Dear baby girl

I remember so clearly the day, 9 months ago, when I found out I was pregnant with you. I got pregnant with your big brother right away and was expecting the same thing with you. I just knew you were already growing in my tummy! So I wasn't really all that surprised when I saw the little "+" sign on the pregnancy test.

I fixed a normal dinner that night and when your daddy got home from work, I asked him to set the table for me. He pulled out the cups and silverware, then got a really perplexed look on his face when he noticed one of the plates had a large #2 drawn on it. It only took eye contact for him to realize what that number 2 represented...it was you! We sat and cried together, so excited to have you on the way to our family and a bit stunned that you had come so quickly. We spent the whole evening talking about how our lives were going to change and how wonderful it was going to be to be a family of four!

The next 5 months were some of the hardest months of my life. I spent a lot of time in front of the toilet and laying in bed, more weak and miserable than I'd like to ever remember. It's hard to explain the darkness and discouragement of those months, and even just thinking about it I get sick to my stomach. Your Grandma Mary and Grandma Liz took turns with your big brother Crew because I was too sick to watch after him. There were so many angels in our lives that came to help when we needed help the very most. You are already so loved, baby girl!

When I started feeling a little better, I immediately began making preparations for you. I was so excited to shop for my own little girl. It wasn't long before Daddy and I had the nursery ready, all of your clothes hung in the closet and brand new, beautiful quilts ready to wrap you in (from your Grandma Mary, of course).

And now here we are, just days from you arriving. Your big brother Crew talks about you all the time and is so excited to rock you and give you kisses. He is going to be such a good big brother to you, and I hope that you two are the best of friends. Your Daddy loves to feel you kick and talk to you. He is going to melt for you when you're here and you'll have him wrapped around your little finger.

I can hardly wait to hold you, sweet baby of mine. To rock you, and sing you lullabies and nurse you. I hope to have a very special and close relationship with you; the same relationship I have with my mommy, your Grandma Mary. I hope we will be best of friends and that you will always know how much I love you.

For now, we are just waiting patiently for your arrival. We'll see you soon, baby girl!