Welcome Catherine!

Dear Baby Catherine,

What a joy it is to be able to say that.  I have tears in my eyes as I write this and think about the moment I first saw you.  I have waited for you my whole life, even though I didn’t always know I was waiting.  It already seems as though you’ve been a part of us forever and I can’t imagine life without you.  In the days to come I will write much more about my thoughts and feelings and the experience of your birth, but for now I just want to tell you how happy we are that you are finally here.

Welcome to the family baby, we love you so much!

Trial post - slideshow

Slideshow of belly pictures

32 Weeks

Dear Baby Hawley,

It's been a busy week for you and me.  You don't like when I sit down to do homework.  You'd much rather I stretch out on the couch or in bed so you can have more space.  You are still flipping a lot--sometimes you are vertical and sometimes you lie horizontal.  My tummy looks pretty funny when you do that, but you seem comfortable.

This weekend we went to a wedding on Saturday and a reception on Sunday in addition to all our regular weekend activities.  We still walk or swim every morning, and I'm starting to slow down.  Neither of us like walking fast anymore.

Tomorrow we will start a new schedule--the I-64 bridge from Indiana to Louisville was closed because of structural damage and all the traffic from that road will join our road.  Daddy and I want to stay out of that traffic (who likes sitting in a car that's not moving?) so we will leave the house at 5am to make it to Louisville before everyone.  I bet I'll be pretty tired by the end of the day.

Here are some photos of you today--32 weeks and 3 days.

Keep growing, baby!

31 Weeks

Dear Baby Hawley,

We are celebrating Labor Day with a picnic at the Paris house.  The weather has finally turned cooler!

Here you are at 31 weeks, 4 days.

Joey loves Baby

Dear Baby Hawley,

Joey loves you a lot these days.  Well, I know he loves the fact that I sit down more, which means a warm lap for him.  Here he is snuggling with us this afternoon.

I wonder how he will feel about you when you arrive and make noise for him....and grab his tail.  I bet he won't cuddle up so often.

30 Weeks

Dear Baby Hawley,

School is in full-swing and we are busy.  You continue to grow well.  I passed the 'sugar test,' so we don't have to worry about gestational diabetes.  We still get lots of exercise and eat our vegetables every day, so you are growing strong.

People at school are starting to comment on the fact that suddenly I am getting bigger.  You really look like a baby to them now, and everyone is excited to meet you...most of all your daddy and me!

Here you are at 30 weeks, 3 days.

28 Weeks

Dear Baby Hawley,

Time is rushing by.  We've hit 28 weeks and 3 days.  School is starting tomorrow and we are busy!  You continue to grow every day.  I cannot wear very many of my regular shirts anymore--I've been out shopping a lot lately.  When we went to school to for meetings last week, people were so excited to see how big my stomach is getting.  I am too!  With every bit that you grow, it shows you are healthy and that much closer to joining us.

I love you.