It's Your Due Date...

Dear Pickles,

Today is your estimated due date... I don't know if you got that memo or not.  Just in case, a friend of mine decided to make a sign for you:





The more time that passes by, the more people have offered their advice on how to coax you out of my belly:

1. Eat spicy food.
2. Eat pineapple.
3. Drive over railroad tracks.
4. Flip my mattress.
5. Do the dirty. (I'll explain that one when you're older.)
6. Use a breast pump.
7. Drink Castor oil.
8. Take primrose oil supplements.
9. Go for a loooooooong walk.
10. Try acupuncture or acupressure.
11. Get a pregnancy massage.
12. Sit on the floor with my legs in a V-shape and have your daddy massage my scalp.

Some of these things, mommy and daddy have tried; some of these, we have not.  But in all seriousness, your daddy and I know that sometimes the best things in life just simply take time.  So, take all the time you need, little one, until you're ready to come out... But know that we are SO EXCITED to meet you.

Love,

Mommy

A Happy Father's Day

Dear Pickles,

Much to your daddy's disappointment, you did not arrive on Father's Day, but you did have a chance to surprise him with some sweet Father's Day goodies.





Although half of the gifts were technically for you, daddy still got really psyched about them.  He can't wait to dress you in these Michigan onesies and read the The Daddy Book to you when you get here.

Go Blue!

Daddy is so excited to hold you in his arms and give you lots of hugs and kisses.  Father's Day really gave daddy a chance to reflect on becoming a father, and, in the process, he remembered his own father.  Here's what daddy wrote about your grandpa, Larry Dale, and shared with the family on Facebook:

Five months ago my father died. This will be my first Father’s Day where I can’t call him to tell him how much I love him and I’m glad that he was my father. We normally had very short conversations on Father’s Day, mostly because we both wanted to get back to watching the U.S. Open. This will also be my first Father’s Day (sort of). My daughter is set to be born next Friday.  I can’t tell you how much I hope she decides to come a couple days early and show up on Father’s Day. I also can’t begin to tell you how unlikely this is, since she is my daughter, she most likely has the "wait till the last minute before you have to do anything" gene. Thinking of my dad at this time makes me realize how much the things that he probably never thought of mattering, mattered most to me. And I guess at the core of what I have learned from him is that to be a good father, just be a good person. Everything else will fall into place. That being said, here are some other things I have learned from him.

1. A pat on the back can mean the world to your child.
2. Sometimes an arm around your child’s shoulder is even better.
3. Leaning back with your legs crossed is by far the most comfortable way to sit in a chair in public.
4. You can never have enough toilet paper in the house.
5. Liquid detergent does not go in the dishwasher.
6.  You can never have enough paper towels.
7. Even though you are 20 years older than the other fathers, overweight, and have bad knees, make sure you play in your child’s middle school father-son game.
8. Hit a pull up three-pointer in that game right after your son makes a jump shot, just to make sure he still knows who the boss is. He will never forget it.
9. Eventually admit to yourself that the comb over isn’t fooling anyone.
10. Show your kids how much you love your wife every day.
11.  It’s more efficient to hold the bag open yourself when bagging leaves and pine straw, than having your two sons do it. Because, you're right, they aren’t paying attention.
12. Always sound excited that they called you.
13. Show your faith to your children, even though it forces them to sit in the front row of church every Sunday.
14. Your lap, legs, and chest are perfect substitutes for a plate when sitting on the couch.
15. Saturday afternoon sandwiches are just a great tradition.

I could keep going for ever with this list, but let’s be honest, I’ve got to get back to the U.S. Open. My Dad and I always ended our father’s day phone calls the same way every year.

Me: "Thanks for being such a great dad."
Dad: "It was easy  with such a great son like you."
Me: "I couldn’t have done it without you."
Dad: "Well, your mother had something to do with it."
Me: "Yeah, but it isn’t Mother’s Day."
Dad: "I guess you’re right. Love you bud."
Me: "I love you, too, Dad."

Thank you Dad.

Daddy and your Grandpa, Larry Dale

I wonder what memories you'll make with your daddy.  (He really is the bee's knees.)  I can't wait for you two to meet!

Love,

Mommy

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Dear Pickles,

We're in our last week of pregnancy with you... At least, as far as we know.  Everyone is so excited for you to get here.  At your last doctor's visit, the doctor reported that you still had a long way to go to make your way down to the birth canal.  Mommy and daddy think you are getting really cozy in there.

To prepare for your arrival, one of mommy's friends started a baby pool at work.  The baby pool gives people an opportunity to guess the day you will be born, how much you will weigh, and how long you will be.  It's $5 for 3 guesses, one guess in each category.  The winner(s) will receive a portion of the pot.  Daddy has his money on Father's Day.





To help people with their guesses, mommy and daddy's baby stats were shared with participants:

Daddy's Stats:
-Born 6 days early
-Weight: 7 lbs, 8 oz
-Height: 20 inches

Mommy's Stats:
-Born 7 days early
-Weight: 8 lbs, 12 oz
-Height: 17.5 inches

I hope you take after daddy in weight and after me in height...  Just sayin'.

We'll keep waiting patiently for you to come, Pickles.  But, I must say, you've worn your daddy out with all the anticipation of your arrival.





Hope to see you soon... Don't forget... Tomorrow is Father's Day.

Love,

Mommy

Any Day Now

Dear Pickles,

This weekend, your daddy and I spent the weekend finishing your nursery.  We've been preparing it all along the way, but we were determined to have everything completely finished this weekend before your scheduled arrival date.  It really was a joint effort to get everything ready for you... I hope you like it.

This is the entrance to your room.  (We've already been calling you Izzy for the past month or so.)  Mommy and daddy's friend hand painted these letters just for you.

When you open the door, you can see your crib, a rocking chair, and a shelf holding all of your adorable clothes, books, and toys.

In front of the crib, there is the diaper changing station.  Daddy also put up some little shelves to hold little treasures for you.

Behind the rocking chair is a tree mural I painted for you.  This tree is going to be your family tree.  On it, we plan to hang pictures of family on the branches so that you come to know the faces of all those who love you.  The tree is also the perfect place to be held by mommy and daddy as we read you bed time stories.

Your room is located just across the way from our bedroom.  It's our favorite room in the whole house now.  Daddy likes to spend time in your room looking around and rocking in the rocking chair.  (I have to admit, I do, too.)

Now, all we need is you.  Can't wait to meet you, sweet little girl.

Love,

Mommy

My New View of the World

Dear Pickles,

I'm officially 37 weeks pregnant.  Only three more weeks until you make your debut (we think).  Up until this point, I've had a pretty easy pregnancy (knock on wood).  I can't really complain.  Overall, I have really loved being pregnant with you.  It hasn't been until recently that I have begun feeling the discomforts of pregnancy.  Nothing too bad -- just some constant soreness in my right shoulder blade that won't seem to go away. 

I had a check up last week and told the doctor about my shoulder pain with which he promptly suggested treatment with a prenatal massage (bless him).  Although it didn't make all my pain go away, it did help a little.  (I may have to go back again soon...Until then, daddy will have to fill in.)

It's also starting to get hotter outside.  With summer just around the bend, it's getting harder to stay cool, especially at night when I am sleeping.  I sleep with the fan blasting right on me (something I used to hate) and with only a corner of the sheet covering me.

Most of all, you're starting to get bigger.  Although I'm not as big as I could be, it's been interesting carrying you around.  When I sit down, I can feel you on my lap.  When I lay down, I can feel you sink from side to side as I try to get comfortable.  When I walk, I have to lean back to compensate for the pull up front.

Basically, my view of the world has changed:




I know that this view won't last for forever, which partly makes me sad and happy at the same time.  But I know that when you do arrive, I'll have yet another way to view the world -- as your mommy.

Can't wait to see you soon!

Love,

Mommy

A False Alarm

Dear Pickles,

Today I had an interesting day at work.  It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon.  I was at work trying to resolve a client issue with my friend, Alfonso.  Before we went to speak to our friend, Ken, to help us with our client issue, I told Alfonso that I had to go to the bathroom.  (I spend a lot of time there every day going #1 since you have nestled so close to my bladder.)  After taking care of business, Alfonso and I went to Ken's office to discuss our client issue.

As your mother tried to explain what she believed was going on with the client, I was stopped mid-sentence with a strange feeling.  "Hmm... What's that?  Is that...?  No... It can't be..."  Sensing something wrong, Ken and Alfonso looked at me.

"Are you okay?" they asked.

"Um... I either just peed my pants... or my water just broke," I announced.

A flurry of activity happened from that moment to get me out of the office and to the hospital.  Alfonso agreed to drive me (even though I wasn't having any signs of contractions).  On the way to the hospital, I called the triage nurse, and she advised me to do the following before coming to the hospital: change into some dry clothes, put on a sanitary pad, and if it's still wet or soaking in 15 minutes, I should come to the hospital.  If it's dry in 15 minutes, I probably just wet my pants.

Instead of going to the hospital, I asked Alfonso to take a detour to CVS to buy some adult diapers for me (what a trooper!).  Then, we went to his house, since it was nearby, and I borrowed some sweat pants from his wife, Beth.  I did as the triage nurse ordered; I changed my clothes and waited.  All I could think was, "I'm not ready.  I haven't even finished the nursery.  I haven't finished my birthing classes!  I don't even have a bag packed!  Crap!"

After 15 minutes - there was nothing.  I called the triage nurse back, and we concluded that I just wet my pants.  She said that it was a common occurrence for women at my stage in pregnancy since the baby is pressing down on the bladder.  (I thought that it was weird since I literally went potty seconds before the accident... Oh well.)  At that news, I decided to go back to work.

On the way back to work, I couldn't help but think of this scene from the movie, Billy Madison:





Best quote from this scene? "You ain't cool unless you pee your pants."  So there you go.

Love,

Mommy

A Happy Mother's Day

Dear Pickles,

On Mother's Day, mommy walked down stairs to find the most wonderful surprise waiting for her on the kitchen table... an array of gifts to enjoy from you!  (What a clever girl you are to outsource daddy from the womb for help!)




I even called my mommy (your Mimi) to wish her a happy Mother's Day, too.  I told her how you gave me the sweetest card that read:

Mom, for love above and beyond.


I owe you big time.  Happy Mother's Day.


Thanks for making me.  Love, Izzy.


P.S. Every time I kick, it's just me letting you know how much I love you and want to get out there so you can hold me.

I would like to say that I spend the day relaxing, lazing about, and watching the awesome selection of DVDs you picked out for me, but, instead, I spent the day nesting.  Mommy spent the day washing your awesome wardrobe in scent free, allergy free detergent and softener.  I also unpacked a lot of items in your nursery, organized your closet, and put finishing touches here and there in the nursery.  (I can't wait to reveal the finished product to you.)

When I wasn't nesting, I took short breaks to read Bossypants by Tina Fey... And while I'm on this topic, I have a confession to make... Even though you gave me this awesome book for Mother's Day, mommy already bought herself a copy of the book the day before...  Sorry Pickles.  Daddy reprimanded me for buying myself something before a major holiday... But I couldn't help myself!  This chick rocks!  I hope you find her to be one of your heroes growing up.  Seriously, she's awesome.  Don't believe me?  Watch this clip:

See what I mean?

Thanks again for the Mother's Day presents.  We'll have to collaborate soon to get daddy something special for Father's Day next month.

Love,

Mommy