Mercedes - 32 Weeks 1 Day Pregnant

Dear Princess,

Happy Channukah! A couple of weeks ago we got some beautiful professional maternity pictures taken, here at our house. We got the pictures on Friday and they are beautiful if I do say so myself! It was so neat to think that they were our first real family pictures. I can't wait until you get older and can see and understand them for yourself. We even got Bruiser in some of the photos - he loves his little sister already!

It is hard to believe it is already almost the end of 2008. At the beginning of this year you didn't even exist, and by the end you are well on your way to almost being here in the flesh! I can't wait to celebrate NEXT Channukah/Christmas, New Year's with our princess.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 30 Weeks 6 Days Pregnant

Dear Baby Girl,

Last weekend was quite a busy weekend, especially baby-wise! On Friday night and all day Saturday your father and I attended prenatal classes at the hospital you'll be born in. We learned all about the stages of labour, relaxation techniques and comfort measures, medical intervention and post-natal care (feeding, bathing, etc).


And we got to do a tour of the hospital and see where you'll be born! Your dad and I (okay, especially your dad!) learned a lot and I have to say, it made your imminent arrival seem all the more real. It is hard to believe there are only 9 weeks left! Every day your dad and I get more and more excited and impatient to meet you. I find myself sitting in your beautiful nursery, rocking in the chair, rubbing my belly, and telling you how much I can't wait to meet you. I am loving being pregnant and enjoying spending this special time with you - just you and me - but I am so excited to actually meet you in person after all this time!

And everyone else is so excited also! Last weekend was your baby shower. Everyone came to celebrate you and gave us very generous presents. I hope that you like pink, because you will definitely be wearing a lot of it! The closet is completely full already!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 29 Weeks 1 Day Pregnant

Dear Baby Girl,

I am sorry I have not written in a few weeks. I have been very busy at work and you certainly do a great job of keeping me up at night so I am very tired when I am at home. You are growing well though (as am I!) and moving and kicking up a ton. It's so much fun to feel and see my stomach rippling from the outside.

Today we set up most of your nursery! My two dearest friends, Andrea and Lindsay, came over to paint and it looks amazing. Then we (with your dad) set up all of the furniture and bedding and even decorated the walls! It just needs a few finishing touches - and you of course! - and it'll all be done. I absolutely love the room, it looks fantastic. And I hope that you like it too. It feels so strange now to have a crib all set up in there - I keep sitting in the glider, looking at the crib, and picturing you actually here. It all feels so real - I'm actually going to be a Mommy! Your Dad is so excited too - he even bought you a Christmas present today. He is so in love with you already - we can't wait to finally welcome you home - only 11ish weeks to go!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 26 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Princess,

Yesterday was your father's 29th birthday! We had lots of fun celebrating, even if I couldn't share an actual drink with him. (It's okay, I think he had enough margaritas for the both of us!)

And all I keep thinking is that by the time MY 29th birthday rolls around, you'll already be here! Time just keeps flying by. Every weekend we get more stuff ready for your big arrival. We have lots of clothes and all of your furniture already. Auntie Kimmy and Thea Melissa are working hard on your baby shower and our prenatal classes start in a few weeks.

It is so much fun preparing everything for you - but believe me, there is still TONS of work left to do. So you just keep growing in there! Although some days you lick me so much it seems like you must be running out of room in there. I don't mind though - I love feeling it. It never fails to both surprise and delight me.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 23 weeks 4 Days Pregnant

Dear Baby Girl,

The doctors and nurses have already told me that you will be/are a big baby. I had another ultrasound yesterday and you look big and perfect and healthy. And you've been kicking the crap out of me lately also.

Today your Daddy actually felt you kick for the very first time. I made some spicy chili for dinner and either you really liked it, or you really did NOT - because you were moving and kicking like crazy after. Daddy was able to finally feel you and he was so excited. He can't wait to meet his little princess.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 22 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant

Dear Baby Girl,

Today I felt you kick from the OUTSIDE for the very first time! It was so exciting. You've been kicking up a storm all day today (which I have to tell you is kind of distracting while I'm trying to work) - and then when I got home from work I was chatting with your dad on the couch. I was just telling him about how active you were all day, when pow! I definitely, 100%, felt you kick my hand! Unfortunately, you stopped moving around then, even though Daddy tried to feel right away. I am confident however, that this means he'll be able to feel you for the first time within the next few days. He is very impatient!

Love,

Your thrilled Mommy

Mercedes - 21 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby Girl,

Well, it looks like you really ARE a girl! We had a second ultrasound with a different technologist and he agreed that you are indeed female. And we couldn't be happier. We've even started shopping in earnest now - we've got your stroller and carseat and a whole bunch of pink outfits and we even ordered your beautiful bedding. I can't wait until it gets here and then we'll paint and get your furniture all ordered and set up. The time is moving so quickly - it's already October! You'll be here before we know it and we can't wait to meet you. Your Daddy can't wait to spoil you - there is just something special about Daddy's little girls (I should know, I am one too!)

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 20 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby,

We are halfway there! 20 weeks down, 20 to go!!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 18 Weeks 6 Days Pregnant

Dear Peanut,

Well, we are almost halfway there! Hard to believe I will be 19 weeks pregnant tomorrow - the days and weeks just keep flying by. The most amazing thing is that I am feeling you moving around now everyday. It isn't super-strong yet of course, and your Daddy can't feel from the outside yet, but I know you are there! Especially when I am in the car - which is apparently what I did when my mom was pregnant with me.

And the other big news - you are a GIRL! At least, we think so. We would have been thrilled either way of course, but (not-so-secretly), your father and I are absolutely delighted to have a little princess. We have a follow up ultrasound in about a week so we'll confirm them for sure that you are really a girl. We've been so impatient to find out and start shopping!

Your Daddy bought you your first girl present today - a pink surfboard - but left the receipt in the bag... JUST in case ;) Either way, we love you already and can't wait for you to be here!

Love,

Mommy

P.S. It looks like you are going to be TALL like your Daddy. Yay!

Mercedes - 17 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Peanut!

It's hard to believe it is already September and the summer is almost over. This summer (and my pregnancy so far) just flew by. I can't believe I am already 17 weeks pregnant, can feel you moving around now, and that we are only two weeks away from figuring out if you are a boy or a girl. IN the beginning, I thought boy and Daddy thought girl, but lately we've switched and now think the opposite. I guess we'll find out soon enough who is right. And then we can start decoration your very first room. We can't wait to see it all set up and have you finally sleeping in it!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 15 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant

Dear Peanut,

I think I felt you move for the first time today! Not that you haven't been moving around for some time now, but today was the first time I actually felt it! What an odd sensation - kind of like little popping bubbles in my stomach. I hope I get to feel it again soon - I can't wait until there are actual forceful kicks going on. Then there will be NO doubt as to what you are up to, and then Daddy can feel it too!

Love,

A very excited Mommy

Mercedes - 13 Weeks 6 Days Pregnant

Dear Peanut,

I had my second midwife appointment yesterday and she said everything seems to be right on track! The highlight of the day for me was getting to hear your lovely heartbeat again. Nice and strong at 160 bpm - almost exactly the same as last time!

People say that this means you are a girl, but of course, there are no guarantees. We are hoping you will cooperate at your next ultrasound (on September 22nd) so we can stop calling you IT. So far, I don't really have any good hunches on boy vs girl - neither does your Daddy. We are just so excited to finally know and plan! We have lots of big dreams for you little one.

Love always,

Mommy

Mercedes - 11 weeks 6 days Pregnant

Dear Peanut (or as other members of your family like to call you - Lima Bean or Tidbit),

Today your Daddy and I got to see you on the big screen and we got your very first picture of you! (Which we've already framed and posted all over the Internet - I wonder if Facebook will still be around whee you are old enough to read and understand this?)

Anyway - it was a wonderful moment for your father and I. You look strong and healthy, with a nice, fast heartbeat (159 beats per minute!) It was exciting to finally tell the whole world about you today. Everyone can't wait to meet you!

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 9 weeks Pregnant

Dear Peanut,

So far, no one on the outside world can even tell that I am pregnant - I don't look any different (yet!) and I can't feel you at all (although my baby books say you are moving around in there) - but I KNOW you are there and that is enough for me. I've been singing and talking to you (mostly in the car because I usually sing while I am driving anyway!) and I'm hoping that by the time you are born you will recognize my voice. Your dad and I also love to rub my belly, in preparation for the day we'll be able to feel you move around in there. Your Bubie and Zaidie and Aunts are also very excited - I don't know how any of us will be able to stay patient. But we still have quite a long wait ahead of us - 31 whole weeks (give or take a week or two, depending on how eager or impatient you are).

Anyway - the point is - you are already very loved, even if no one can see or feel you yet.

Love,

Mommy

Mercedes - 7 weeks 2 days Pregnant

Dear Peanut,

Today we saw you (and heard your heartbeat!) for the very first time! You don't look like more than a tiny blob, but it was a beautiful blob to me! Daddy and I are so thrilled to know (and actually see) that you are really in there - it makes this whole pregnancy seem real all of a sudden!

We have both been in sort of a daze since we found out about you a few weeks ago. You are very much wanted, but you came along much faster than either of us thought you would. What a pleasant surprise!

We were so happy to 'see' you today that Daddy insisted on buying you your very first outfit - a very cute bathtime outfit that we can't wait to see you in. I can only imagine how cute it will look!

Love always,

Mommy