34

dear evelyn,

i'm so excited for how close we are to meeting you! i smile every time i feel you move, just thinking about how sweet and dear you'll be when we get hold you on the outside. daddy put his hand on my belly the other night, and you reacted by pushing back hard against him. it was a sweet and tender as if you were expressing your love in return-- definitely a moment that i wanted us to remember.

my body has been change as well! i haven't had an extreme appetite, and it feels as if i only remember to eat because it's "mealtime" and haven't really felt hunger like i use to. on a similar note, my weight gain has slowed and even halted these last few weeks? and strangely enough, i found new stretch marks on my abdomen today. it's all part of motherhood and the privilege of housing a healthy baby. i won't pretend that my self-esteem doesn't waver, but i try to focus on the miracle i'm growing inside of me. what a blessing you are! my appointment with dr. thackeray this week revealed that i'm 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced! we're getting closer, but knowing my cervix of steel, you'll stay put until we induce you on july 8th.

love you more than you'll ever know,
mom

33

dear evelyn,

we're finally over our cold! life feels so much better sleeping through the night without waking up to blow my nose or drink water. in fact, i think i've slept so soundly that i'm only waking up once a night to pee! it's been a great few days since we've recovered. daddy's birthday was this week-- i think it's so neat that he turned 33 years old the same week you turned 33 weeks! unfortunately, we didn't spoil him like he deserves. he actually woke up with your sisters (letting me sleep in) and also let me get a nap after church. marriage, as you will soon find out, is a lot of compromise and serving each other at different, unexpected times. we had a busy weekend with amelia's dance revue, soccer game, tumbling showcase, and preschool graduation... i think it completely wiped us out! oh whale.

with 7 weeks to go, i feel a little defeated earlier this week. the weather is warming up (actually, i've been roasting a bit), and 7 weeks just felt like an eternity! i've started to cherish each day feeling you move in my belly, considering this may be the last time i grow a baby in my tummy. i've also been "practicing" relaxing into each contraction, to help get ready for the real deal. it's been interesting, as i've always instinctively tense my body when reacting to pain.

cheers to 7 weeks until july 7th!
love you ev!

32

dear evelyn,

uterine irritability is no joke. that's mainly mostly what's on my mind these days. maybe by the time you're reading this, or pregnant yourself, there will be another term for it... but these contractions aren't just mild braxton hicks. some days, i get by fine; other days, i feel like i'm going to crack and i end my day with tears. i think that remembering that there's still another 7 and a half weeks to go is what is breaking me down. recommendations for these contractions include tylenol, warm baths, and rest. i think i've taken more tylenol for this pregnancy than i have in my entire life combined, and warm baths and rest isn't really an option when i have two other kids. in the end, i remember that you're safe. and i'm so grateful for that, i promise!

yesterday was mother's day, and i cried multiple times in church and from reading cards. i'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a mother-- i know so many who are heartbroken because they aren't as privileged. but being a mom is no joke either! it was nice to be reminded that motherhood and bravery include all the silent, mundane, ordinary moments that aren't all that glamorous... all those moments go into building, growing, nurturing little individuals who grow into themselves and hopefully become successful contributors to society-- someone who is kind and smart, generous and not afraid to ask questions, hardworking and responsible, someone who leads, but can also follow, who loves to laugh and try new things and is not afraid to defend. i hope you know your strengths and that you are proud of yourself, because you are a daughter of a King. i hope you never forget that.

love you more than you'll ever know,
mom

ps. your auntie shelbi is getting married tomorrow! we've been friends since we were 13; and although life is busy, we seem to always pick up where we left off.

31

dear evelyn,

we're getting down to the wire, and i'm feeling so at peace with your impending arrival. not that i've formally prepared or "nested" so to speak. there are a couple of things that i need to take care of-- getting your bassinet in my room, and all our baby essentials washed and ready, and i think that's about it???? i've purchased a sweet little bonnet and a new swaddle blanket for you, but most of your things will have been handed down from your sisters. on my to-do list still is getting our tdap vaccination-- just to help your passive immunity. (you can't get the tdap vax yourself until 2 months, i think?) anyway, life just moves on, and the weeks are flying by faster than i can keep track! (we're actually 32 weeks tomorrow, and i can't believe we only have 8 weeks to go!)

this next week, your cousin and aunt melissa turn 29 weeks; this is the week that the robbins babes like to jump-start their arrival and usually tend to make us more nervous for their safety. you hang on to your cousin, and tell him or her to stay put with you. have a party up there, and we'll see you guys when you're a little bigger!

love you lots,
mom

30

dear evelyn,

we're 30 weeks and i'm feeling it! i'm constantly waddling, mostly because i'm aching in most of my lower extremities and i sorta just feel like sitting on the couch most of the day. dr. thackeray called today with my test results from our recent appointment-- all good news! negative fetal fibronecton, anti-c antibody titer still less than one, 1-hour glucose at 94 (normal is 140?), and iron within normal limits (for the first time in all of my pregnancies!). He told me we can stop the monthly titer draws for anti-c, because at this point you're probably safe from anemia, and also just resume my normal activities and just be cautious of and rest from my contractions. i know we're so lucky and i'm so grateful for such normal, uncomplicated results. ...................but... uterine irritability is no joke. it feels like the first two hours of induced labor... all. the. time. the contractions, though irregular, measure from 6-15 every hour, and they ache and disturb my entire day. i hate sounding like i'm ungrateful-- i'm so grateful that we don't have preterm labor, but i just sorta wish we didn't have uterine irritability either! we have under 10 weeks to go, and i'm anxious to meet you. i'm almost positive that your birthday will be July 7th or 8th, but i'd love for you to surprise us too.

daddy's guessing you'll be born:
july 7th @ 11:28
7 lbs 8 oz
20 inches
and completely bald

I'm guessing:
july 8th @ 12:00
7 lbs even
19 inches
head full of curly hair (just like your dad and amelia)

and my predictions are based solely on you measuring small at your 20-week anatomy ultrasound. it's okay, i'm sure you'll catch up!

my friend had her baby josephine today! her big sis penny and your big sis amelia are good friends, and i'm sure you two will be friends as well! so excited to meet you and mother you!

love,
mom