{Dear Little Mister}

Hey Little Mister!

This is my very first letter to you and I am super excited to finally be writing you! We will be 22 weeks along this pregnancy tomorrow and that means one more week closer to meeting you. Your Daddy, Ivy, and I are so ready!!! I have already seen you about 4 or 5 times and you are growing so much so fast! I am amazed at the whole pregnancy process all over again! The way God created the woman's body and her ability to grow a baby is just perfect to me!! Right now I am laying on the couch with your sister asleep beside me and I am trying to imagine what my life is going to be like in about four months with you added to our family. It might be chaos at first but I know once we establish a good routine, we will be good to go! I am so excited about having you, SON! When we went to see what we were having a few weeks ago, I was so hoping and praying for a little boy and I know your Daddy was too. When we saw that you were indeed a little mister, your Dad didn't even believe it at first but there was no denying what we saw on the screen...If you know what I mean! :) I still can't believe God choose me to be your Mama! I am so blessed to have one of each! I do hope that you and Ivy have a good relationship like I have with my little brothers. We may have fought a lot when we were younger but now that we are older, we are like best friends! I know Ivy is going to love having you around! She loves babies and is always kissing my round belly and saying "baby" and loving on you. She treats her babydoll with such love and makes sure that they are ok. I know she will be that loving towards you as well. Our entire family is excited to have you along! Just 4 more months and I can hold you in my arms!! I love you so much already!

Love,

Your Mama

{Dear Ivy}

My sweet Ivy,

I haven't made the time to write to you in a while. I am sorry I have been too busy. Mainly chasing you around the house and playing with your Little People and watching TinkerBell with you. Our days at home are exhausting, hilarious, enjoyable, and rewarding. I am blessed to have the ability to be a mom who gets to stay home all day everyday with her little girl. I couldn't imagine having to drop you off at someones house or daycare and go to work. I would be so devastated. I love spending all my time with you Booger!

We don't have to do much to have fun! We got you a toddler swimming pool a few weeks ago and you absolutely love playing in the water! It's super fun to watch you get more and more brave each day. You put one ear in the water at a time. Then you lower your face into the water to blow and make bubbles. BUBBLES are your favorite! Sometimes we go to the park and let you slide and swing. It's been a little too hot to do much outside. I took you to MegaPlay the other day and you loved the ball pit more than anything. Painting has become a very messy but fun project for us to do. You love mixing the colors together! You love playing with E. Ellie will get one of her toys and get you to chase her around the house. Y'all are best friends.

You have learned how to do some new things here lately. You are a very good climber.  Unfortunately. You are definitely right handed. You have went poopy in your potty once! You can almost put your shoes on by yourself. You think anything in a cup is either tea or coffee. You LOVE coffeeeee.  Just like your Mama.

It amazes me how much you have grown the past few months. You are such a smart girl, Ivy. You surprise me everyday with the little bits of knowledge you pick up. I watch you sometimes when you are in deep thought or you're concentrating really hard on something. Your facial expressions crack me up! You are a character.

The last two weeks we have been weaning you from breastfeeding AND crib training you. Both have been difficult but you have done so well!!! We are down to only one nursing sesh right before I put you in your crib. You take naps in your crib as well. Daddy or I have to be right next to you holding your hand before you fall asleep. We have even had to adjust not having you to cuddle up to at night. It's a sad transition for all of us I believe. You still wake up around 1-3AM and I go and get you out of the crib and bring you into own bed most days. You curl up right next to me and makes my heart smile! I love waking up to your big green eyes and sweet smile!

Ivy you are my everything. I can't imagine my life without you. You are one of God's greatest blessings to me. He created you so perfectly. So smart. So sweet. You're perfect. Even on our rough days you are perfect to me. (Usually I just blame it on teething.) I hate that you are getting so independent now. You rely on me less and less, but you are still a Mama's girl.

The last few days you have been extra clingy (due to teething...I think...) and at times I just get annoyed by it but most of the time I soak it up because I know it won't last long. There will come a time when you won't want to be held and cuddled... BUT until then I will LOVE on you every second I can! You will always be my little girl.

Ivy I love you with all of my heart.

XO

Mama

{Dear Ivy}

My Dearest Ivy,

You are 11 weeks old today. My goodness the time has flown by since you came into my world. My life has been nothing like I imagined it would be. It's better!! You are such a blessing to me. Each and every day I look at you thinking how I went 23 years without you. As I watch you sleep in your swing, I count the ways my life is different now. I no longer sleep 8-9 hours straight. I get up every 4 hours or so to feed you and to put a new diaper on your bum. I don't always get out of the house like I did before. (Mainly because we only have one car and I hate taking your Daddy to work at 5 am)

I'm perfectly happy staying at home though. I get to spend all day every day with you! 

I have a little more laundry to do than I did before you were born but I rather have a load of cloth diapers to wash than spending who knows how much money on disposable diapers. 

I don't always get to do the things I want to do when I want to do them, but I am okay with this. Like this morning when I had just poured my milk onto my cereal, you decided that you were hungry also... So the cereal had to wait and after you were full I went to eat my cereal but it had become a very nasty mushy mess and not very yummy looking so I did without. 

I'm ok with still having to drink decaf coffee although somedays I allow myself a treat to one caffeinated drink! 

My pants started fitting about a month after you you were born but my tops have yet to fit like they used to. My 'Ladies' are a lot more voluptuous than before so not many of my bras and tops fit but I am okay with this as well. I rather give you the most nutritious milk right from my body than have my clothes fit the right way. 

These are just minor ways my life is different now. I can't describe the happiness I have in my heart because of you. I can't tell you how thankful I am that God chose me to be your Mommy. My love for you is also indescribable. I would do anything for you. You are my daughter and my greatest treasure! You mean the world to me and your Daddy. Don't ever forget that. I love you sweet girl and I have to go now so I can feed you! 

Love Always & Forever

Mama

P.S. Please stop growing so fast!!!  

  

{Dear Ivy}

Dear Ivy,

You will be three weeks old tomorrow and I can't tell you how amazing these past few weeks have been now that you are in my life. I have never been this happy in my entire life and it's been such a joy watching your every move. You have completely changed my life and I give the good Lord all of the credit. The first few months of my pregnancy I was so terrified that something was going to happen to you. I can't tell you how many times I asked God to keep you safe and healthy in my belly. I had friends praying all over the world for you and I. Every time I went to the doctor I would pray that they find your strong heartbeat and see you growing healthy and you did! God was there with us the entire time and I am so grateful for that. Ivy He made you so perfect and so beautiful! You look just like your Daddy only much prettier! Your eyes are turning more blue everyday. Last week at your 2 week appointment you weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces. You are growing so fast and you already look so different from the day you were born. 

Your Grammy came to Italy the day after you were born. She fell in love with you the moment she saw your pretty face. She would sing to you and you would just stare at her and listen to her lullaby songs. You wouldn't burp with anyone else but her. She has that magic touch I suppose. She was a huge help to me. I would get her to hold you while you were awake at night so I could get a little bit of rest. Grammy got to spend 18 days with us and we had the best time! You got to travel at just 10 days old to Venice, Italy! You slept pretty much the whole time we were there. You just woke up to eat and get a diaper change. We are lucky that you are a good traveler! Last weekend we took you Verona! I forgot the Moby wrap to put you in so we had to buy a new sling for you and we actually like it better than the wrap. Your Daddy loves to carry you around and show you off to the world. He is a very proud Daddy. You already have him wrapped around your little pinky. He loves you so much Ivy. He is already the world's best Daddy! 

Then Sunday the 15th came and we had to say the hardest goodbye ever to your Grammy. I hated seeing her hold you for the last time and tears building in her eyes. That was the hardest thing I think Grammy and I have ever done. We have already skyped her once since she left. Your Grammy is my best friend. I pray that one day you and I can have a relationship like she and I have. We have always been super close. I hope to be half the mother she is to me and my brothers. I promise I am trying my best to be the best Mommy I can be. As you sit in your swing all bundled up, I am so thankful that God picked me to be your Mommy. You look so peaceful right now. I love you so much Ivy. You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me! Never forget that I love you more than anything! 

Love Always & Forever,

Mama

{Dear Ivy}

Dear Ivy,

I am finally able to scream your name to the world! We have waited so long to announce your name and after having pictures done, we were finally able to let everyone know the name Daddy and I chose for you. I know it will be a name you are proud of. It means so much to me and I hope it will to you too someday. Your first name we got from a very good friend of ours. She is one Godly, smart, hilarious, passionate woman and I hope you are something like her one day. She is a very bright light for Jesus in this dark world. She loved the fact that we chose her name to be our daughter's name as well. You will meet her one day and you will love her just like everyone else who comes face to face with her. 

Your middle name, Victoria, is not only the same middle name as me but the same one your Grammy has too! It's a very special name to me and I knew when I was a little girl that if I ever gave birth to a girl her middle name would be Victoria. It was a given. Now your Great Papa named your Grammy and he says, "You might say it goes back to my grandpa whose name was Arthur Victor, so Amanda Victoria could be a take off, anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.....". 

So you see both your first and middle name are very special and means a lot to me. 

You will be 38 weeks tomorrow! I can not believe how fast this pregnancy has pasted. I am sad that I won't be feeling your tiny feet kick my ribs or your sweet little punches for much longer. But something tells me I am gonna love tickling those little toes even more on the outside! Sweet Ivy I am beyond ready for your arrival. I am so ready to hold you and to give you warm kisses. Your Daddy is so ready to swaddle you up and cuddle you in his arms. Your sister, Ellie, is so curious to see who gets to have all these cool new clothes and stuffed animals. We are all just waiting for you! I know The Lord has already set in stone what day you will arrive and you won't come a second too soon or too late. It will be the perfect time! I just need the patience to sit here and wait on you! :)

I promise you I will do my very best to be the Mommy you need me to be. I have never been a mother before (other than to Ellie) but I can tell you this... I was put on this Earth to be a Mommy! YOUR MOMMY!!! I have had so many people from all over the world pray for you to happen and we have been through a lot to get to this point in our lives. I will tell you all about it when you are older. Just know that your Daddy and I have wanted you for a very long time it seems like and we are almost there! Just a matter of days! God totally knows what He is doing. His timing is always perfect even if we don't think it is sometimes. My daughter I am praying for you!!!! I love you with every inch of my heart! You are so loved by so many people. Never forget that!!! 

Love Always,

Mommy.

{Letter To My Daughter}

My Daughter,

It is only a matter of weeks until you make your debut into this world. I can't express my joy and excitement enough! Your kicks are getting very strong and are getting into my rib cage. You feel a lot lower than usual so I know you are getting into position for labor and delivery. Your Daddy and I have been to three Childbirth Classes and have learned a lot about how to take care of you and what to expect the first few months of your life. They had us watch live birth videos and your Daddy told me that he was so scared for me. I won't say i'm not scared, but I am more anxious than anything I think. I am just so ready to meet you and hold you in my arms! Your Daddy told me one day this past weekend that I was a very happy looking pregnant lady. I told him it was because I have wanted you for so long now and nothing can make me sad or angry enough to ruin that for me. This pregnancy has been nothing but a huge blessing to me! Even the little bit of morning sickness and fatigue I had in the first trimester were worth every second. I remember praying that God would allow me to experience every side effect of pregnancy. I wanted to know that this pregnancy was going to be different and that everything was going to ok. The Lord answered that prayer for me and for that I am so grateful! I have had a pretty easy pregnancy I think. My least favorite part is the heartburn I still continue to get. By far my favorite part though is feeling you move inside my belly. That I know I will miss more than anything! When you get the hiccups I watch my belly jump and I swear it looks like there's a little frog in there just'a hopping around! I love it! I will be 34 weeks tomorrow so we only have two weeks till you are fully developed and can come into this world any day after that!!! I can't believe it is so soon!!! You are so loved already! Your Daddy is so ready for you to be here. He told me last night that he is so excited to have you and that you are all his! He is going to be the best Daddy EVER! I knew that though back when we were dating. He is already wrapped around your little finger! I hope to be the most amazing Mama to you. I have an amazing mother who I have watched my whole life and taken mental notes from on being a mom. She was the greatest example so i'm pretty confident in myself! Speaking of your Grammy, her and your Great Aunt are coming over to Italy all the way from Georgia to meet you! They are planning on coming on Thanksgiving Day so that will be so nice to have some family be with us on a special holiday! I wonder what day you will be born on... If you are born on the 29th of November you will share a birthday with your Papa Ru and that would be so special! He would love for his first grandbaby to be born on his birthday! So we shall wait and see! You just come whenever you are ready but know that Mommy and Daddy are very ready and excited to see you!! :) Oh we go November 3rd to take maternity pictures! I am pretty excited about that because that is how we are going to announce your name to the world! Everyone is very anxious to know your name and I am ready to yell it from the rooftop! You have a beautiful name and it means the world to me and I know it will to you too someday. It's a strong yet sweet name. It will suit you perfectly! I love you to pieces and I am so ready to meet you!

With all my heart,

Mommy

{Letters to GummyBear}

My Sweet Little Girl,

                 We have had a very exciting week! A week ago we were on a plane from Italy to the USA to surprise our family and boy did we EVER! Friday morning as I walked into your Grammy's office, my heart was just pounding away with anticipation. When she saw me for the first time, "Oh my gosh!" was the only thing out of her mouth! It was a priceless moment that I will never ever forget! Tears in both of our eyes and smiles all around. She was so happy to finally see me in person with you in my belly. She still gets tears in her eyes just thinking of that day. Then we went to Menlo School to get your Uncle Jon out of class. I walked into his classroom and asked for Jonathan Hammett and when he first saw me he said, "Oh," and then another big, "OH!!!" He started crying and that made me start crying and then we had to leave the room to cry some more. It was a sweet surprise for him! After that we headed to my Granny and Papa's house. Your Great Granny knew because she is stubborn and had to be told otherwise she was not going to come home from Eufaula, Al. 

                 Anyways we got to their house and I walk in and Papa is fussing at Aunt Jacque and then asks why the front door is wide open and then my Mama tells him to look at the door and when he saw me he stepped back and took off his glasses! I gave him a big hug and asked how he was and he replied, "I'm fine now." And then he said, "I'm getting too old for surprises!" :) It was great! Granny was just-a waiting for her turn for a huge hug! I called her stubborn and held her tight! Later on that day your Grandpa came over and as I predicted he rang the door bell at Granny's house and you should have seen his face when I opened the door! He was so shocked! He said, "Well hey girl," as he always does but then he really realized I was HOME! And then he says, "Well what are you doing here!?" :) I loved it! I loved getting to surprise all of my family like that! They all love getting to see me with my big belly. Mama, Granny, Jon, and Jacque have all gotten to feel your little kicks and rolls! Mama says she wants to feel you move every day that I am here! 

                Sunday came and I had Amber (my best friend and your Auntie) to surprise! I walked in the church doors and she sees me from across the room and throws her hands up so surprised and started walking my way and tears just coming down her face. I gave her a big hug and said, "Surprise!" She and everyone else in the church was shocked to see me and my belly bump. It was a great day! Then on Tuesday I got to surprise another one of my best friends (another one of your Aunties), Kayla. She was working at Bonnie's Restaurant and my Mama, Granny and Tammy walk in and get seated first and then I walk in a minute later and she starts crying too and gives me a big hug! Totally surprised! :) I have come to the conclusion that I kinda like making people cry as long as its the good kind... Happy tears!!! 

                Your Daddy and sister, Ellie, are back in Italy and boy do I miss them so very much!!! I got to Skype your Daddy for almost a hour the other day and it was very exciting, even though it's only been like 5 days since I've seen him. This is really the first time we have been apart for more than a day and a night since he got back from Afghanistan. He starts training here soon and won't be home very much except for at nights so I really wouldn't be getting to see much of him anyways. He was actually the one to really encourage me to come home. I am so glad he talked me into coming and spending time with family! :) Your Daddy is one AWESOME guy and is so excited about you! And Ellie will love you to pieces! She will most likely poke her nose around you at first but after getting to know you, she will try to give you kisses all the time!!! :) Only 13 weeks till your due date and just 9 weeks till you are full term! We are all getting super excited about your arrival! I can't wait till I get to hold you in my arms!!! I hope you know how much you are loved already! 

Love Always and Forever,

Your Mommy. 

{Letters to GummyBear}

My Sweet Little Girl!!!!

I am so very excited to finally know what you are! Your Daddy and I am so blessed to be your parents and we can't wait till we meet you! We are 99% sure on your name but going to wait just a little bit longer till we announce it. When we went to the ultrasound this week I was so nervous and excited at the same time. I had to go downtown Vicenza at the hospital because the Ultrasound Tech on post moved... The lady that did the U/S was great! She was very thorough and took lots of pictures of you which I loved! You are already a little southern lady cause you had your legs crossed and you looked like a boxer the way you had your hands in front of your face. You have your Daddy's jawline for sure! I can't wait till you are here!! We have approximately 19 weeks left! Woo hoo!!! Baby girl I am so very thankful that you are growing healthy and strong. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways in the past year and I am so grateful! I love you so very much and I pray that you continue to kick and roll around and have a good time in my belly and that you are happy and healthy! 

 Mama 

{Letters to GummyBear}

My Sunshine,

I felt you move inside me today! You were very active and I know without a doubt that what I felt was you and not gas bubbles! Even Daddy got to feel you kick! We have waited a while for this day and it finally came and we couldn't be happier! Praise The Lord! I hope you were smiling as much as I was today! Mama and Daddy love you so much sweetie!

Mama

{Letters to GummyBear}

My tiny sweet potato,

I can't tell you how anxious I am to know what you are. 

We are to find out on the 17th of this month. 

I still don't know whether or not I want to know right then or wait to have a gender reveal party and find out with my friends. Decisions decisions! 

Right now you are about 6 inches and weigh half a pound! 

You are now able to yawn, hiccup, and kick mama. I want to feel those tiny kicks so bad and sometimes I think I feel them but I also know that gas bubbles can feel like baby kicks...

So I honestly have no clue if what I feel is really you or not but I hope to know for sure really soon!

You are starting to make Mama's belly really poke out and making Daddy smile every time he sees me. 

We love you so much and we haven't even met you yet!

You are going to change our lives forever and we are so blessed to be the parents of such a tiny miracle from God. I pray that I can be the mother that you deserve; 

One that you can be best friends with like my Mama (your Grammy) and I. 

I promise I will do my very best at raising you in a Godly home full of love, happiness, and smiles.

You are my greatest blessing from the Lord and I thank Him everyday for being your Mommy! 

Can't wait to meet you GummyBear! 

I love you! 

Mama

{Letters to GummyBear}

My sweet little GummyBear,

It was about 13 weeks ago that I found out you were growing in my belly. 

I'm not gonna lie, I was a little scared at first, 

but I have given all my fears and worries over to the Lord.

I know He is with us both so I have nothing to worry about now.

I have seen you about 5 times now on the ultrasound machine. 

Words can't express the joy and excitement I felt the day I first saw you move! 

I was about 12 weeks along and you were waving to us and kicking up a storm! 

I can't wait till I actually feel those kicks. The doctor says I won't feel 

you move till about 20 weeks or so. I hope it's sooner. 

I get my last ultrasound at about 20 weeks and I am praying you are sitting

in the right position so we can tell whether you are a girl or boy!

Please be good for Mama and Daddy that day!!!!

We wanna start calling you by your name already. We have had your name picked out

for a while now and are super excited to finally use it.  

GummyBear is good for now.

Your Daddy wants you to be a boy so badly and insists on calling you one already. 

I have no guess as to what you are. I am about the only one that doesn't. 

I don't care as long as you are a healthy baby. 

I do hope you have my big brown eyes and your Daddy's ears. 

Either way you are going to be the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world to me. 

I can't wait to meet you. We still have a ways to go. 4 more weeks and 

we will be half way there! I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by! 

Well my darling I will stop for now. 

Know that I love you more than anything and

 I thank God for you every single day! 

You really are my blessing from above. 

Love Always,

Mommy