Our Growing Family

- 9 Months (Daddy told me to write that...)

Dear Adalyn,

To go back and tell your story, we have to go way back to the beginning. The day we found out that our lives as husband and wife would change forever. May 1st, 2012. The day we found out that you would bless our lives in just 9 short months. Your due date was on January 11, 2013.

We could not have been happier to find out that we were having a baby. We were so excited! 

The funny part is that when I told Daddy we were having a baby, he was really happy, and then he fell asleep. :) To be fair, he had just gotten home from work, but with all this excitement, WHO COULD SLEEP?!?!?! I still tease him about that. :)

We decided to keep you our little secret for a few weeks. It was very difficult for us not to say a peep. The same evening that we found out about you, we went to go visit Grandpa Rob in the hospital. (He had just had his hip replaced). 

Everyone at Aunt Mer's graduation. We had recently told them about your anticipated arrival, but we hadn't told any friends or extended family yet!

We wanted to tell everyone so badly, but we kept our secret for a little while.

When we told all of your grandparents, aunts, and uncles, everyone was very happy that a new little baby would be coming into their lives. 

When we announced it to all of our friends, we also put posts on Facebook...(Will that still be around???) 

This is what we each said:

Mommy wrote:

"Happy Anniversary, My Love! It has been a wonderful year, and I cannot wait for the next year ahead of us! Especially in January, when we become three!"

Daddy wrote:

"Wow! I can't believe it has already been an amazing year of being married to my best friend and my love! Now time to set the timer for January 11 of next year when we get to expand our home by two feet!"

Mommy and Daddy on their 1 year wedding anniversary. It was also the day we announced to all of our friends that we were having a baby.

 We had so many fun adventures with you while you were growing inside Mommy...

The first time we heard your heartbeat, we knew you would be a very strong and outgoing baby...

The midwife had warned us to not get worried if we did not hear your heartbeat right away; sometimes it could take several minutes. If we did not hear anything for a while, then we would need an ultrasound. 

You didn't need several minutes...

You didn't even need one minute. 

You made sure that your presence was known from the start. It only took a few seconds before we were hearing your heartbeat for the very first time. It was a very loud and strong heartbeat, as well. 

In fact, the midwife called you a "showoff." :)

At 20 weeks, we got to see you for the very first time in an ultrasound. This is when we found out we would be having a little girl. 

We even decided to play a game with Grandpa Rob, Grandma Carole, and Aunt Laura. We went out to dinner with them after we had our ultrasound. 

We brought the elephant with us (I am sure you will know this elephant while you are growing up, but if not, ask Mommy and Daddy what it is all about...), and we painted the bottom of a candle with the color pink. 

The fun part was that Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Laura had to wait until the candle melted enough to see the color on the bottom so that they could find out if you would be a boy or a girl!

Mommy and Daddy (and you!) a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

At 33 weeks, you decided to give us a little scare, so we all had to stay at the hospital in Neenah, WI. We were celebrating Thanksgiving with the Howard family. We should have known then that you wanted to make your presence known at every family event! The positive thing that came out of staying at the hospital was that Mommy and Daddy got to see you again in an ultrasound.

Our Christmas card for 2012. Ironic that this photo was taken a few weeks before Thanksgiving. It had a more literal sense after that...

After our stay in Neenah, we were just hoping that you would make it until Christmas before demanding that you be born. 

You were a good girl and stayed in...even if it was a little too long...  :)

Milo loved to snuggle with you every night.

Love you,

Mommy & Daddy