My thanks

Before you arrive little one I have to tell you how honored I am to have had this nine months with you. The Lord knows how much we prayed for you. And you know that from the very moment Mama found out you were there, I have been in awe of you, your strength, your beauty, and the miracle that you are.
Even when Mama was so very sick, I could not help but feel such an immense feeling of joy. There was a time not that many years ago when your Mama was told she would likely never have the gift of carrying children on her own. And I feel like the luckiest Mama in the world. There is no more amazing and incredible feeling than to have you inside of me, growing so strong and "talking" to Mama when you like music and your brothers' voices, or when we all read books together. How I have cherished every single kick, every single hiccup, every single roll over, every single milestone, AND every single morning when you wake me and want to play for hours before the sun comes up :). Thank you for being my angel, for giving Mama this beautiful experience. Thank you for proving everyone wrong and being here with me!!

Your Mama has her moments of sadness these days when I think about not being pregnant anymore, despite all of the swelling, 24 hour heart burn and reflux, and inability to get out of my bed without a crane :). These months have been so very precious for me and I can not begin to tell you how much I know and love you more than anything else in this whole world. But in between these little moments of sadness (your Mama is very emotional!) I then have moments of sheer excitement over when I will finally hold you in my arms. Yesterday I passed a Mom holding her brand new baby in her arms while waiting in line at the store and your Mama could feel, as if you were here, your little weight in my arms, the warmth of your body on my chest, and the softness of your sweet breath. It was like craving chocolate....but wanting my baby instead! :) I think the other Mama knew what I was thinking as I smiled at her and rubbed my belly!
What a wonderful nine months we have had together my little one, and what a wonderful life we will have when you arrive. Your whole family is waiting to love you forever!!! I already do!!!!

All my bags are packed.....

I'm ready to go!  :)

Your Mama can feel her hips loosening and small pops in my back.... nothing official yet but my body is telling me something :)
My weekly check-up today included our last sonogram and the very last pictures of you little one, before you arrive, growing so strong inside! You look SO beautiful. And your Mama and Papa are so darn proud of all of those organs, that beautiful heart, and your big ol head and delicious round belly! You are measuring in around 6lbs already even though Mama has two more weeks before your scheduled arrival. But we shall see! :)

Your new home!!

To my sweet little one,
Mama and Papa have been working on your nursery since January and it is officially complete. Now all that is needed is YOU! And your Mama can NOT wait!!

Mama sits in the nursery and listens to her favorite cd (which we will listen to together when we have our quiet moments at night!) and I daydream about you and having you here with our family. Your new room has been filled with love from the very beginning! Little tiny diapers await your little rump roast and all of your beautiful blankets and onesies are washed and waiting for your gorgeous little self (and your sweet smell - one of the most beautiful in the whole world!).

Mama made you a special mobile that moves quietly in the breeze from the fan. And your brothers helped pick out the beautiful message on your wall (with Pooh).
You will be surrounded by lots of duckies, teddy bears, and sheep :) but none of them will be as cute or cuddly as you! :)
I just can't wait to have you here. I just can't wait!!!

Your portrait

Little duckling,
I tell you often how excited your big brothers are to meet you and have you in our family! But this was too cute to not post.
Your big brother Benjamin came home from kindergarten with a portrait of you! He was so proud and so was Mama!!

I just love that he gave you long eyelashes :) and big brown eyes!!
You are wearing a pink dress (I think) but he refers to you as his brother and his sister at various times. Either way, HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!
We all can't wait to meet you soon!

Getting ready! Cruisin in our new ride :)

It's official; Mama has a new ride! :) And we are now officially ready for you!!
Never thought I would drive a mini van, in fact I refused to do so for years! :) But then I started noticing how all of our friends could just press a button and their kids could hop in to the car, jump in to their seats. There was no worry about how to fit the car seat in the back door if the person next to us parked too close!
So I said I would consider it....and your Papa did the rest :)

The new Leonardo mobile home :)

My spaceship command center :)

And I will be the very first to admit that I was a fool all these years; there is a reason so many moms love these cars and so many families have them! This new ride is AMAZING!!! I feel like the captain of a space ship :) And I have perma grin every time I walk up to the car and the trunk opens as I am approaching so I don't have to lift a finger to put those groceries in :) Your brothers think it is beyond cool to have the door slide open as we approach and they can close it themselves :) We are riding in style!! :)
And, we are now officially ready for you my little one! Your Papa installed your new car seat and we are ready to go! Your big brother Christian is very proud he gets to sit next to you and your big brother Benjamin already has plans to make you smile from his new spot in the back seat (on a booster seat.....oh my goodness!!).

We are ready to roll! :)

Best Papa Ever!

You already have a number of posts on your blog where you get to see all of the fun you have ahead with your Papa (mowing the lawn, riding on the tube, eating ice cream; your brothers will tell you the adventures are endless! :)).
But I just can't wait for you to meet him in person! He is the most amazing Papa and your Mama (and brothers) feel so very lucky!
I don't know another Papa who wants to be with his boys ALL of the time, every single day! Rather than miss a minute when he is out doing chores, he just holds them tight while he's riding his new lawn mower :).

We LOVE you Papa!!! You're going to need another leg or a side saddle seat when you've got your third little duckling :)

HOLY NESTING!!!!!!

It's official....Mama duck is on a nesting frenzy :)
I started a few weeks ago going through little places and getting the nursery finished. But as of today, full scale nesting has kicked in! :)
All baby bottles, milk containers, pacifiers, future teethers, breast pump pieces, etc. are now boiled, sanitized, dried and organized.

This morning alone while boiling everything Mama cleaned out one of our pantries, cleaned out the gift wrap closet, and cleaned out the guest room closet.
New baby mobile is done and beautiful :) (made by Mama! :))
The first of many freezer meals has been made, marked, and stored :)
Pac n play and changing table are set up on first floor and bib drawer is stocked full :)
Majority of maternity clothes (beyond those I am wearing right now) are washed and packed in to bins. All baby clothes are washed, folded and in their proper drawers or closet bins :) And of course, your going home outfit is ready and packed in Mama's bag!
Phew....my feet are the size of boats :) (can I tell you how much I love nesting?? :) It fits your Mama's personality :) and gives me an excuse :)). But for now, I'm going to lie down...

My babies....

Your Mama is an emotional roller coaster these days....
Your big brother Benjamin had his first day of kindergarten and it doesn't feel possible that 5 1/2 years have gone by since he was our miracle. I remember our first moments with him at the hospital just as I do with your other brother Christian! And he is turning three in just about 2 weeks. What happened to my babies!?!?
Time goes too quickly!!

And Mama knows you will arrive and grow and grow and make me so proud! And I will LOVE every minute of it even though I weep because you are getting too big too fast and I can't freeze time!
Just know I am going to eat you up every single minute as I have done with your brothers so as not to miss one single bit of this precious time!

Popping up 3's

Things seem to be popping up in 3's these days :)

Or maybe that's just where Mama's brain is! There were even three goldfish baked together for snack today :).
My three little duckies (sigh)....Mama is so happy!!

Your first 4th of July

Happy first fourth of July little one!!!
We celebrated this year in Raleigh - your Mama's very FIRST fireworks not on 4th Lake in the Adirondacks...her entire life! The only other time Mama hasn't been in the mountains for this holiday was when your brother Christian was born. And I was so enormous and uncomfortable that Mama didn't even attempt to see the fireworks that year!
But this year we had so much fun listening to the great band and watching your brothers giddy with excitement that they were up WAY past bedtime :). This was your brother Christian's very first fireworks too.
And I am certain you enjoyed the fireworks display!! You were booting Mama like there was no tomorrow :). Papa said you probably wondered what I had ate that gave me such "explosive gas" :). I promise that wasn't Mama's bowels :)

Baby Love continued....

Dear little one,
Oh how your brothers love you! Your big brother Benjamin kisses you and talks to you every chance he gets during the day.

This morning he brought you one of his favorite cars and had Mama sit still for long enough that you would be able to "feel" it :). He also likes to"decorate" you whenever he gets the chance as he did with my pants ribbon this morning.

From the moment Mama and Papa surprised Benjamin and Christian with the news that you were joining our family, they have been smitten with you! They love you with all of their hearts!