December 2011

Dear baby at 23 weeks (In Utero)

by elizabeth

So things have changed A LOT since the last letter. First of all I feel great! I have tons of energy, have been able to get back into exercising, am sleeping well, and am no longer nauseous (ever).

Your Daddy and I do a lot of hiking on the weekends and during the week you and I do pilates, the stairs at the beach, and the elliptical machine at the gym. You already bring smiles wherever you go. People see my belly and just light up. It’s a great conversation starter and it makes strangers want to touch you through my belly. I never realized how much people like pregnant women. Good thing the touching and the conversation doesn’t bother me, because I can imagine for someone more shy, this could be very uncomfortable.

One of the other most miraculous parts of this pregnancy is that I can feel you move! It is by far, the best part of my day. I always stop what I am doing, put my hand on my belly and say hello to you. I keep wondering…can you hear me? Do you know I am here and so happy to feel you? I wonder how much you are thinking… What goes on in that little head of yours? Do you perk up when you hear our voices? Are you curious about the things you feel and hear?

On Christmas Eve, your Daddy got to feel you for the first time and then after feeling you move, he fell asleep with his hand on our belly. You were kicking his hand so much but he was sound asleep. I have a feeling there will be many more kicks in the weeks to come so I didn’t wake him up.

This past weekend we took a trip to Sedona and spent our days hiking. You were so still the entire time we hiked. I think the constant rocking is probably relaxing to you. Get used to it little one, this is the first of many adventures where you will get rocked to sleep while attached to one of our bodies. In your pre-life life you have already done so much, rock climbed, surfed, sailed, hiked, paddle boarded… just a taste of all the things to come.

Besides the people at the grocery store or that we encounter on hikes, you also have some adoring fans that are related to you. Your cousins, Ellie and Sabine, can’t wait to meet you. I think you will be the perfect distraction to their homework! Your Aunt Gretchen has already bought you sweet outfits and Aunt G and Granny are going to have their houses fully prepared for your entertainment. Granny is still lifting weights so she can keep up with you once you’re on the move.

I still can’t wait to meet you, but now that I feel better and am not so worried about you, the urgency has worn off. I am enjoying this time and am happy knowing that you are growing strong and healthy. Last week when I went to see the perinatologist for your growth check up, you weighed 1 pound 2 ounces and are in the 57th percentile. When the ultrasound tech put the picture on the screen you had your feet over your head and were holding on to your feet with your hands. It was darling. I still dream about your sweet face and funny personality. I know you are going to be the biggest gift we have ever received and I can’t wait for our life together. I love you little girl.