Dear Baby Girl,

Daddy and I have been getting serious about your name.  I think we have come up with our favorite name for you but are still working on a middle name.  We just know you will be an amazing little girl that will grow into an amazing woman and we want your name to be perfect for you.  We are just so excited to meet you.

Today we toured the hospital where you'll be born.  It's only 10 minutes away from our house, which will make it easy to get there once I go into labor.  Seeing the birthing rooms made everything so real.  It even made me a little nervous for labor because even though I'm so excited to meet you, I can't help but remember that labor hurts!  Mommy is going to try really hard to give you a drug free entrance into this world.  I just want to be sure that the experience is as positive and peaceful as possible for both of us.  Knowing how special the moment is when you are first in arms, will make all the pain worth it.  I love you so much and can't wait to kiss your little cheeks and smell that wonderful newborn smell.

I love you girl and can't wait to meet you in about 4 weeks!

Love always,

Mommy

As I was going through my teaching supplies, I pulled out some picture books that I thought Mia would enjoy and came across this gem, Alice The Fairy.  This is the cutest story about Alice, who thinks she is a fairy and can do all kinds of tricks with her magic wand.  I love the page that says, " My mom made cookies for my dad." The picture below shows what Alice does with those cookies.

After reading this story several times, Mia realized that she also has a wand and wings just like Alice.

 I took my little fairy to the park where she could reenact the story.

 Life is so much more fun...

 with a wand and

 wings.

As you already know from my earlier post, Mia is now 18 months old!  Today we had her 18 month appointment with our new pediatrician.  Mia kicked, screamed and cried anytime the nurse or doctor touched her.  Even weighing her and checking her height was quite the ordeal. Luckily, she calmed down between the checking so I could chat with the doctor.  Here is a little info about our 1 1/2 year old...

Height- 2' 7'' (47%)

Weight- 20lbs (3%)

Head circumference- 46'' (50%)

Diapers- Size 3

Clothes- 12-24months depending on the brand

 Favorite songs: The Wheels on the Bus and Itsy Bitsy Spider (Itsy Bits as Mia calls it)

Favorite colors: blue and pink

Mia now knows 7 colors: blue, red, yellow, green, pink, orange and white

Favorite toys: Her babies/stroller, Elmo stuffed animals, her dragon lacing toy and blocks

It's so fun watching Mia's personality shine through more and more each day.    

She learns quickly, loves her friends, loves mommy and daddy to be by her side, loves playing outside, going to story time at the library, going to the zoo and going on walks.

She is currently obsessed with buses, trucks and planes.

 She is talking up a storm and can usually tell me what she wants and needs.  

She loves having dance parties with daddy,

 kissing and hugging the baby in mommy's belly.

counting everything (one two, one two, one two),

  

being referred to as a big girl,

going down the BIG slide,

and saying hi to everyone.

 Yesterday was a big day at our house- I am 35 weeks along in my pregnancy and Mia turned 1 1/2!  We did a little 18 month photo shoot, which I will be sending out to family and friends.  I will also post the pictures online, but I'm going to wait until after Mia's 18 month appointment on Tuesday.  Here is one picture to hold you over...

Dear Sweet Girl,

Mommy started getting lots of things ready for you this week.  I did a deep clean of your room and I also washed all of the pieces to your car seat so it looks brand new.  I even started packing my bag for the hospital per Daddy's request.  I have a feeling you'll be early but you need to wait at least 3 more weeks to make sure you're strong and healthy.  This past week I have been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, which are just practice contractions but still make me realize that we are getting closer and closer to meeting you.  I've come to the conclusion this week, that you're going to be long, at least longer than your big sister.  When I was pregnant the first time, kicks and jabs were never really painful or startling, but yours are quite powerful.  Being that your sister was only 18.5 in at birth and according to my baby book, you could already be 20 in long, I'm guessing you'll be at least 20 in long when you are born.  I know that once you are born, I'll miss feeling your little feet poking through my stomach, so keep kicking and stretching.  Feeling your movement is one of the best feelings ever. I hope one day you get to experience what it's like to have a baby growing inside of you.  I love you sweet girl and can't wait to meet you in about 5 weeks!

Love always,

Mommy

 I feel like I get some of the best pictures on my cell phone.  They may not be the best quality but they're real pictures that capture everyday moments, which in my opinion are the best type of photos.  Here are cell phone pictures from the last few days...

Sunday

 Mia and Daddy being silly after bath time.

 Monday

 Crazy cool hair after playing in the ball pit!

Tuesday

 Looking too cute for words in her new swim suit.  No, our neighborhood pool is not open yet.  We went swimming at the rec center.

 Testing out her doll stroller.

 Mia's four favorite friends:  big baby, little baby, big Elmo and little Elmo (We are really creative with names around here!)

Wednesday

 Yesterday, my poor baby came down with something.  She was lethargic and ran a 102 temp.  I'm not going to lie, it was kind of sweet when she fell asleep on me.  We spent most of the day cuddling on the couch.

I'm happy to report that Mia is feeling much better today.  She doesn't have a fever and is actually playing with toys and smiling again.  

Dear baby girl,

You are still a very active baby.  Sometimes, your kicks even hurt a little bit, but I don't mind, it just reminds me that you are growing big and strong.  I know I will miss your kicks and feeling your body inside of me after you are born.  It even seems as though you are already trying to play with your big sister.  Whenever she sits on my lap for a story, you start kicking. Either, you want her attention or you like hearing me read.  I do hope you love books because we read a lot of books in our house and I can't wait to read to you after you are born.

I had a doctors appointment last week and your heart rate was perfect.  The sound of your heart beating is music to my ears.  Also, mommy's belly measured exactly at 33 weeks, which is how far along I was at the appointment.  I hope this means you'll arrive near your due date.  Today I told your daddy that you will be here in about 6 weeks and it sounded so soon!  The next 6 weeks will go so fast and before we know it, I will have a little baby to snuggle and love.  Oh, I can't wait to see you, hold you and nurse you!  We still don't know your name, but I promise you will have one when you are born.  See you in 6 weeks sweet girl!

Love always,

Mommy

 The wind blew just as Joe snapped this picture.  Besides the fact that I look incredibly tired, I felt like a pregnant model for a second! : )

Mia is still doing an awesome job sleeping in her toddler bed at night.  Once we put her down for the night, she stays in her bed until the morning.  I like the fact that once she wakes up in the morning, she will play in her room for quite some time while I catch a few more zzz's.

 Nap time has been a different story.  Mia gets out of bed and plays with toys instead of falling asleep.  Yesterday, I decided that she was going to take a nap and I was going to do everything in my power to make it happen.  I sat outside her bedroom door and anytime I heard her move, I peeked in, and if she was sitting up or trying to get out of bed, I stopped her with a very firm voice before she had a chance to move.  I felt so bad being mean, but it worked and I know she will be a happier/healthier toddler with a good nap!  She fell asleep after me opening her door 3 times in about 15 min.  Discipline takes such diligence, which is why I believe it's so easy for parents to give up.  So, I am writing this to be held accountable.  I will sit outside Mia's door until she falls asleep as many days as I have to until she learns that getting out of her bed during nap time is disobeying mommy and will result in a consequence (right now that consequence is just a firm voice, which seems to be working for the moment.)  Toy removal will be next, if it comes to that.  Wish me luck!

We had so much fun celebrating Easter this weekend.  Joe had class on Friday this week, so we were able to spend all day Saturday and Sunday together.   We had a very busy, but fun, two days!  It's so crazy to think that our little family of 3 will soon be a family of 4!

Us at our neighborhood Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning.  Mia had a lot of fun picking up eggs and putting them in her basket.  The HOA hid dumped 14,000 eggs at the park by our house.  7,000 were for kids 5 and under, which was nice so Mia didn't get attacked by big kids.  It's crazy how fast all those eggs were picked up!

 I just love my shadow in this picture. Check out that bump!!

 Mia and Daddy anxiously waiting to start.

Go Mia, go!!

We played at the park before heading home for nap time.

 After nap time, we decorated Easter eggs.  Mia really liked putting stickers on the eggs.

 

 Mia's Elmo themed Easter basket.  Even though she's never watched Sesame Street, this girl loves Elmo.  (The obsession started after I showed Mia this Youtube video....I'm Elmo and I Know It).

 Easter morning.

 All dressed up for church.

 We had a really nice Easter dinner with Joe's Aunt, Uncle and Cousins.  Mia had so much fun playing and showing off.