Dear Baby Sprout

Ben and I are so happy to be able to share with the public, aka those we love in our internet community, that we are expecting a new baby in early May. We are so thankful for all the people who have been praying for us and walking alongside us the past couple months.  Below are the first entries into this baby's "baby book."  If you were not around then, I did the same for Levi and you can see those posts by clicking "dear baby" under the Tags label on the right sidebar of the blog, or at the end of this post.  I posted the text underneath because it is hard to read.  Levi's book was made and printed with Snapfish.com.  I am using Shutterfly.com this time.  

Week 5

EEEK!  Daddy and I have been praying and waiting for you for a while.  We are thrilled that we get to add another little Munchkin to our family.  Your Big Brother and I have been reading books about baby siblings, and he thinks it is hilarious that there is a baby in Mommy’s belly.  He says there is one in his too ;)  I cannot wait to start getting things ready in your bedroom.  I like to go in there and sit in the rocking chair and daydream about snuggling you close.  I have been obsessing over names…I want to find the perfect one to fit you.  You mean the world to us already, and we are ecstatic about your arrival in spring!!!  Love you Sprout!

Week 7 
Today was one of the most wonderful days of my life.  We had our first midwife appointment, and she did an ultrasound.  This let us see the little, teeny blob that you are and your little, flickering heartbeat.  It was so beautiful.  Mommy and Daddy are so excited that you are off to a good start growing into our big, strong baby.  It is amazing how much you can love such a small blob, but we do.  Feeling impatient that I have to wait 7 more months to hold you in my arms.

Week 12

Feeling so thankful to hear your little heartbeat today.  Driving home from my midwife appointment, I said “Thank you, Jesus” several times only to hear your Big Brother repeat the words back to me making them all the more sweet.  We are all so blessed to get to add you to our family.  I will say you have not let me off easy the past two months.  I have felt sick almost all the time, and very repulsed by foods and cooking.   You are probably going to be a fast food junkie---we have had more fast food in the past two months than in the past year I believe.  Your Daddy and Brother do not seem to mind. I know I should be eating healthier instead of worse, but you have made that hard!  I bought your Brother a baby doll today so he can practice to help take care of you when you arrive.  Hopefully he does not torture you TOO much. 

Babydoll Rant:  So I wanted to buy Levi a babydoll to kind of prepare him for his little brother or sister and just to help him understand the idea of a baby.  Babies not wearing pink and flowers are nearly impossible to find.  What!  I looked at Target, Meijer, Toys 'R' Us, and finally Walmart.  Walmart had one boy baby and one baby dressed fairly neutrally as a cow.  Naturally, Levi chose the cow one. Also, why do all white baby dolls have blue eyes?  Even though our baby will likely have blue eyes, I feel this finding is extremely annoying!  I mean seriously, all these stores have nearly 100 different dolls...Can we get some diversity?

Lastly, these photos because my firstborn is adorable...