A little scare....

You and Mama reached the 30 week mark and had a little scare! You seemed to want to come out right then and there, giving Mama contractions for over 24 hours and making me very, very nervous!
I know you are SO excited to come out and see your brothers and be a part of the fun! But you've got LOTS more cooking to do in the Mama oven. So hold tight and keep on growing!!
And Mama will follow everyone's suggestions and take it easy. That's hard to do when I'm keeping up with two little boys who are always on the move (and your Mama is like that too! :)). But for you, I will do anything!
So we'll be spending lots more time with our feet up....doctor's orders!
Your big arrival will come soon little one, just stay put for now. :)

Big Brother and his Baby

Little one,
Soon you will meet your big brother Christian and you will quickly learn how much he loves you and babies in general. Today he told Mama and Papa that he needed a baba for his baby. He was very serious that baby was thirsty.

We're not sure if he understands that your face will not glow in the dark when you arrive, like his favorite baby glow worm :). But we know he is going to love you SO very much!
He and Benjamin are going to be such good big brothers; you will be in very good hands! :)

30 WEEKS

Mama is so happy we made it! Keep growing strong!! You will be able to come out and play with big brothers soon enough (I can tell you are so excited to do so!).

30 week silhouette

I LOVE YOU!!

Joe's Prediction

For the last three years, Mama has enjoyed getting to know a wonderful man named Joe at our favorite grocery store. He is quite amazing; at 85 years old, he hauls carts across the parking lots in 95 degree heat and doesn't break a sweat. He carries bags of groceries even when he doesn't need to. And he ALWAYS greets people, especially children, with a huge smile. I have come to revel in his stories of his former careers, his family, etc. And my boys love the attention he gives them, always telling me how gorgeous they are and how lucky we are! He couldn't be more correct!

Joe is not only well-known in Raleigh for his personality and smile but he is quite famous in town for being able to predict what gender the baby is when people are expecting. Your Mama has friends who have sought Joe out just to have his predictions confirm what they have been told by doctors.

By sheer coincidence today, we stopped at the grocery store and ran into Joe in the parking lot. He was all smiles watching me corral your brothers towards the car (a nearly impossible feat):). He stopped to chat and asked if I knew what we were having. He smiled when I said no and asked him what he thought.
Here is his prediction:
He goes by what his Mother taught him....and she was always right. In the 7th month, if you are carrying high, it's a girl. If you are carrying low, it's a boy.
Well, Mama is 7.5 months and just as your brothers were before you, you are tucked in tight, nice and low in Mama's belly. I look like I have a huge watermelon just above my pants line :). So according to Joe, your brothers will be welcoming another beautiful baby brother in a few short 8 weeks.
Now Joe was quick to tell me that he has been wrong twice before. So we shall see......
Joe's prediction doesn't match any of our friend's guesses :). What a surprise you will be!!! :)
EVERYONE is so excited to meet you little duck!!
So very excited!!!!!!

Papa's Day 2014

Even though we were traveling away from home and couldn't do the traditional breakfast in bed for our Papa :), your Papa, little one, was beaming this Father's Day. There is truly nothing that makes him happier than your brothers and YOU! He was all smiles as people congratulated him on YOU at the special diner in DC where we had a delicious Papa's day breakfast (like old times but this time with 2.5 little ducklings in tow :)).
Your Papa is an amazing husband and an even more amazing father and your Mama feels like the luckiest lady alive! Being back in DC on this weekend reminded me of God's good graces and HIS plan, my luck with fate, and the blessings we have found together all because of the Washington DC metro :).

Next year on this special day, you will join your brothers in celebrating the most wonderful man in our lives! And he will have perma grin as he gets to hold his THREE beauties! (In the meantime, he spends lots of time kissing you through Mama's belly waiting for that day :))

This photo made us laugh...Belly is bigger than Papa's head :)

We feel so very blessed to have created YOU, our Christian, and our Benjamin. YOU make us so proud! And we LOVE YOU PAPA!!!

A welcome gift

Just as big brother Benjamin did when Christian was in Mama's belly, we made a trip to the store to pick out a special gift for you, little one, special from your big brothers! They each chose a little gift they will have for you when we welcome you to this world! And they were VERY excited!

We love you!!!

Another little one ready for ice cream!

We had a special visit with Grandpa John this weekend. And while Mama was taking a picture of Grandpa with nearly all of his grandkids lined up eating ice cream (his very favorite!) I couldn't help but smile thinking about your little rear end on the end of that bench......pretty soon you will be here and sharing in the ice cream tradition with Grandpa John!

He can't wait; we can't wait! And I know you can't wait because you booted Mama for hours as you heard your brothers and cousins squealing with delight while they ran around playing together. Soon.....   :)