Week 38 (Technically 39): Happy Belated Valentine’s Day

Dear Baby,

With only one week to go until your “guess date,” Dad and I were unsure if we’d be sharing this year’s cliché romantic holiday of Valentine’s Day with a new little cupid.  Nope, not this year.  You were in our thoughts, though.  I’ve always been a believer that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples and romance.  It’s also about sharing feelings with special people in our lives. It’s important to tell family and friends, both girls and boys, that we love them.  Baby D, you are special to us.  We care about you and love you very much!

Of course, you’ll experience Valentine’s Days where you feel obligated to do something special for someone.  Perhaps, you’ll live through a few February 14^ths where you’ll question why you’re the only one who has no one to spend the holiday with.  Believe me when I say you’re not the only one!  And if you ever do feel this way, just know it is days like these that build character.  And days like this are opportunities to make the best of every situation.  Find people who can surround you, laugh with you, cry with you, and still celebrate with you.  Some of my most favorite Valentine’s Day memories are not extravagant, romantic dates.  Rather, they are watching sappy movies with girlfriends, writing love poems to best friends, or delivering candy to co-workers.

All this said it is fun to make the holiday special, too.  This year Dad and I (and you) attended the Valentine Ball.  It’s an annual fundraiser for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.  It was a night to feel fancy, eat delicious food, and enjoy fun company!  We had a good time.

I forgot to mention in a previous post that I finally used Dad’s Valentine’s Day gift from last year.  He gifted me with a certificate to a store where I can paint my own pottery.  I chose to paint a dinner plate that says: “You are Special Today!”  I made this in hopes of starting a tradition in our family.  Anytime a member of our family has an important event, whether it be a unique privilege, big accomplishment, birthday celebration, or anything we deem worthy, that person gets to use the special plate for their meal.  I look forward to this tradition and hope it teaches us to celebrate both big and small accomplishments.

In preparation for your arrival I completed a few more projects.  Your car seat base is now installed in Mom’s car.  Much easier than I anticipated!  Although we did have to remove it briefly to haul a few more belongings that were being stored at Grandma and Grandpa Duchrow’s house during our move.  Our hospital bag is slowly becoming more full – a true reminder that you’re coming soon.  I’ve created a short list of family and close friends that we’d like to notify when the time for your birthday finally arrives.  Dad will probably be in charge of this.

Pregnancy is still going well.  At this week’s check-up nurses were a bit surprised to see us still.  The progress you made had some thinking you could be an early baby.  I get the impression that you’re pretty comfy in Mom’s belly.  That said, I have started to feel some irregular tightening in my stomach.  It doesn’t hurt and nurses say it’s a positive sign that my mind and body will know what to do when the time comes.  It’s clear you’re putting on weight and becoming stronger.  Mom’s belly has grown a lot in the past few weeks and when you move you pack a bit more punch.

At 39 weeks my week-by-week baby app estimates that you weigh the same as a mini watermelon – about 7 pounds. I remember reading ahead in early pregnancy thinking how awful this might feel.  I likened it to picking out a juicy watermelon in the produce section upon first entering the grocery store and hauling it around while finishing the rest of shopping.  It’s really not that bad.

I guess we’ll see if we make it to another week of writing to you.  Can’t wait to meet our little valentine!

Mom & Dad at Valentine Ball

For those who want a belly pic, here is week 38 (almost 39)

Feeling the Valentine's Day love from family and friends!

Car seat base installed.  Check.

A ladder to showcase all the lovely blankets that people have made you!

The "You Are Special Today!" plate.  Our tradition begins.

Just for fun, Mom took this silly quiz and got 4+.  Dad took the same quiz and got 1.  We figure that averages to  2.5.
 In math don't you round up for this?
P.S. While I rarely get sick, I DO sleep and anyone who knows us well will testify that having our house be a disaster would drive us to the funny farm.  I promise I did answer honestly.  Still, I say bring on the kiddos!