Dear Thumper: Week 39

Dear Thumper,

Come out come out wherever you are. We have toys and candy....

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 37

Dear Thumper,

You are all grown up now! Now you are just packin on the pounds...welcome to mommy's world :). You really are so big. My belly is like a rock...until you start your evening aerobics and try to fight your way out Alien style. I know it is cramped in there, but it will be over soon I promise. Tomorrow we go to see the Dr. Last week you were head down and growing like a big boy. He guessed you were around 6 lbs so far. I know you have gained this week too.

We have now finished our marathon of showers. You have all kinds of stuff. The girls at work made you personalized onesies! They are so cute and you will be adorable in them. You room is all done and all your clothes put away. Your seat is in the car, our bags are packed and now we are just waiting on you.

Daddy is giddy to meet you and I am ready to see my little prize fighter :)

We love you!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Dear Thumper: Week 36

Dear Thumper,
Hi! Mommy again. I realized I haven’t explained one of your nick names. Your Uncle Walter has dubbed you MOTF or Mann of the Future. The family is very excited to see you! Well I just wanted to get that out so you know…I have a feeling it will stick around for a little while. You even have an insurance policy in that name for now. So there ya go…MOTF…get used to it.

So people are always asking me if you are moving and some ask if they can feel you especially when I touch my belly in public. People like feeling you move and watching you move. Daddy still gets big eyes and super excited when you react to him fluttering his fingers. But I get to feel you all the time…inside and out like no one else. There is something very private about this part of pregnancy and by far my favorite part. No amount of heartburn or general hugeness can take that away. We play tag and sometimes you punch me in the ribs..but it is our special time. I am a little sad to know that I have less than 4 weeks left like this before I have to share you with everyone. I can’t tell you how much I love you…even though I have never seen you.

Ok now mommy made herself cry at work…not a wise option. See you soon!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 34

Dear Thumper,

Hey little fella. Guess what? We are on VACATION! I am up watching the doggies and thought I would write you a little note. This week has been another for firsts. We went on 2 boat rides! Daddy was worried about you getting too bumped around…I call it “conditioning”. We went out with the family to take the kids tubing. We rode up front and just watched of course. You seemed to like it because you were moving around. We also have been floating in the water. We figured you would like that. It was really wavy, so it probably put you to sleep. It felt really nice on a 97 degree day. Daddy tied us to the back of the sailboat so we wouldn’t float away…he is really nice like that. He is very excited to see you soon. We washed a lot of your clothes last week and I think he got even more excited when he helped fold them. We seem to have the essentials for you, so it would be ok if you came a little early. I want you to grow some more though. Dr. Seidel is guessing you will be 8 lbs! A good healthy baby. Next week we will get back to the pool. I know you like that. Mommy starts underwater kickboxing next week! Well see you soon little guy!

Love, Mommy

P.S. We think you have a name…but we aren’t telling just yet :)

Dear Thumper: Week 32

Dear Thumper,

Wow little mann, we are moving along. I am starting to worry a little because of all these babies coming early! You stay in there...or you will be grounded. Mommy and daddy want to see you really bad but you have more growing to do. You are getting closer to having a name but you will know when you get here :). we even resorted looking up your name in the urban dictionary today and you sounds pretty awesome ;).

You seem to be slowing down on kicking but you seem to like stretching out. I am getting stretched in 2 directions at once. I don't mind. I am not uncomfortable...no matter how many strangers assume so. I don't have bad heartburn, my back doesn't hurt and my ankles aren't too big yet. We played tag this week where I would poke you and you would poke back. It was fun :).

Well we have our first shower tomorrow in mommy's home town. Hopefully we can get some good eats!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 31

Dear Thumper,

No more excuses...Mommy just can't come up with something for each week. I wish I could come up with something witty and fun each week...but alas...mommy is lame. Well you are really growing. Last week it seemed like I couldn't grow fast enough to keep you happy. I felt pretty squished for a few days but you seem to have more room now. Right this moment, you seem to be practicing your kung fu on my internal organs. So far they are intact but I don't underestimate you and your fists of fury.

Last week we also went to the pool for the first time and it was fun. You seemed to like it. I was doing some walking before class and you just were moving all around. I wonder what it feels like to double float? We then went floating this weekend in the river. I put you in the tube and floated ...until a mean ole jellyfish stung me in the leg! Just glad it wasn't my belly.

Well keep growing and we will go see the Dr. on Thursday. Maybe I can find out where you are again!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 27

Dear Thumper,

Welp kiddo...you are already a bundle of wiggles. I need to get daddy on getting that video camera so I can record you squirming around in there. I swear last night you didn't stop moving for like 2 hours. Hope you are having a good time in there! But I have to warn you....you are making daddy pretty anxious. First he thinks I am squishing you and that it is making you mad and then he is just too darn excited to wait for you to get here. I told him you need to grow some more. We found that you like us humming SNL digital short songs at you last night. You would kick at daddy when he did it. I can't really get that close to you because of these feed bags I am growning for you.

Your room is almost done. Grandma ordered us a chair to snuggle in. Once that is here, we are pretty set. Daddy and I need to pick out your name so we can finish up your art. I also got you a pack and play to sleep and play in already and Leah is letting you borrow her stroller. We are really starting to collect some gear!

On an exciting note, I had my glucose test and I don't have gestational diabetes...so we get to eat all the lucky charms we want! We are almost in the last trimester and now we get to see the doctor every 2 weeks. I don't think that will be too exciting but at least we can make sure you are doing well.

Now goal for next week, lets keep growing together and keeping the mommy discomfort to a minimum. You get a gold star so far....

Love you kiddo,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 25/26

Dear Thumper,

So I am going to combine this week and next because I am just so busy! There is lots to do to prepare for you. Last week we went to the hospital to take a tour of where we will meet you. It was very exciting and Daddy is even more anxious for you to be here. You sure have been moving this past week. Saturday you were going crazy. I swear you were moving non-stop for like an hour! Daddy, Pop, and Uncle Preston got to see you make my belly move. You also have been kicking some organ and making mommy feel like she is on a rollercoaster. It is really wild! You also had a big growth spurt last week. I thought it was just me, but some other people noticed. You are starting to push my belly button out!

This week we are going to see another possible pediatrician for you. I will let you know how it goes. You just keep growing little one!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 24

Dear Thumper,

Ok so I am really running behind on this one. Tomorrow you turn 25 weeks and I am just now writing Week 24. SHEESH! Last week was very busy. Mommy has to get her stuff squared away so she can spend time with you when you get here! You even gave mommy a little scare last week when you didn’t move much. But I got home and hooked you up to the monitor and you were thumpin away. I guess you were just tired. Last night I felt you make a solid movement across my belly…not just a single kick. It was fun…you should do that again so daddy can feel. No rush though…soon enough you won’t be able to move around very much.

This weekend was your first trip to the river. We did lots of relaxing and playing with the doggies. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Johanna got you a Woodstock shirt! It is very cute and we can’t wait for you to wear it. I got to wear my new bathing suit to show you off in :). I also got some sun to help you not think I am a vampire when you come out.

Well hopefully I can write your next letter before the weekend!

Love,
Your Slacker Mom

Dear Thumper: Week 23

Dear Thumper,

Hey little one! You have been quite active this week. You seem to already be on a schedule. I can tell like clockwork that about 10:30, you will start moving. Then when my alarm goes off, you start wigglin :). It is so cute! I am still shopping for your room. I am trying to find us an awesome chair. I know we will spend lots of time in it. Your grandmas bought you some presents. They will be here when you are ready. I learned something neat this week in my reading. Apparently since you can hear, you can get used to everyday noises...like Jack barking and other people's voices! Neat! Hopefully Jack won't scare the crap out of you...if so...Dad can get that diaper ;).

I have started some prenatal yoga. It is supposed to help you and me both. Some of my moves are supposed to help you move around and go back to sleep. I am trying to give you as much variety as I can in that sac full of goo. I played some more music for you this week but I didn't get much of a reaction. Maybe you didn't like the choice jams of the day.

Well, as always, I hope you are happy and we can't wait to see you in just 17 weeks!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 22

Dear Thumper,

Happy 22 weeks…a little late. I promise I won’t do that for your birthdays. You just seem to be growing so fast. I introduced you to some music last week. I went out and got you your own set of headphones and I play music to my belly when I watch TV. Most people say listen to classical, but mommy and daddy don’t really do a lot of classical. I decided you needed to learn to listen to what we like. I have been monitoring your reactions when I play. So far you seem to like the band Keane. You kicked me a few times when one of their songs was going off. You seemed to like a few songs by Ben Folds and a Jimi Hendrix cover by John Mayer. I am avoiding anything too loud or rough…you will hear that in due time. We are going to make you one cool baby! Hope you are happy in there…and keep on kickin!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Thumper: Week 21

Dear Thumper,

Hi. I’m your mom :). I am sure you have heard me by now. I am the one with the high voice and providing you with limitless Lucky Charms. You sure do like sweet carbs (well at least that is what I am telling everyone else). You seemed to like the oatmeal I had last night because you let daddy feel you. He has the bigger hand. We were very excited to feel you move…we didn’t think we would for awhile. It made for a great night. You are an active little guy!

We can’t wait to meet you. Your family is super excited too. They have been sending you all kinds of gifts! Aunt Michele is even looking for some shorts for you to match hers. Daddy spent a long weekend painting your room. He was extra careful and it looks great for you. Mommy and her friends are working on a big mural for your room too. I hope you like it. We love you very much…even your big brother Jack. He is the one with the loud bark. He likes to take his toys into your room…I think you guys are going to get along great. Maybe we can get him a saddle for you .

We hope you are happy in there. You don’t seem to be taking it out on me if you aren’t. Sorry for the short torso…you can blame grandma for that. If you get hungry, just let me know what you want…I am really good at eating. Speaking of, I probably should go now and get some lunch…broccoli quiche today. I hope you like it. If not, you know the drill….just make mommy hate it :)

Love you,
Mommy

(21 weeks 1 day)