Duchrow With It!: December 2013

Dear Baby,

Well, even though I find myself in week 30 of pregnancy, and didn’t write you a letter during week 29, I don’t feel like I’ve “missed out.” I just don’t have a letter to prove it. I’ve had a little bit of writer’s block and feel like I don’t have anything astounding, interesting or knowledgeable to share with you. Still, I’ve been fully involved in things happening around me. In a busy holiday spirit I’ve baked cookies, designed and sent Christmas cards, shopped for presents, wrapped gifts, and enjoyed time with friends.

As I write this note to you Dad is in the basement working on organizing our belongings. It’s a task he’s been diligently tending to for a good week now. Once we have enough space cleared in the basement I’ll begin the project of refinishing furniture for your nursery. I’m looking forward to it!

This past weekend our final appliance was delivered! We now have a refrigerator!!! Very exciting! I also took some time this weekend to install our new blinds. Dad and I were sharing a conversation the other night about how we feel blessed the way everything worked out. The fact that our house is slowly being pieced together gives us time to fully appreciate every new detail.

Mom had a prenatal check-up appointment today. Our midwife didn’t need to ask if I was feeling you move because she could see you. You were being a little show-off as she checked your heart rate and measured Mom’s belly. As you squirmed your heart rate fluctuated between fast and slow. Guess you’re getting your exercise in! Seems like your new favorite position is to push your tiny tush into the right side of Mom’s ribs and wiggle your toes on the left side of my belly. You continue to grow in size and Mom's belly is proof of this. You weigh nearly 3 pounds now and are roughly 15.7 inches long. Incredible!

This week you get to tagalong on a special trip! We’re headed to New Orleans, Louisiana. Mom is in wedding for her good girlfriend Jane. Dad, Grandma Liz, and Uncle Mike are coming, too!

Week 30

Dear Baby,

Daily responsibilities, appointments and projects for you, beginning birth class, Thanksgiving, and our recent move have all played a part in keeping Mom and Dad on our toes! Add all this to the early stages of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season – wowzers! We've had full schedules! That's why in this week's update you're getting two weeks wrapped into one. Is this because I haven't found the time to write you, or because I haven't made the time to write you? I haven't decided which “excuse” seems to fit better. Either way, this dilemma gets me thinking. Is there really any valid excuse for missing important things? Because you are indeed important!

I received an email today about this truth. In short, it wrapped up like this:

“As we go throughout our busy days this holiday season, we are continually met with opportunities to impact others with the words we speak. The man in front of us in line at the grocery store, the woman at the checkout counter, the waiter in the restaurant, the fellow passenger on the airplane, or the neighbor across the street might be your special assignment for the day.”

This was a wonderful reminder. It makes me recall one of my favorite quotes: “Be happy for this moment; this moment is your life!” You have already been given the gift of life. Right now you are alive and healthy in Mom's belly. As you grow you'll find that your own life on earth will be filled with special assignments each day. Opportunities to learn and grow. Opportunities to meet, interact and impact others. Please use these opportunities as they present themselves. Life only happens once. I will try to remember this as I enter this year's holiday season – but more importantly as my life of becoming a parent approaches. Right now I want to treasure the changing times that include just me and Dad. I want to enjoy the hectic times, knowing it won't always be this crazy, and sometimes it could be even more crazy! I want to enjoy the last few months that I have the opportunity to carry you inside me. And, when I become a parent, I want to be present for, cherish, watch, support and cheer you on during the important events of your life.

Despite both myself and Dad's desire to finish our move as quickly as possible, we've had to succumb to this understanding that life only happens once. As we find ourselves unpacking and organizing into the late hours of the night we realize we need to take time to stop and enjoy. On Thanksgiving we took a break to enjoy our first holiday meal in our new house. We ordered turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole from the grocery store deli and ate it off of paper plates with plastic utinsils. (A fun first house memory to have!) We welcomed our first house guests – Grandma Liz, Aunt Katie and Uncle Mike. They were a huge help in moving, unpacking, and organizing. There was enough work in our new home during their visit that we could have kept them busy 24-7. Instead, we paused to celebrate a belated birthday dinner. The next day, even though boxes were still piled high throughout the main floor, garage, and basement, we also paused to enjoy our new appliances! We threw a pizza party. Grandma Laurie and Grandpa Chuck joined the celebration.

It's taken a few days, but thanks to much help from family and a few close friends we are officially moved into our new home. And we have some fun memories from the process. I've heard that as we grow older, life continues to happen faster. My hope would be to welcome you into a home that appreciates slowing down at times so that we are able to see the world and activity that's happening right in front of us.

Remember that you will always be important to me, and that important things are worth taking the time to pause and enjoy!

P.S. I almost forgot! We hit a pretty neat pregnancy milestone this week. You have definitely ramped up your wiggles and squirms. Early one morning Dad visibly saw you move. So cool!