dear baby

we are ready for you. well, as ready as we'll ever be. you have been growing for 39 weeks, and we are so excited to meet you. i know God will bring you into this world at the perfect time, and so i am trying really hard to be patient for your birthday. you have been squirming around a lot and making me feel pretty uncomfortable. you are running out of room in there, so why not just come out? there's lots of space out here.

i cry when i think about the joy i will feel when holding you for the first time and hearing your first cry. when i say this, your dad smiles because he feels the same way. your skin is going to be so soft! i am also very excited to see those little feet and toes of yours. we aren't very hopeful you'll have much hair because both your parents didn't have any at birth, but bald is beautiful and quintessentially baby.

here is the rocking chair we will sit in and rock you and sing to you. when you are a little older, i will read lots and lots of books to you in this chair.

some pictures of dad and me when we were little

daddy placed my bridesmaid bouquet from your aunt susie's wedding in a vase and put it in your room. he is thoughtful and sweet when it comes to things like this. i think you will really like your pops.

your crib is all set up and your lambie-blanket awaits you

your papa installed a hook in the door so i can hang up the diaper bag that aunt susie bought for us!

here is your drawer of newborn diapers, body wash, lotion, socks, hats, and other cute accessories

these are your newborn, 0-3, and 3-6 month clothes. your dad insisted on the batgirl onesie. once i know how fast or not fast of a grower you will be, i will have fun buying you more clothes.

this is your toys/monitor/miscellaneous drawer. dad had fun setting up the baby monitor that uncle jared and auntie corinne bought for you. consider yourself monitored, baby!

here is your growing collection of adorable dresses from miss amy, auntie naomi, auntie susie, and miss amybeth:

your growing library of board books...and somehow the diaper genie refills got in the pile, too.

your adorably tiny newborn diapers that make me swoon...for now...they will not be cute when filled with your treasures.

the nice ups guy left this on the landing today! (thanks, grandma k and grandpa d)...this pack 'n play has a bassinet and changing area on it so that you can sleep upstairs with us for the first couple weeks...but you will be taking your naps in your crib.

we even planted some pink flowers for your homecoming!

also, dad put his flip camera, other camera, chargers, etc. in a plastic bag so that when it is time to leave for the hospital, we can throw it into the hospital bag! last night we watched a little video on how to properly install an infant car seat, and then your dad installed it safely and securely into the back seat. it will look a lot cuter with YOU in it!

we picked a Bible passage for you. we are continuing a tradition that your grandpa drake started with his own kids. when each child was born, he "gave" us a Bible verse/passage that we later learned to memorize when we were old enough to memorize. jared's is proverbs 3:5-6; mine is isaiah 41:10; luke's is lamentations 3:22, 23; and susie's is jeremiah 29:11. we decided on psalm 36:7-9 for you. it is your parents' hope that this verse will speak to you throughout your life: when you are feeling sad or scared or, when you feel like you have to earn God's love (you don't), or when you are short on feeling hope.

psalm 36:7-9

how precious is your steadfast love, o God!
  the children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
they feast on the abundance of your house,
  and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
for with you is the fountain of light;
  in your light do we see light.