Duchrow With It!: Week 36: Reality Hits

Dear Baby,

Four weeks and counting... A four week countdown is nothing new to me. I’ve made them in anticipation for vacations, last day of school, birthdays, and other holidays. But, four weeks (give or take) until Dad and I become parents – forever? That’s crazy!

At our 35 week check up we learned you’re in a good position to make your entrance. Stay that way! It gives Mom optimism that labor and delivery will be challenging, yet manageable. I continue to read material and talk with other mamas. This also gives me confidence.

But, enough about me and my pregnancy. It recently hit me that as I near the end of my pregnancy journey, it’s not really about me anymore. It’s about you! Soon, your story begins. After you’re born we’ll have so many details to share with you. We’ll know your gender, your size, whether you will be born with or without hair, and weather you arrived early or late based on your due date. (February 23) We’ll have stories to share about how cooperative or stubborn you were during labor. We will have photos with the people who came to visit and hold you in the hospital. We’ll remember details about the weather on the day you were born. Right now all these details are a mystery and it’s fun for Mom and Dad to imagine everything we’ll learn about you on your birthday.

How about a weather update, since that’s what everyone seems to be talking about these days! This winter has seen some extremely cold temperatures. The news folks say they’re caused by a weather system called a polar vortex. Unfortunately, we seem to be continuously stuck in the cold trap. Currently it’s about -17 degrees. That’s without a wind chill. Add the blustery winds to the mix and it feels more like -35 degrees. Dad, who attempts to look on the positive side of this weather, says that we’ll be able to tell you just how cold it was during the winter you were born.

Some other exciting events to share with you – your room is ready! Dad and I had a date night one Tuesday and painted your nursery. We chose the color Agreeable Gray. It’s a peaceful room to be in. We hope you think so, too. This past weekend I also prepared our stash of cloth diapers. We’re all ready!

One tiny request that I know full well is completely out of my control, but if you could hold off your arrival until at least 37 weeks that would make everyone feel a little more comfortable. 37 weeks is what the medical world considers “early term.” But the key word there is “term.” At that point all you have left to do is gain weight. As excited as we are to meet you, we’re also excited for you to be a healthy baby!

See you soon!