Dear Baby

December 22, 2013

Dear Baby Claire,

I'm writing you this letter while watching the snow fall outside our bedroom window.  Everything is white, sparkly, and beautiful.  BIg fluffy snowflakes are swirling around and around.  Winter is so pretty.  I can't wait to share the magic of this time of year with you.  I'm so happy you'll be a Winter baby.  I think you will love it.  I can't wait to play in the snow with you and build snowmen and snow caves!  We're going to teach Rory to pull you around in a sled when you are bigger too.  We're going to have lots of fun and teach you to love the snow as much as your mama does!      

I am exactly 36 weeks along today.  Hopefully I will get to meet you in 4 weeks or less.  Can we make a deal that you won't come late?  But, If you do happen to come late I guess that's okay too.  I just want you to arrive healthy and happy!  At my last doctor's appointment when I was 35 weeks you were 5 3/4 pounds.  The doctor is guessing if I go until my due date that you will be 8-81/4 pounds.  You might end up being a little bigger than we originally thought.  I'm happy about this though.  I like babies that are a little rolly polly. 

I had my second baby shower with the Mecham side of the family a few Saturdays ago.  We ate lots of yummy food, played a few games, and then you and I got to open lots of presents.  You were given more quilts, clothes, a car seat, a swing, books, towels, and a rock & play sleeper just to name a few.  Now we are definitely ready for you to come.  You are such a lucky girl to have so many generous friends and family.  

Christmas is 3 days away, and even though you won't quite be here yet, you are still getting a few presents that I know of.  You are a very loved little girl.  Great Grandma & Grandpa Richins gave you a book.  Great Grandma & Grandpa Mecham are giving you a denim and flannel quilt and I think a book.  Grandma Julie is giving you a dress for church and books too.  I even made you a stocking to hang by mine and dad's so it didn't feel like we were leaving you out.

I know things are getting pretty crowded in there for you.  I hope you aren't too squished.  I can tell you are getting bigger and that you don't have as much room.  You don't have as many big movements lately you just kind of squirm around probably trying to get comfortable.  I've been carrying you really low most of the pregnancy so it's hard to tell if you've dropped yet.  I don't think you have, but I guess I'll find out sooner than later.

Your dad and I finally agreed on a middle name for you!  A few people know what it is, but I think we will wait and surprise everyone else with it when you are born.  Let's hope the last few weeks of the pregnancy go by quickly for both us.  I can't wait to meet you!

See you soon little one.

Love,

Mom

Dear Baby

November 25, 2013

Dear Baby Claire,

I am now 32 weeks along!  I went to the doctor today and found out you are 4 pounds already.  I don't know why but that was so strange for me to hear.  You are almost the size of an actual baby!  Things are moving right along and you are healthy as can be.  You are still in the same position with your head down and your feet up by my ribs.  You like to kick my ribs and remind me whenever I have bad posture and am squishing you a little.  

I had my (our) first baby shower a couple of weeks ago with the Leishman side of the family.  It was so much fun!  Everyone helped make pages for a quiet book for you.  I still have lots of work to do on it but your Grandma Leishman and I thought it would be a great craft for me to work on during all of your nap times.  You got lots of fun gifts that you are going to love including blankets, clothes, books, and all kinds of fun baby things.  

Another exciting event was that I finally finished your nursery!  I think it turned out really cute.  I hope you like it.  One thing that I think is pretty special is you will be sleeping in the crib that your mama slept in.  Your Grandma Julie & Grandpa Matt have saved it all of these years and gave it to your dad and I when we found out we were pregnant with you.  Everything is pretty much ready for your arrival.  I know I still have a while till you are here, but you will learn that your mama is a planner and likes to be prepared well in advance for everything.  

Your dad and I are still trying to decide on a middle name for you.  I have one that I really like, but your dad can't seem to commit to one.  He keeps saying how important your name is and I think it makes him nervous to finalize it.  Hopefully we'll agree on one soon.  

Keep growing and being a healthy little girl.  Only 8 more weeks until we meet!  

Love, 

Mom

Dear Baby

October 8, 2013

Dear Baby Claire, 

I had my target ultrasound today and it was so special! Your daddy was able to come with me and we got to watch you on the ultrasound for almost an entire hour. We received the best news and were told you are extremely healthy and have no abnormalities or problems to be concerned about. You weigh about a pound and a half now. If you continue to grow at the same rate the doctor estimated you will weigh about 7 and a half pounds when you are born. Of course that is only an estimate so we will just have to wait and see. Big babies tend to run in my family, so I am curious to see the size you end up being. 

We were lucky enough to see a few close up images of your sweet little face during the ultrasound and I think you are already so adorable! You have the cutest little round cheeks and it looks like you have your daddy’s chin. I wonder if you will get my brown eyes or your dad’s green ones. I’m hoping for green and I’m really hoping you get his eyelashes too. They are super long and have the most perfect curl. I always tell him how jealous I am of them. You will be beautiful no matter what though. I cannot wait to finally see your face! 

We are getting so much closer to your due date. I am now 25 ½ weeks along. We only have a little over 14 weeks left. Thinking about how much closer we are to meeting you gives me butterflies, the good kind that flutter around in my tummy from excited anticipation. There are so many holidays and things to look forward to in the next few months so I’m hoping this means the remainder of the pregnancy will go by quickly! 

My birthday is coming up on October 31, (on Halloween)! I will be turning 24 years old. I always wondered how old I would be when I would have my first baby. I don’t think you could possibly be coming at a better time. I think 24 is the perfect age for me to become a mother! I’ve been really blessed and been able to accomplish a lot before reaching this next milestone. I worked hard to finish my schooling and graduated from college. I received a great job in my field of study and after two years of working I received a promotion to the job I’m currently at. I married your daddy in the Bountiful Temple and we will reach our two year anniversary when you are just about two months old. Life has been so good to me. But even with everything I’ve accomplished, next to marrying your dad, you are what I consider to be the most important goal I will have achieved. I hope you know I express my gratitude for you in my prayers every single day. I am so lucky to get to be your mom. 

See you soon little one. 

Love, 

Mom

 

Dear Baby

September 6, 2013

Dear Baby Claire,

I am now 20 weeks along and officially halfway!  I had a doctor’s appointment today and got to see you on the ultrasound.  You still look perfect and are growing so well.  Your heartbeat is still at a perfect 140 beats per minute.  Hearing it beat is one of my favorite parts of the appointment every time.  You are measuring about a week ahead in height so you will be tall like your mom & dad (which we already figured as much).  You move and wiggle around all the time now.  I love feeling your little kicks and nudges all day.  Your dad has even been able to feel you kick.  You should have seen him, he was so excited and had the biggest smile!  It may have made me a little teary eyed.  Pregnancy is pretty incredible.  It is amazing to think I have a sweet little baby growing inside that will join our family in just a short four months!

You are such a blessing already, and you are not even here yet!  I want to be the best mom for you.  I want to be a good example and someone that you look up to.  I hope you will be patient with me as I learn all the ins and outs of motherhood.  I will have no idea what I'm doing, but I don't think anyone really does when they first become a parent.

I daydream a lot about what it will be like when you are finally here.  I can't wait to hold you, rock you to sleep, and sing you lullabies.  I can't wait to kiss your little cheeks, see your first smile, and hear your first laugh. 

I am so looking forward to reading you bedtime stories and telling you all about fairy tales filled with princesses, pirate ships, castles, and magical kingdoms.  I can't wait to introduce you to all my favorite characters and books and find out which will be your favorites.

I can't wait to show you the little farm where I grew up when you are older.  I will show you the fields I used to run through.  I will take you to the pond where I used to go canoeing and build rafts out of old logs.  I will show you the tree in the cottonwoods that I named "Grandmother Willow" where I played Pocahontas for hours.  I will take you to visit all the baby animals in the spring.  The baby lambs were always my favorite when I was little, I think you will like them too.  I hope to do all of these things with you and give you a beautiful childhood you will look back on with fondness. 
 
In about a month I will have my target ultrasound.  I will get to see every detail of you on a 3d ultrasound.  The doctor will check and make sure you are developing and growing the way you should.  I'm excited to see you on the ultrasound again but I'm also anxious to have that appointment over with just so I will know that everything is okay.

See you soon little one!  Your dad and I can't wait to meet you.  We already love you tons!
 
Love,

Mom  

Dear Baby

August 6, 2013
Dear Baby, 

Today I had my third doctor’s appointment. I am now 16 weeks pregnant. Your daddy and I were excited for this appointment more than usual as we were hoping we would get to find out if you were a  boy or a girl. My appointment wasn’t until the afternoon so I worked most of the day, and it was torture! I was so anxious and excited I looked at the clock at least every hour. I left work around two and drove home to pick up your dad. We excitedly tried to guess what you would be, but neither of us had a strong feeling one way or the other. 

We got all checked in at the doctor’s office and only had to wait a couple of minutes until we were called back to see the doctor. He reviewed my chart and excitedly asked, “Well are we finding out what you’re having today?” I laughed and said “I hope so!” I got up on the table and the doctor started the ultrasound. First the doctor checked your heartbeat and said it was at a perfect 140 beats per minute. I smiled and felt relieved. I still get a little nervous before every appointment. I worry about you all the time already. Next the doctor checked your fluid levels, organs, and measured your size. He said you were exactly where you should be at 16 weeks and right on track for your due date of January 19th. 

The doctor changed views and explained we were looking at the signifier of the big news. He asked what we thought and your dad trying to see what he was referring to on the ultrasound asked, “Is it a….boy?” The doctor smiled and replied, “Nope it is definitely a girl.” Then he showed us how he could tell. He said he was positive you were a girl and we were safe to start buying girl clothes. 

We were so happy! We didn’t care either way but we were thrilled to find out you were a girl. I’ve always wanted a little girl and hoped I would get at least one! Your dad was pretty surprised as boys seem to be a little more common in his family. He grew up with four brothers & only one sister, and had five nephews before his first niece came along. 

You will have lots of cousins you will get to grow up with. Your aunt Laci is due with her baby girl, Lydia, on September 14. You and Lydia will only be four months apart. Laci and I are hoping you will be best friends! Your Grandma and Grandpa Mecham will get two granddaughters for their first grandchildren. You will bring the count on the Leishman side of the family to 10 grandchildren; 6 boys and 4 girls. 

Your daddy and I have decided to name you Claire. Your Great-Grandma Susan Mecham (your Grandpa Mecham’s mom) had a daughter named Marni Claire who passed away when she was a baby. You are going to be named after her, in honor of my dad’s little sister I never got to meet. We are not a hundred percent sure on a middle name yet, but we really like Amelia.  If we go with that your full name will be Claire Amelia Leishman. 

I can’t wait to be your mama! You are going to be so loved. I hope to teach you to be kind, charitable, smart, hard-working, brave, and proud of who you are. I hope to teach you about your Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. I promise to share my testimony with you often and to help you build your own by teaching you, reading scriptures with you, and praying with you every day. And I really can’t wait for you to meet your daddy. He is so wonderful and is working so hard in school right now so he can get a good job to provide for our family in the future. I think he will be your favorite. He will play with you, tickle you, talk in silly voices, and make you laugh all the time. I know this because he already does all of that with me. 

We are finally announcing that we are pregnant tonight. We have kept it a secret for a long time but we wanted to be sure that you were healthy and that things were going okay before we told everyone. We are going to have to wait a week to tell everyone that you are a girl though. We want all of your family to be there but having the whole family come makes scheduling a little difficult. We are having a party next Monday to share the news that we will be having a baby girl join our family. We love you so much already and we cannot wait for you to get here! See you soon little one. 

Love, 
Mom

*I have been writing letters to my baby once a month to put in her baby book.  I don't know if I will share all of them, but I may every now and then since this blog is like my little family's journal.  I like knowing that I can go back and read through old blog posts like this later in life. 

-Kami