What you have to look forward to....

So much love, hugs and kisses from your Papa, Mama, and your brothers!!! We are so excited to have you here with us little one!!

Special time together every single night!

Brothers who adore and love each other so much!

Your family loves each other so very much and you are going to make us complete!

Mama's Favorite Sign of Summer......

and another sign that you are almost here!!

Every summer as June ends and July begins, the beautiful crepe myrtles of North Carolina go in to full bloom! They thrive in the summer heat and they are one of the gorgeous treats of living here for they bloom all the way through the remainder of the summer and fill this town with so much color!


Not ironically....Mama is feeling (and looking) a little like one of these trees :). I don't wave gracefully in the wind though :)

Special duckies for our special little duckie

Your aunt Anne Marie remembered Mama's tradition of getting cookie cutters in our wonderful Adirondacks every year and since Mama couldn't be there this year (to keep you safely cooking away in my oven :)), she sent us the perfect little pair of cookie cutters. Just right for the little third duckie we are anxiously awaiting!

Thank you Aunt Anne Marie!!

Your Baby Sprinkle

Did you know that when you have a baby shower after your first child, they call it a Baby Sprinkle?
And did you know that your Mama has the most wonderful and loved friends who are SO, SO excited about you, our little miracle!
Mama's dear friend Patrice threw her a beautiful Baby Sprinkle at one of the best restaurants in Raleigh called Relish

Baby Sprinkle with my amazing friends!!!

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It was such a lovely evening and Mama felt so very special surrounded by 15 of the most cherished women in my life. These ladies have been by my side through the past three years of preschool, babies, milestones, hard weeks, moves, pursuing a degree, comp exams, etc., etc. They keep me sane and always make me feel so confident about this adventure we're on called parenthood.
And it was so special to have them celebrating YOU! All of these ladies know what a miracle you are and they can NOT wait to find out whether you are a boy or a girl! There are lots of guesses!! :) (Mama is actually driving them crazy by not knowing :) hee hee!.....they will be beating down the hospital door when you arrive they are so excited and anxious!).
From the gorgeous flower centerpieces arranged by Candice (to match the soft creams of your nursery!!)

to the Hershey bar place settings colored HE and SHE (because Patrice knows how much your Mama LOVES chocolate!), to the mounds of amazing gifts we were showered/sprinkled with for your arrival, everything was so beautiful and SO very wonderful.

I feel so blessed in so many ways! And God has encircled us in so much love through these friendships!!
We love you sweetheart!! And we love celebrating your pending arrival! You can bet every single one of these arms will be waiting to hold you when you get here :)
Thank you all, dear friends!! For EVERYTHING!

Another guess! This time it's PINK!

Little one,
I'm sure you remember hearing Mr. Joe at the grocery store tell us that you are a boy. This guessing game is literally what anyone and everyone wants to talk about whenever Mama is out and about :) You are the talk of where ever we are! :)
Today, at a small international festival with the boys, Mama was walking in front of a woman. When I turned to ask Christian to catch up, she started squealing with delight and announced to everyone that I was having a little girl!!! :) She had not known I was pregnant from behind. But when she saw the belly, she began celebrating as though you were one of her own!
I don't know her name but with a huge smile she said, you'll remember me when the baby arrives and out comes a little girl!
So opposite of Mr. Joe, this nice lady believes you are a little girl. Your surprise delights ALL of us and makes the excitement and anticipation of your arrival even more special!
Your Papa and I can't wait to meet you!!!!

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! :)