Dear Avery

   It's been a while since I've wrote to you! But if my letters to you mimicked how much you cross my mind they would be WAY off because I definitely think about you all day. Everything with you and this pregnancy is going wonderfully so far. This week we are officially in the third trimester! We've reached the home stretch and you will be in my arms before you know it!

20 weeks

   You are kicking, twisting, rolling, and punching like crazy! I love every single one of your movements and sometimes I just stare at my belly watching your little movements; it makes me laugh because I get so happy and try to imagine what you are doing in there. I cannot wait until you get here but I'm trying to really enjoy every experience with this pregnancy because one day you will be out of my belly and I'll miss having you in there.

20 weeks 4 days

   I really hope I am the best Mom I can possibly be to you. I'm going to try my hardest to make you the happiest little baby.

23 weeks

   My cravings are still relatively the same. Peanut butter, peanut butter, and peanut butter. I also crave Subway occasionally. Other pregnancy symptoms have been a pretty constant backache from all this extra weight I'm carrying, sore and sometimes swollen feet, and it's getting harder to get a good nights rest. All of this is okay though, because it all is a part of making you a healthy baby and I although it can be uncomfortable, I'll take twice as many symptoms if that meant you still were a healthy little baby. Plus, your Daddy has been pretty good at rubbing my back or feet.

24 week 5 days

   Speaking of your Daddy, he loves you so much too! We talk about how life will be when you get here and he tells me how much he loves you and how he can't wait to hold you. He says you two will be best friends. He also talks to you a lot. I can hear it in his voice when he talks to you or about you, how excited he is, and it makes me even more excited.

27 weeks. Third Trimester!

    Our next appointment is coming up in a little over a week and I'm thinking it will be the last time we get to see you before you arrive. We have been lucky with the German doctor here to get an ultrasound at every appointment so far, so it makes me a little sad that I won't see you again after this next appointment, but it also makes me happy because I know that means you are closer to coming out! After this appointment we will be given the go ahead to tour the hospital, meet up with a midwife, and our following appointments will be every 2 weeks instead of every 4. How exciting! We can't wait for you to get here, and I'm already so much in love with you. I know the feeling will only get stronger when you arrive.

Love,
Your Mommy

 

shopping, thrift shopping, school

Since we are staying in Germany for a while longer, I've given into the urge to nest. I've literally been at it for a month, constantly cleaning, changing, and rearranging. Gathering things for baby, such as clothing, rockers, and books... also decorating all around the house, and making big purchases such as new living room couches and FINALLY a dining room table which we have NEVER had (in the 5 years we've been married). I plan to post pictures of the big stuff as soon as we get it looking more like we want it to. I'm really liking the way the house is coming along, and I wish this was something we did a long time ago. Making the house a happy place has really changed my attitude; it's no secret I've gone through bouts of depression while stationed in Germany. I pretty much gave into it and looked at the place we are living in as just a house we are temporarily staying in. I never tired to make it a home... and it was a pretty depressing house. It's funny how much a baby on the way is making things just... happier. I know it my life will completely change once she gets here (it's already changed a lot so far...), and I know it's not easy all of the time, but I'm ready for it!

I've fallen in love with thrift shopping. There is a thrift store on post which I managed to get a good amount of baby girl/pre-toddler clothing (all in wonderful shape) for just a few bucks. I've also purchased clothing items and an AWESOME $25 rocker for the baby that is in great shape at a couple of yard sales. Of course I'm planning on, and already have, purchased some new items and I still need a lot of stuff.... I never buy something that looks worn/old... but I can't pass a good deal! I can't wait until I'm back in Austin and have all the awesome thrift stores it offers at my finger tips. I think I'm getting addicted.

Another change going on in my life is getting back into school... again. I've applied for readmission to the online school I was once going to (before my Germany depression got the best of me and I dropped out), hopefully it will get accepted and I can start classes soon. At this school, I can work at my own pace and classes start every month. I can also try and get as many classes as I want knocked out within a 6 month term. I'm hoping to start May 1st and get a couple of classes knocked out before the baby gets here, then pick back up once I have a schedule down with the baby after she is born. I'll be going for Early Childhood Elementary Education again! I'm so excited.

Thrift find! 25 bucks for this awesome rocker for baby. I'm proud of myself.

Boredom.

This was at 23 weeks. I'm getting big.

The firsts of the baby items I've purchased so far.