That makes me feel a ton better. Afterwards, I know I will be conflicted about wanting to show you off while trying to maintain a sense of privacy. I know our family and friends will be respectful of our feelings about this and we are so lucky to have them. You have lots of people who will be very anxious to meet you!
Tomorrow marks 32 weeks.....where did the time go?
I love you,
Mom

31 Week Pictures

Dear Munchkin,

At least one or two good things came from last week's little trip to the hospital. We know you are healthy, very active, and have some great pictures from the photoshoot.

_

Love, Mom

21st Century

Dear Munchkin,

So we finally bit the bullet this weekend and replaced the old Toshiba. Your Mommy and I have been wanting a new TV for a while now, but we had decided to put it off - but then the Toshiba started having issues. It probably would have lasted for a while longer, but Circuit City had a deal we couldn't refuse. I ran it by your Uncle Geoff and found that even at his cost it wouldn't really make a difference. So anyway, I wanted to let you know that now you won't have the enter the world watching outdated technology and we can watch ESPN together in high definition (even if you end up being a girl).

Love,

Daddy

Trip to Women's Hospital

Dear Munchkin,
During the course of this week, I begun feeling more and more crummy. I finally decided that I needed to see the doctor because I was pretty sure that the infection was back. I was starting to feel all of the same symptoms as last time. I knew I didn't want to head into a long weekend feeling badly and without my doctor's office being open. When I arrived at the doctor, I had to see the Nurse Practitioner since the appointment was made on such short notice. While the NP is a very nice woman, she wasn't really sure what to do with me. And I am sure she doesn't have very many pregnant patients, since she exclaimed "Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant!" when she came into the examine room. I had to explain to her (and the nurses) several times the situation from a month ago and how I came to be diagnosed with the Strep B infection. After she did an internal exam and swab test, she felt like I needed to be put on the monitor to rule out any chance of preterm labor. This monitor is the NST machine that I will be hooking up to twice a week from now on. At this point, it was after 5:30 PM and my blood sugar had dropped rapidly. I didn't have an afternoon snack because I was rushing at work, stressing out about all this going on, and simply forgot. In addition, at 2 PM my blood sugar reading was only 79 and should never be lower than 60. I finally asked them for a piece of hard candy so I wouldn't fall over and I knew that I had to eat some dinner ASAP. I stayed on the monitor for about 20 minutes and because you were moving around so much, they were unable to get a good read on your heart rate, but they were able to see my contractions. The NP told me that they were pretty certain the contractions were the results of infection, but wanted to run it by the on-call doctor before I left. The on-call doctor decided that since they couldn't get a good "tracing" on the monitor, she wasn't comfortable sending me home without ruling out preterm labor. So it was off to Women's Hospital for further testing. Before I left, I nearly had a breakdown complete with shaking and sweating. I knew I needed to eat...like now. The NP called Women's to tell them I was on my way. Your Daddy picked up some food and meet me in the maternity admissions area. They got me all set up on a new monitor and let me have some dinner while being on the monitor. Boy, that was a relief. I really thought they were going to have a pregnant lady on the floor, but at least I would have been in the hospital! Anyway, they kept me on the machine for about 45 minutes and then took us for another ultrasound. You looked great and had a perfect ultrasound score. After that, they sent us back to the room for more monitoring and questioning. My blood pressure was a little high (duh), so they checked it a couple times. Finally, they talked to the on-call doctor, who released me to go home. Of course, on the way home we had to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my antibiotics. Which is all I really needed to begin with! I totally understand that the doctor needs to everything to protect us and I am not upset about it, but it ended up being a really long night for a simple problem. The whole process took about 5 hours from start to finish. When we got home, I took my medicine and crashed. I am feeling better today and will have a nice long weekend to take it easy. Rest assured that we have had lots of testing done to let us know that you are one healthy and very active baby!
I love you,
Mom

Uh-Oh

Dear Munchkin,
Things aren't looking good here. I suspect the infection is back. I been having contractions again and I am headed to the doctor this afternoon @ 4:45. Hopefully I can get on some antibiotics quickly and they can figure out what's going on. My sugars are higher than normal, but within the the acceptable range. I just have sneaky feeling that my old pal Strep B is rearing it's ugly head again. Your Dad and I supposed to have a make up birth & baby class tonight, but I don't see that happening. Wish me luck and say a few prayers for me.
Love you,
Mom

General Updates

Dear Munchkin,
There has been a lot going on in Munchkinland during the past few days.
Sugars- I went to the doctor on Monday morning and received a nice pat on the back for controlling my sugar levels. Then, after Monday morning's reading, it was like the medicine quit working. My sugars are elevated (after eating standard meals) and I have been experiencing some mild cramping/tightening of my belly. I called the doctor yesterday because I know that something isn't right. He has doubled my dosage of medication in an effort to bring down my numbers. I started the new dosage this morning and so far so good. Breakfast reading was slightly higher than the norm, but it might take a while for the medicine to kick in. Due to the Strep B fiasco, I am slightly paranoid whenever my belly hurts. I am not sure if it is due to infection, stress, high sugar, or even the way I have to hunch over at my desk all day. Add that to my worry about rising sugars combined total lack of sleep and it makes for one very grumpy mama. I did take a Tylenol PM last night which helped my get a few hours of much needed sleep. I felt better this morning and perhaps all I need is this bump in medication. Hopefully that will be all it takes to get me back on track.
Massage- You Daddy surprised me with a gift of a prenatal massage yesterday. It's just what I need and couldn't have come at a better time. There is a lady who comes to Moses Cone to give little mini-massages once a week or so. She needed some help with her computer, so your Dad traded his computer skills for her massage skills. I just need to call her to set up the appointment after work or on the weekend. Your Dad is going on his annual golf trip the weekend after next, so I might schedule it then since I will have lots of "me" time that weekend. Yeah!
3rd Birth & Baby Class- We had our third B&B Class last night. As usual, it was very informative and slightly scary. I know I am learning a lot from these classes, but it's almost making me more nervous about labor & delivery. Part of it has to do with the fact that I have just pushed (no pun intended) the whole idea out of my mind and now I am forced to think about what will actually happen when you are born. But then again, it's one day. You will bring us a lifetime of joy. That thought far outweighs and any pain or discomfort I could possibly imagine. You in my arms. Me as your Mom. I can't wait! The class started out with some massage and breathing lessons. We talked about Lamaze and focus breathing during pushing. Then we discussed what will happen with you right after birth. One interesting fact I need to remember is that you need breastfeed right away even before your first bath and nursery visit. Once you have a bath and get all cleaned up, you might not breastfeed as well because you will get cold and have all sorts of new smells on you. It also makes for a special bonding time for our new family before everyone get their hands on you and passes you around. Once you and I are cleaned up, of course our family & friends will be welcome to see you. But I think it is important that the very first thing that happens is a bonding between you, me, and your Daddy. The last part of the class was spent discussing pain control during delivery. We watched a video on epidurals/pain management and looked at all the tools a doctor or nurse might use. It was comforting to know that the drugs will be there when I need them! Next week we tour the maternity ward. I know that will be fun and I am looking forward to it.
Love,
Mom

Holy Upcoming Appointments

Dear Munchkin,
I went to see Doctor Davis this morning for a quick check-in. My total weight gain is +2.2 lbs, my blood pressure was 130/72, and your heart rate was 140. Doctor Davis checked my sugar log book and was extremely happy with my numbers. It appears that the medicine and my diet control are really paying off. I am very proud of your Daddy and I. I was thrilled that he was happy with the way things are looking. I just need to continue of on this path of self monitoring and healthy eating. On the down side, starting next week, Doctor D has ordered twice weekly Non-Stress-Tests. Apparently, this type of medication *could* lead to increased risk of still birth. He did stress that he doesn't think I am specifically "at risk", but he still needs to make sure to keep a close watch on you (whew!). Basically, the NST involves hooking me up to a machine which records your heart rate for a period of about 15-20 minutes. They look for patterns, regularity, and consistency. It's not really such a big deal, it's just more of an inconvenience since it will take up a lot of time during the work week. I will also have another ultrasound @ 32 weeks and there could be more to follow. Between doctor visits, baby classes, and getting everything ready for you, September is shaping up to be one b.u.s.y. month!
I love you,
Mama

2nd Birth & Baby Class

Dearest Little One,
Last night was our second birth & baby class. When we arrived, Cheryl was already putting the pregnancy pack (boobs and all) on one of the unsuspecting Dads. It was pretty funny! Your Dad didn't get "chosen" last night, but all of the Dads will wear it at some point, so I need to remember my camera next week. We started off class with a review from last week complete with door prizes. Candy...which I can't have ..ummp. Then we watched a video of one couple's birth story which did not involve medication and featured a very supportive husband. It was beautiful to watch, but I am pretty sure that it wasn't a typical birth scenario. I know they aren't actors, it all seemed a little too calm and relaxed for me to completely buy. I think they must have edited some bad language or at the very least a few of her grimaces of pain/moaning. After the video, we split into two groups (guys & gals) to discuss what to bring to the hospital and what to do at the hospital. We made a list for the guys and vice versa. It reminded me that I do need to start thinking about packing a bag or at least get some sort of list started. About half way through the class, we took a much needed bathroom break and I checked my sugars. They were a little on the low side (which kind of makes me feel badly) and I need to work on getting them into the right zone. It's difficult because I am so afraid of them being high that I overcompensate by restrictive eating. That's not good either. With this new medicine, I have to learn how to balance things. It will come with practice, I am sure. After the break, we watched another video about changing positions during labor and getting the baby to face the correct way. There was a lot of discussion about back labor. Apparently this is a common problem for first time Moms and usually results in a C-section. I really hope that you don't get confused and turn the wrong way. The last part of the class was spent practicing massage techniques on each other. The assigned homework is that your Dad has to give me three massages this week. I am really looking forward to it and would love to have a professional prenatal massage. Next week we will attend our third class plus the fifth class because of a scheduling conflict in September. I am sure it will be information overload!
I love you,
Mom

Good Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
It's been a while since I have left the doctor's office feeling like we were all in a good place. This morning, I meet with Doctor Tavon (Doctor D is on va-ca) and he gave me an excellent report. My total weight gain is up +.8 lbs, blood pressure is 118/70 and your heart rate was 158 bpm. It took the nurse a while to find your heart beat since you were wiggling around like crazy. We could both feel you moving around, but you were being uncooperative by facing my back. Doctor Tavon checked my sugar log book and told me that everything looked great. I expressed some concern that my sugars seem to be elevated in the evening and he said that perhaps after next week's check up we could do some modification to the medicine. For example, taking half the pill in the morning and the other half at night. He did say that some of my sugars are borderline, but that probably isn't the reason for "my humongous baby" (now I am wondering what is?) and that I should expect more ultrasounds. I told him that I was still very concerned about controlling my sugars and your weight gain. "Keep up the good work" was his response. That was encouraging to hear! I will report back to the office again on Monday with another week's worth of data. This evening, your Dad and I have our second Birth & Baby class and I am sure it will be very informative. I will fill you in on all that we learn tonight in tomorrow's letter.
I love you,
Mom

Big Stuff

Dear Munchkin,
Yesterday your Dad and I went to see Doctor Davis for another ultrasound and a recheck of my sugar levels. Everything looked good on the screen and the technician told us that you were indeed measuring bigger than expected. So we weren't surprised when Doctor D told us the same thing. However, we were shocked when he told us how much bigger you actually are. They estimated your weight to be approximately 3.5lbs. That puts you into the 91st percentile for growth at this point. Your target growth should only be somewhere in the 50th percentile. Because my body is not processing sugar well, you are producing way more insulin than needed. Insulin is growth hormone, thus causing you put on weight a lot more quickly than desired. Doctor Davis explained to us that during this stage (28-33 weeks), you are beginning a period of rapid physical growth and are really starting to pack on the "baby fat". If we can tighten down your insulin levels, things will probably shift back to the natural progression of weight gain. So I have started an oral medication (not insulin shots) called Glyburide once a day to control my blood sugar. Even though I am trying my hardest to control my sugars with diet and exercise, I still need help in the form of medication. Taking this medicine will require weekly check in's with the doctor. When I hit 32 weeks I will likely need twice weekly monitoring and I can probably expect more ultrasounds. He mentioned that I have a lot of fluid which should be reduced by the medication. Glyburide is a diuretic that helps reduce fluid/glucose which in turn lowers insulin levels. Hopefully I will be able to pee out all the excess glucose that's making you grow larger! Even though this isn't the desired outcome, I am trying to stay positive and remember that Doctor Davis is doing everything he can so that we remain healthy. The bottom line is that I need to do what's best for you and myself. I will still continue the diet regiment and finger prick monitoring. I hope to see my sugar levels dropping off consistently and the medication doing it's job. Some other statistics from yesterday's visit: blood pressure of 122/80, your heart rate was 142, and my total weight gain is down to -.6 lbs. Again the weight thing baffles me because the average pregnant woman has gained between 17 and 24lbs at this point, plus I have a growing belly with a 3.5lb baby inside. My prayer is that my efforts and this medicine will ensure you remain healthy. That's all that matter to me now. And forever.
I love you,
Mom

Birth & Baby Class

Dear Munchkin,
Last night your Daddy and I attended our first Birth & Baby class. In an attempt to gain some insight into labor, delivery, and all things baby, we will be meeting once a week for the next five weeks. Our class size was about thirty people. We started the class by talking to the couple next to us and introducing them to everyone. Of course, this is the first baby for all and most people are worried about the pain of labor. I was the only one whose worry is lack of sleep! We were also just about the only couple who aren't finding out the gender. After the introductions, Cheryl (our teacher) talked about the anatomy of labor. I will spare you all the details. In fact, most of the time I was making my "EWWWW" face while she was lecturing. Next, we watched a video about the stages of labor. It broke down early labor, active labor, transition, pushing, and delivery. It also showed an actual delivery and delivery of the placenta. I did close my eyes during that part. I know it's coming and I have accepted it, but I just don't really want to SEE it happening to someone else. Once the video was over, Cheryl reiterated and expanded on all of the stages, signs of labor, what you are feeling (mentally and physically), and the role that partners play during this time. It was interesting, but still a little scary. The last half an hour was spent on the floor with pillows, practicing breathing and relaxing techniques. This was the best part! She coached us through some exercises that are designed to help everyone "calm down" during the big event. I think I need to start practicing now! Overall, we really enjoyed the class and are looking forward learning more about this whole process. It did reassure me that I am not alone in my fears and offered a sense of control about the situation. Cheryl has a very humorous and calming way about presenting some potentially frightening material!
In other news, I went to the doctor this morning for my ultrasound and checkup. Don't worry, things are OK, but I need to devote a whole other letter to fill you in on all the details. Work is piling up left and right and I need to focus on that for a while today. I promise, I will update soon.
I love you,
Mom

Sweet

Dear Munchkin,
How nice are your Daddy's co-workers? They sent this email invite out today. Two showers in one weekend. Squeeeeee!!!!!

Love, Mom and Dad

28 Weeks

Dear Munchkin,
Today I am 28 weeks pregnant. We are 7/9 of the way through our pregnancy journey together. Can you believe it? Looking back, it's a been a fairly difficult month for us due to some health related complications and it seems to have taken a toll on my mental state. So far, I have been blessed to have felt relatively worry-free for the majority of our time together. Now I am feeling a bit of anxiety and I don't like it at all. Not of all of this is due to health concerns. A lot of it stems from the simple fact that I am entering into the last phase of pregnancy. I feel as if time is rapidly slipping away from me and I have so much to get accomplished in order to get ready for your arrival. We have a ton of activities (both baby and non-baby related) planned in the upcoming weeks. We will start some baby classes, I will be headed to Doctor Davis more frequently, baby showers have been planned, and all the other "general" baby stuff that needs to be done. I know everything will fall into place, but sometimes it feels a little overwhelming. On a more positive note, most of the major decisions surrounding your upcoming arrival have been made. We have secured childcare, all of your furniture is assembled, and we are confident that we will be ready before you get here. This past month also allowed us to visit with family, which has really lifted my spirits up. I can feel the love radiant from your Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and other family members when they talk about you. Hopefully you won't be too spoiled by them! I don't want you to misinterpret this letter. Truly, I feel like one of the luckiest people on the world to be carrying you inside of me and I feel a sense of sheer joy that I never knew was possible. My heart feels like it is growing like The Grinch when I think about meeting you for first time and I can't wait.
I love you with all of my heart,
Mom

Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
I had a quick checkup with Doctor Davis yesterday afternoon. Everything looked good: total weight gain of 3 lbs, blood pressure of 112/78, and your heart rate was 153. My feet have been pretty swollen the past couple of days and apparently this is quite normal for this stage in pregnancy. Doctor Davis checked my sugar log book and wants to see me again in one week. He is concerned that I might need to start taking an oral insulin which will require closer monitoring. Basically, my sugars have been higher than 120 maximum threshold about 25% of the time in the past month. Considering the fact that I haven't know what exactly to eat, dealt with a nasty infection/contractions, and traveled for two weekends, I think I am doing pretty well. But Doctor Davis isn't really interested in my excuses, all he sees are the numbers. So he has given me a week to prove that I have it under control with diet and exercise. I hate to think about taking a daily medication and going to the doctor once a week until you are born, but it is what it is. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure you are a healthy growing baby. He has also ordered another ultrasound for next week because I am measuring ahead (or bigger than expected) and he wants to keep a close eye on your size. One of the dangers of gestational diabetes is having a larger baby, which can sometimes lead to complications. He told us that some women just measure big, while others have a lot of fluid, or in some cases it is the baby itself. Either way, he wants to take a peek at you to find out what's going on. So next week, your Dad and will head back over to his office for another look at you while crossing our fingers that my sugars will stay on a nice even keel for a while.
I love you,
Mom
PS- In the immortal words of Emily: "I have a friend with a secret and if this friend doesn't spill to the world soon, I might die. You know who you are."

First Kick

Dear Munchkin,
Your Daddy felt you kick for the first time this weekend! We were on the airplane headed home from my cousin Matt's wedding in Chicago and you started doing all sorts of crazy acrobatics during the flight. I have been able to feel you kick for a while now, but your Daddy has never been able to catch you in the act. I loved the look of surprise of his face when he felt you move. Hopefully you will get stronger each day and he will be able to feel you more often. We had a great time at Matt and Alison's wedding. Once again, it was a whirlwind of family events. I am feeling more tired than usual this week and I am looking forward to staying home to rest this weekend. Nowadays, I am moving slower than usual and I think the past few weekends have finally caught up to me. I literally fell into bed last night. We arrived in Chicago Thursday evening. Your Uncle Ross and Aunt Amber arrived Friday morning, we spent the day hanging out together and then attended the rehearsal dinner. Friday was real hot and humid, but Saturday brought perfect weather. Matt and Alison are an interfaith couple, so this wedding was a unique blend of Gentile and Hebrew traditions. They did a great job of incorporating both of their faiths into their union. Your Grandpa Wilkin delivered a reading during the ceremony. It was a joyous celebration! Afterwards, we partied down at the reception and soon it was time to head home. On Sunday, there was a family brunch and it was off to the airport of all of us. It feels like there is never enough time to spend with loved ones during these short weekends and the time passes so quickly. Here are a couple of snapshots from the weekend.

Alison and Matt (Check out Matt's Chicago Bears Yarmulke)

Grandpa Wilkin

Great Grandma Wilkin and Aunt Amber

I am headed to the doctor this afternoon for a check up, so I will write tomorrow with all the details. I love you very much, Mom

Big Birthday Bash

Dear Munchkin,
Even though I wasn't feeling in tip-top shape this past weekend, we decided to forge ahead and drive up to Washington D.C. for my Gram's 90th Birthday Bash & Stirton Family Reunion. We are incredibly lucky to have such an amazing family and had an absolute ball. It felt so good to take my mind of the events from last week, although all the laughing did not help my sore stomach muscles at all. We arrived in Washington late Thursday evening to find the party had started before we got there. Your Daddy and I stayed with my cousin Amy & her husband Rob. Amy, Bryan, Rory, Ross, and I are considered "sibling cousins" because our moms (your grandma) are mirror image twins. We basically share the same DNA on one side. We have a definite bond that is uniquely ours and share a lot of the same personality characteristics. Every time I hang out with them, it makes me miss them more after we leave. On Friday, your Great-Grandma, Grandma, Uncle Ross, Aunt Amber, Amy, and I went up to Mount Vernon to tour George Washington's house. It was pretty darn hot, but we enjoyed ourselves. Later that evening was the family BBQ at my cousin Kristy's house. All 42 of us were there wearing our blue shirts proudly. It was incredible that every single one of us was able to be there, given that usually there is at least one or two people missing from family events. On Saturday evening, we took a dinner/sightseeing cruise of D.C. via the Odyssey Cruise Ship. They served a delicious dinner and had a lively band. Of course, we proceeded to take over the dance floor. Everyone else was outnumbered! On Sunday morning, we had brunch at the hotel and then it was time to say goodbye. The weekend went by so incredibly fast, but the memories will last me a lifetime. I am so proud of my Grandma and Grandpa for creating this wonderful family who care so deeply for one another and genuinely enjoy each others company. It is truly a heartwarming experience that I am so lucky to be part of. At some point during the weekend, every single person told me how excited they were that you will be joining our family. They cannot wait to welcome you and continue to expand our growing family.

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma

Grandma & Great Grandma

The Stirton Clan

Our "Little" Family
Birthday Cake
Boat Cruise

Uncle Ross, Rory, & Bryan

A Toast
Your Daddy & I
Grandma
Bryan & Some Great-Grands

All my love, Mom

Friendly Avenue Christian School

Dear Munchkin,
During our lunch break, your Daddy and I toured the Friendly Avenue Christian School. The tour had been scheduled before we hired Nanny Aimee, so we thought we should keep the appointment. No harm in checking the place out, just in case a back up plan is needed. The program had come highly recommended and we have known quite a few kids on the waiting list. This center is one that your Dad and I would feel very comfortable enrolling you in. The building was big, open, low teacher to child ratio, willing to work with cloth diapers, and very focused on faith. One thing that I liked was the fact that the infant rooms goes all the way to up to 14 months of age. Most of the other centers transition kids to a different room a lot younger than that. Meaning more teachers and less continuity of care givers. I also thought it was awesome that they don't allow swings in the infant room. The director was very specific about how the children were to be cared for with love and attention at all times. They feel like swings can be wonderful so you can get things done like laundry, answer the phone, etc. but their job is free from those distractions. We were generally impressed and have decided to put you on the waiting list. We probably will not be able to get into the center in the time frame needed. They have huge waiting list, plus a myriad of people who will be called before the waiting list even opens up. Your Daddy and I both agreed that Nanny Aimee is a better fit for our family!
Love,
Mom

Feeling Groovy

Dearest Munchkin-
Since I am sitting here feeling you kicking and moving around like crazy, I thought I would let you know that I am feeling so much better. All the contractions have stopped and I think my muscles have finally recovered from 4 days of being tightened up into giant knots. I anticipate smooth sailing from here on in. Keep kicking me baby, I love every minute of it!
Love,
Mom
PS- I won't even comment on the fact that a nurse called me this morning to let me know that I have a Strep B infection in the urine sample I left last Monday and wanted me to start antibiotics today. An entire week after I first let them know about the contractions. I am so over it.

The Culprit

Dear Munchkin,
About the time I finished yesterday's letter to you, I decided I could take NO more of these stupid contractions and made an appointment with the doctor for that afternoon. I tried my hardest to believe that these were "normal false labor" contractions, but my body was telling me otherwise. Turns out that your Mama has a nasty Step B infection which was in turn causing the contractions. The doctor did another internal exam to be on the safe side and found that I was not dilated. He prescribed an antibiotic plus a medicine that makes the contractions stop. Thank. The. Lord. Once I have a few doses of the antibiotic under my belt, the contractions will stop on their own and I should only have to take the anti-contraction medicine short term. Unfortunately, it makes me a little lightheaded and headachy. But...my contractions have become fewer and far between, so it is totally worth it! I feel almost as good as new and I now have a four day weekend to rest. I am pretty sure that we are still going to Washington DC this weekend, since the contractions have almost ceased and I am on the road to feeling well again. I guess we will make that decision once your Daddy gets home from work. One positive thing that I have learned from this experience is that now I will know when the time comes for you to be born. There won't be any doubt!!!
Love,
Mom

Contractions Stink

Dear Munchkin,
My "false labor" contractions have yet to stop. I have been having them off and on now for the past four days. Let me just tell you what an annoyance they are. They are messing with my blood sugar (which I am working really hard to control) and interfering with my daily routine. I can't sit at work and I can't do anything but lay down at home. Even that still hurts like crazy. I just want them to stop. Go far far away and don't come back until it's time for you to be born! It is super frustrating because not only to they hurt but there isn't anything I can do about it. I called the doctor this morning because I am concerned about a few things. A.) They haven't gone away. B.) They are elevating my sugar. C.) We are supposed to be traveling the next two weekends. After work tomorrow, we head to Washington DC for the Stirton Family Reunion and next Thursday we fly to Chicago for my cousin's wedding. Is it OK to travel? Do I stay home? Do I continue to go to work? Could this be preterm labor? Will they put me on bed rest? Do I need to change my diet? Am eating enough? Will they put me on insulin because of this? Can I take any pain relievers? When will they just GO AWAY? I meet with the gestational diabetes counselor this morning and according her scale, I have lost 3 pounds since last week. She told me that it could be water weight due to the change in glucose. She also told me that the spike in my sugar levels are probably due to stress and the contractions. She recommend I see my doctor as soon as possible. Doctor Davis is out of the office today, so I talked to the nurse and made an appointment for tomorrow morning. Until then, I just have to grin and bear it. Mama is not having a good day.
Love,
Mom

Braxton Hicks & Monthly Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
This past weekend was quite eventful in the Beale household. On Saturday, I met up with a group of my college friends for lunch and outlet mall shopping @ Concord Mills. We had a great time laughing, catching up, and shopping. By the end of the afternoon, I was feeling a little crummy and chalked it up to doing too much in one afternoon. When I got home, I took a power nap and felt a whole lot better. On Sunday, your Daddy and I had a volunteer commitment @ church which involved walking the neighborhood distributing flyers for a food drive. After over an hour of walking in the heat, I was feeling pretty lousy. My stomach started cramping/tightening up and we headed straight home. The cramps continued intermittently during the next few hours, so eventually your Dad and I decided to call the after hours nurse for the doctor. The nurse confirmed that I was indeed having Braxton Hicks Contractions and I would need to monitor their frequency. More than 6 in hour would send us to the hospital for a check up and I was having them about every fifteen minutes or so. I knew that I was going to see Doctor Davis first thing the next morning, so I just prayed that they would slow down and tried to get some rest. I rested all afternoon and went to bed early, determined not to pay to visit to the hospital. This morning I had my monthly checkup. I weighted in @ +.2 pounds total weight gain (losing weight again with this diabetic diet...how weird!), had a blood pressure of 120/80 and heard your hear beat strong @ 150 beats per minute. I told the nurse about the cramping/tightening and Doctor Davis did an internal exam to make sure that I wasn't dilated. He also took a swab of some cells for a test that confirms that I will not have a baby within two weeks. Everything came back A-OK. He told me that now is about the time that these contractions start happening. I just need to monitor them and track their frequency. The only thing I can do is rest, walk, and stay hydrated. So I guess this is par for the course? He also checked my sugar log book and reassured me that I was doing a great job controlling it. We went over some more guidelines to follow and I will now start to see him every two weeks. Hopefully these "false" contractions will stop soon, so I can feel like my regular self again!
I love you,
Mom

Nanny Aimee

Dear Munchkin,
In the midst of all of my new found health related worries, I neglected to mention that we have hired a nanny to care for you once I return to work! While this isn't the perfect outcome for our family, we really feel like we have made a good decision that works very well for us. We meet Aimee earlier this month for an interview. She really impressed us with her experience and personality. Aimee graduated from Appalachian State University (Go Mountaineers!) with a degree in Child & Family Development. In Boone, she worked at the Lucy Brock Center, which has quite a great reputation for it's innovative programming. From there, she moved to Asheville where she was a lead teacher for a church daycare program & began Graduate School @ Western Carolina University. Some circumstances in her family life changed, which led her to return home to the triad area. What a blessing for us! Currently, Aimee is babysitting for a couple families and working a part time job. She will continue this until she starts with us full time. Then she will come to our home to take care of you during the work week. Your Dad and I have really wrestled with this decision and have thought of every angle that would allow me to stay at home with you. We just can't quite work it out right now and that is not to say that our circumstances aren't going to change down the road. Believe me when I say that this wonderful childcare opportunity is only less heartbreaking for me. But I also believe in my heart that Aimee will care for you in a loving, responsible, and interactive manner. You can tell how much she really enjoys helping families and watching children grow. It is our hope that we have chosen the best possible person to help us care for you and that she becomes an intricate part of our growing family.
Love,
Mom

Diabetes School

Dearest Baby,

Yesterday afternoon your Dad and I attended a two hour class on how to manage my gestational diabetes. First of all, I want to tell you how proud I am of your Daddy for going with me to class and taking this problem seriously. This disease effects our whole family. The changes we are making will stay with us for a lifetime and it would be extremely hard to do without his help. He was the only Dad in the room and it just proves how much he cares about us! The first hour of class was devoted to learning about our eating habits and what my body is currently doing with the food I eat. Our teacher, Miss Maggie May, gave us guidelines on what to types of food eat, what portions, what foods to eliminate, and which foods produce sugar. She explained how gestational diabetes works and how diet/exercise will help eliminate the problem. It was very interesting and she was really informative. I wanted to know specifics on how much to eat, what to eat, and when. Now, I know how to control my sugar levels without medication. The second part of the class was devoted to teaching us how to monitor sugar levels. It is a really simple process which involves a finger prick 4 times a day and a glucose meter.

_

Every morning, I will take a reading before breakfast. This number is considered the fasting rate and should be between 60-90. This morning I clocked in at 85. That's within normal range. Then 2 hours after every meal, I will take another reading. It should never be above 120. During our class demonstration I measured 89, after dinner last night was 165 (Yikes) and after breakfast came in at 119. Not so bad for my first day, but I learned that having a Jimmy John's sandwich for dinner is probably not in the cards for a while. Bread has a huge effect on blood sugar. So for the next few months, I will carry my little meter and notebook with me. I have begun charting the times/levels for myself and will report back to my doctor regularly. I will also follow up with Miss May next week to let her know how things are going. I know this will be challenging, but I really feel much better about the whole process and being able to monitor it. We have a plan in place and I am in control of what happens to us. I know that it doesn't seem like it now, but I think this diagnosis is a blessing in disguise. It has really forced us to examine our eating and exercise habits. We have needed to make some changes in our lifestyle and this might be just the gentle push (or rather forceful) that we needed to do so. Hopefully all of us will be on the healthy road of life for a long time! Love, Mom

Armoire

Dear Munchkin,
Earlier last week, we received a surprise gift from your Grandma Wilkin. It was an beautiful armoire for your nursery! On Saturday afternoon, your Daddy assembled it for you. It was such a blessing for us to be distracted by doing something fun for you this weekend. I know you will love it as much as we do. It blends in perfectly with your existing furniture and has tons of storage space for all your cute stuff. It took your Dad a couple hours to put it all together and it turned out just great. I really hope you inherit some of your Daddy's mechanical skills. He never had to ask for help once. As you can see below, my job was to document the whole process. Thanks again Grandma Wilkin!

Heavy Box: Sorting Tools & Pieces:

Door Assembly:
Drawer Assembly:
Half Way Done:
Finished Product:


Love, Mom

Test Results *Updated*

7/14 9:00 AM
Dear Munchkin,
I just got a call from the nutritionist at the hospital. My gestational diabetes class meets tomorrow @ 2:15 PM for two hours. In class, I will find out what the treatment program is all about and how to follow it. Right now I sit tight and anxiously wait out the next 24 hours.
Love, Mom

Dearest Munchkin,
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. This morning I tested positive for Gestational Diabetes. I took the one hour glucose test to measure how well my body is breaking down sugar and scored a 190. In layman's terms, this means that if I had a scored over 140 but less than 180, I would need to repeat the test using a 3 hour fasting version. Scoring a 190 puts me directly in the path of Gestational Diabetes. This diagnosis was fairly unexpected and has definitely thrown me for a loop. I have felt very blessed that so far this pregnancy has been smooth sailing and we have managed to avoid complications. Now I am wrought with worry. On the bright side, this is something that I can control with diet, exercise, glucose testing, and doctor supervision. The majority of women have this test done when they are about 28 weeks along, so I also have the advantage of catching it early. Currently, I don't have a lot of information about my future course of action and it's very frustrating. You will learn that the mind can be a very powerful tool and will sometimes tend to take you to the worst case scenario. My doctor isn't in the office today and the nurse has told me that a dietitian from Moses Cone Hospital will be getting in touch with me with the details on setting up a treatment program. I know that this will involve going to nutritional classes and monitoring my sugar levels via a glucose meter. I believe (read hope) that insulin and shots are a last resort. I have already been reassured by the nurse and trusted family members that this is a very treatable problem. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make sure that none of this effects your health. I know that once I am able to talk to my doctor or a specialist, I will feel more confident about the outcome. In this moment, all I can do is cry and pray that my body hasn't done you any harm.
I love you very much,
Mom

24 Weeks

Dear Baby,
Today I am 24 weeks pregnant. Holy cow, where did the time go? The pictures of my belly posted below might scare you a little bit because they definitely scared me! I didn't get a chance to write you a letter at 20 weeks because my due date moved and my internal calendar got all fouled up. I figured I would just wait until the next month to get back on track. When I compared my 16 week picture to the one taken last night, I was shocked at the difference in belly size. You and I have grown a lot. I will be anxious to find out my weight tomorrow at the doctor. Aside from the obvious changes you can see, this past month was filled with lots Baby Beale activities. You are moving around quite frequently now. I actually felt a kick on the outside last week. Your Daddy hasn't felt it yet, but we are hopeful that he will feel it soon. Speaking of your Daddy, he's so funny when he asks questions about you and what you are doing. He wants me to describe in detail what's happening and how it feels. You and I have such a bond and it must be hard for him to "feel" things second hand. Aside from your activity, we also painted your nursery, started your cloth diaper collection, had two sonograms, meet your doctor, completed your registry, decided on your name, and *hopefully* settled your child care provider. I don't want to go into detail until everything falls into place, but your Daddy and I are happy about the decision we have made regarding your care. With the Lord's help and a little research, we hope our prayers have been answered! This month's belly pictures:

Love, Mom

Nursery Progress

Dear Munchkin,

This weekend we finally got your room cleaned up! Even though it's not completely done, I really feel like it's coming together nicely. I can't wait until the end of the month to see what it will look like with all the bedding that Grandma Lumsden picked out. It won't be long until September when she will put everything together for us. Here's a peek:

Love, Mom

Diapers Galore

Dear Baby-
I know, I know, I have to stop! But I couldn't resist buying just a few more diapers to jump start your collection. I will tell you that I was very thrifty and bought 4 AIO (All-In-Ones) for just 30 dollars! They had never been used, just washed once, so it was a perfect deal. The AIO's are really great for daycare, babysitters, or people who aren't used to cloth diapers. You just take them off and go, no stuffing or using a fitted insert plus diaper cover. I figured they might come in handy for your stash. I also purchased 2 diapers covers (on sale) since I have some inserts that will need covering. Again, I don't want to buy too many of a certain kind or size since I am not sure what you will end up needing. I *think* this might satisfy my diaper urges for now. I am amazed at how fun this has been for me! I have also brought your Grandma Lumsden up to speed on the diapers, so I am sure you can count on a getting a few cutes ones from her.
This weekend is the 4th of July and we will meet Nanny Aimee on Saturday for an interview. So we will be pretty busy, but hopefully will find time to relax!
I love you,
Mom