October 16, 2008
Dear baby Cal,
How are you? I am so happy that someday soon I’ll get to meet you. I wonder if you’ll have a fuzzy head of hair and huge blinking blue eyes or a bald head and curious green eyes. Whatever you look like, I know you’ll be perfect. I’ve already fallen in love with you.
Do you know that we already play games? Mainly you kick me and I smile to myself, or you push with your feet and hands and I’ll touch you gently from outside. Often, you hiccup so it feels like a tiny earthquake rumbling inside my tummy (it kind of tickles!). Other times you are a boxer, others, a graceful dancer. You get stronger every week. You are so active these days. When I’m on the bus early in the morning, you’re already busy doing acrobats. You’re favorite time is after dinner when I’m relaxing (and you’re having a great feast!) and dad massages my stomach and we both smile and laugh at the thought and feel of you rolling around in your home. That is my favorite time too.
In fact, many people love putting their hands on my belly to feel you kicking. It is their first connection with you, so it brings so much joy to their faces. I’m so lucky that I get to spend everyday with you.
Sometimes I think of you as an astronaut, weightless and bouncing around in my stomach, restricted only by your umbilical cord. At this point (27 weeks) I already know you can hear my voice and dad’s voice, which is amazing. I also read today that you are sleeping regularly, opening and closing your eyes, and sucking your fingers! You’re also practicing your breathing for when you make the journey outside and take your first breath of air. Although I am so eager to hold you and meet you, I hope and pray you get to relax and grow in my tummy for many more months so you can be big and strong.
I hope you like cereal, peanut butter, salad, plums, apples, burritos, and a little chocolate here and there because these are some of the foods I love to eat. I also drink lots of orange and pomegranate juice, yum! As you grow, my stomach grows too. When I glance in the mirror, it appears I’m hiding a balloon under my shirt, but it’s really you in there. I love providing a warm and safe home for you until you’re ready to see the world.
I still can’t believe the miracle that you are. But I am so glad that we picked each other. When I first found out that I was pregnant, you were the size of a poppy seed and now you’re more than 14 inches long and weigh 2 pounds – like a head of cauliflower. And you’ll only grow bigger!
You are such a wonderful blessing. Keep on bopping and bouncing around and I’ll see you in a couple of months, when I can finally shower you with kisses.
Love always,
mom
October 19, 2009
How are you? I am so happy that someday soon I’ll get to meet you. I wonder if you’ll have a fuzzy head of hair and huge blinking blue eyes or a bald head and curious green eyes. Whatever you look like, I know you’ll be perfect. I’ve already fallen in love with you.
Do you know that we already play games? Mainly you kick me and I smile to myself, or you push with your feet and hands and I’ll touch you gently from outside. Often, you hiccup so it feels like a tiny earthquake rumbling inside my tummy (it kind of tickles!). Other times you are a boxer, others, a graceful dancer. You get stronger every week. You are so active these days. When I’m on the bus early in the morning, you’re already busy doing acrobats. You’re favorite time is after dinner when I’m relaxing (and you’re having a great feast!) and dad massages my stomach and we both smile and laugh at the thought and feel of you rolling around in your home. That is my favorite time too.
In fact, many people love putting their hands on my belly to feel you kicking. It is their first connection with you, so it brings so much joy to their faces. I’m so lucky that I get to spend everyday with you.
Sometimes I think of you as an astronaut, weightless and bouncing around in my stomach, restricted only by your umbilical cord. At this point (27 weeks) I already know you can hear my voice and dad’s voice, which is amazing. I also read today that you are sleeping regularly, opening and closing your eyes, and sucking your fingers! You’re also practicing your breathing for when you make the journey outside and take your first breath of air. Although I am so eager to hold you and meet you, I hope and pray you get to relax and grow in my tummy for many more months so you can be big and strong.
I hope you like cereal, peanut butter, salad, plums, apples, burritos, and a little chocolate here and there because these are some of the foods I love to eat. I also drink lots of orange and pomegranate juice, yum! As you grow, my stomach grows too. When I glance in the mirror, it appears I’m hiding a balloon under my shirt, but it’s really you in there. I love providing a warm and safe home for you until you’re ready to see the world.
I still can’t believe the miracle that you are. But I am so glad that we picked each other. When I first found out that I was pregnant, you were the size of a poppy seed and now you’re more than 14 inches long and weigh 2 pounds – like a head of cauliflower. And you’ll only grow bigger!
You are such a wonderful blessing. Keep on bopping and bouncing around and I’ll see you in a couple of months, when I can finally shower you with kisses.
Love always,
mom
October 19, 2009
Dear Cal,
How are you?
Last week I found a letter I wrote to you when you were in my tummy. I wrote it one year ago. I cannot believe how remarkable you are and how both our lives have changed since I wrote that first letter. I’m writing you another letter so that I can marvel next year at the beautiful arch of your growth. I will try to write to you each October. As the leaves change colors and season turns cooler, I’ll think about you and your cycles and changes.
A year ago I wondered about your looks – now I know you do have fuzzy hair and huge blinking blue eyes. Although I guessed that, I didn’t know how expressive those bright blue eyes would be or how funny and captivating you’d act with your smirks and your toothy grins. Or how soft that peach fuzz head would feel.
The shapes of your eyes are similar to mine – little almond lakes protected by your long black lashes. Their blue color takes breaths away. I remember now that your Nana had a dream you’d have eyes like mine. Your mouth reminds me of your Uncle Ryan – especially when your lips are shut and you’re acting noble or serious. I think you have your dad's height and itch to tinker with things ... that's just the tip of the iceberg. You express bits of all of us, yet you are your own beautiful you.
You’re a curious little boy. A lot of people use the word “aware,” meaning they think you’re paying attention and tuning into what’s going on. Many adults lose this ability, so it is a gift to watch you watch the world.
Last year I wrote about the games we played when I poked at your feet as they pushed on my belly. We play so many games now. You like peek-a-boo with blankets and you also chase after us when we peek out from behind things. We roll on the floor together and explore everything down to the zipper on my sweater. Your favorite toys are not really toys, but kitchen objects. You also like buttons and pulling drawers open. Anytime there’s something new, you crawl straight toward it. You are quick. I have to jog after you. You want to play with the phone and remote control, and grab at them every chance although they are off limits. You play drums on oatmeal containers, boxes. You chew on all kinds of spoons and other things and then drop them on the floor and watch us pick them up. Then you drop them again.
Your Nana cares for you most mornings during the week; your Nana and Pops take you on walks every morning. At their house, you like to pet the little doggies, play drums on many surfaces and watch Nana vacuum. Lights make you light up, and you really appreciate Nana's twinkly string lights that dangle over the entranceway.
How are you?
Last week I found a letter I wrote to you when you were in my tummy. I wrote it one year ago. I cannot believe how remarkable you are and how both our lives have changed since I wrote that first letter. I’m writing you another letter so that I can marvel next year at the beautiful arch of your growth. I will try to write to you each October. As the leaves change colors and season turns cooler, I’ll think about you and your cycles and changes.
A year ago I wondered about your looks – now I know you do have fuzzy hair and huge blinking blue eyes. Although I guessed that, I didn’t know how expressive those bright blue eyes would be or how funny and captivating you’d act with your smirks and your toothy grins. Or how soft that peach fuzz head would feel.
The shapes of your eyes are similar to mine – little almond lakes protected by your long black lashes. Their blue color takes breaths away. I remember now that your Nana had a dream you’d have eyes like mine. Your mouth reminds me of your Uncle Ryan – especially when your lips are shut and you’re acting noble or serious. I think you have your dad's height and itch to tinker with things ... that's just the tip of the iceberg. You express bits of all of us, yet you are your own beautiful you.
You’re a curious little boy. A lot of people use the word “aware,” meaning they think you’re paying attention and tuning into what’s going on. Many adults lose this ability, so it is a gift to watch you watch the world.
Last year I wrote about the games we played when I poked at your feet as they pushed on my belly. We play so many games now. You like peek-a-boo with blankets and you also chase after us when we peek out from behind things. We roll on the floor together and explore everything down to the zipper on my sweater. Your favorite toys are not really toys, but kitchen objects. You also like buttons and pulling drawers open. Anytime there’s something new, you crawl straight toward it. You are quick. I have to jog after you. You want to play with the phone and remote control, and grab at them every chance although they are off limits. You play drums on oatmeal containers, boxes. You chew on all kinds of spoons and other things and then drop them on the floor and watch us pick them up. Then you drop them again.
Your Nana cares for you most mornings during the week; your Nana and Pops take you on walks every morning. At their house, you like to pet the little doggies, play drums on many surfaces and watch Nana vacuum. Lights make you light up, and you really appreciate Nana's twinkly string lights that dangle over the entranceway.
You are mostly on the move but you are silent and still when you’re in the stroller on walks, watching the world so intently. You seem to like being in the backyard on a blanket in the grass or playing on a swing at the park, which makes you laugh. When you were a younger baby you enjoyed watching the leaves in trees sparkle and sway. Nature seems to calm you, and also music. I've probably sang bingo 100 times by now. You like it, so we keep singing.
You can do so many things now – stand without help (you do this a lot now, because you are mastering this skill), crawl, drink out of a sippy cup, grunt to tell us your needs, fall asleep (you take two naps like clockwork and your bedtime is 6). Lately, you’ve been trying to pull yourself onto things. Yesterday, we had an older baby over at our house and you were intrigued. You crawled right up to him and tried to use his shoulder to stand! You are tall and agile and have a short-hair haircut. You seem like a little boy already.
I told you about the food I liked to eat when I was pregnant; now I know some of what you like. At Tomales, you liked your Uncle Ryan’s tomato/roasted bell pepper soap. Ggma recreated it recently and you ate it all up. You also like sweet potatoes, potato soup, peanut butter, squash and green bananas, nothing too sweet. When you like something, you grunt and lean toward us so you can get in another mouthful faster. When you don’t, you put your fingers in front of your mouth and grunt, and we know you’re “all done.”
Something we really enjoy now is that sometimes you’ll lay your head on us and cuddle. So many people just like being with you, holding you, watching you seek out things, watching you bloom. You seem to enjoy their company too.
People say you will have a lot to say when you learn to talk, kind of like your dad. Whatever you say, I can’t wait to hear it. You teach me to be mindful of the world. And also to take action! I love our Wednesdays, when it's just you and me. You keep me on my toes; I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Can’t wait to tuck you in tonight.
Love you,
mom
