Letter to baby:

Dear Parker,

There are so many things I want to tell you about.  I'm about to start my journey back to the States so we can welcome you into this world and until last night I don't think that idea had sunk in.  Daddy and I already knew that you've been training for some sport while in my belly but last night you moved in a way that, not only have I not felt before but never seen before!  My belly was completely contorted and I know it was your way of making sure I know you're in there.

I go back and forth between feeling nervous, scared, and excited.  The more time goes on, the more excited I get just thinking about how soon I get to hold you and kiss your sweet little fingers and cheeks and I get to spend every minute teaching you how to make it through this world.  Just promise you'll bare with me little guy, I've never done this before.

You are my child, you are everything to me.  Your life is full of endless possibilities and here a just a few things that I hope for your amazing life ahead of you.  Of course I wish you love and happiness everyday of your life but there are so many other lessons I want you to know.  Never stop learning.  Knowledge is everything.  I want you to listen and share, even if just a little bit, everyday.  Work hard but also have fun.  Please, please take after your daddy with enough drive and determination to try your very best in everything you do.  Be postitive, you'll enjoy life that much more.  Learn the power of unconditional love.  Love everything, yourself, other people, animals and the world we live in.  If you want yourself, as well as others to be happy, then practice compassion.  I can only hope for you to be independent, that you will be able to take care of yourself and make decisions for yourself.  Be a leader, not a follower and think "outside the box".  Be your own person.  Learn to compromise, it is the key to every lasting relationship.  In life, you don't always get everything you want.  Most importantly, follow your dreams.  When you eventually figure out what you desire in life, do what you have to do to do it.  Don't ever give up on it because anything is possible.

You have your whole life ahead of you so please make the most of your time and live your life the very best way that you can.

Love,
Mommy    
  

the update:

Baby update as of week 26:

"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days."

maternity-wear:

Who said that maternity-wear had to be frumpy?

Is that not the most precious dress you've ever seen?  Especially how it's complete with a bow sitting perfectly on top of the belly as if it's a little present?!

the sauna:

This morning was my second time going to get some blood work here in Dominica and it certainly wasn't as pleasant as the first time.  

I walk over to the apartments and the office door was open, I thought it was a little strange.  I walk in and the temperature was the exact same as the outside, hot and sticky.  The air conditioning was busted.  The little lady that takes my blood called me into her closet sized office where I instantly started pouring sweat the second I sat down.  She closed the door, making the room that much smaller, and then took my paper that I was fanning myself with so at that point I was out of luck.  Slooooowwwllly she writes down my information, slloooooowwwwly she takes my money, then a knock at the door.  The mail guy brought in a box of mail and I would just assume she'd put it down until she was finished with me but no.  She starts opening up each piece of mail, one by one.  Then starts counting money.  I'm sitting there thinking, "You've got to be kidding me lady"  Sweat is literally dripping off of my forearms, off of my face on to the floor.  It was probably one of the most uncomfortable situations I have ever been in.  Finally after 15 minutes she looks up at me and comments about how wet I am and hands me cheap Dominican toilet paper to "wipe myself up with out in the fresh air" (that's what she told me to do).  I had to call someone to help me out here cause I was literally going to drop to the floor in my pool of sweat.  Erin comes by, laughs at me because I have toilet paper stuck to my face and chest and comes in the room while she takes my blood.  Of course the lady can't find my vein.  Then, she gets a phone call...."oh well the air conditioning light is on but it's not working..." She puts the phone down and hits the ac button.  It turns on.  ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS PRESS THE BUTTON LADY!

I thought I was going to die.  

I walked home, put on my pjs, turned on the ac and took a nap till lunch.

I'm going through this because I love you little man!

Days till I touch American soil = 23!

the update:

"Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture."

the update and more:

Baby update as of week 24:

"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon."

It's been about a month since the last time I updated this blog but I promise that I have some good reasons.  Around the last time I updated was the beginning of a much-needed break from school (which was fantastic by the way!) This was our last break between semesters that we will have here while being in Dominica and it was the most relaxing one Brandon and I have had yet.

The vacation was 2 1/2 weeks long and week 1 consisted of:

our family coming to visit,

plenty of good food,

found out we're having a baby BOY! (Parker James),

No more 3rd Semester! Home stretch....4th Semester here we come!

We filled the week with different trips that everyone would enjoy (Fort Shirley, hiked to Bense Pool, Scott's Head) and also spent lots of time relaxing at the pool and just spending time together.  The week went by way too fast and Brandon and I both wished that they stayed longer.

Besides staying a night at Pagua Bay, we spent the rest of the week catching up on sleep and hanging out in our apartment.  We really wanted to take the time to spend some quality time together since I will be leaving in about a month.  I've been getting some things together and starting a sale list to get rid of things that we've accumulated since we've been here.  The girls are having a clothes swap tomorrow night so I will be handing off a great deal of my clothes to fellow spouses. 

As for the baby, we are getting sooo excited!  I have an appointment on Friday so more updates then. 

the emotions:

I think I've officially lost my mind.  Not really, I'm just super emotional and I'm chalking it up to the fact that I'm pregnant.  

I woke up yesterday and cried 3 times at different points in the day.  Once, because I realized that I will be leaving Dominica in exactly 2 months which I have been getting really sad about, then I watched Marley and Me, which is heart wrenching in itself but when I have my dog laying next to me with his head on my lap I just started crying from the thought of him dying one day, and the other time, which is when I realized I've completely lost it, is when I was watching Regis & Kelly in the morning and a lucky member of the studio audience won a new kitchen appliance set I cried my eyes out.