Dear Third Child,

A loving letter to our third child (currently in-utero),

Dear Baby,

You are still a tiny little dream, the internet says you're about three inches long.  You have yet to start kicking me, but I'm sure going to the bathroom a lot.  I have given up caffeine for you, so you'ed better come out mello and easy going; you will soon learn (as soon as you're weaned) that you don't want to talk to mommy in the morning until she has had at least one cup of coffee.

You have an older sister Abby, she's the bossy one you hear with your newly developed ears.  Don't worry, you will soon come to ignore her like the rest of us.  She is sweet and will read you books and sing to you and probably want to hold you all the time.  She will boss you around and push you on occasion, but you will never have a better advocate, especially if it involves something that benefits her as well.  She starts kindergarten 10 days before you're due to arrive...that should be interesting.  Hormones, a big fat preggo, a couple of major life changing events and 90+ degree weather, your Dad may camp in the backyard for a few weeks just to get away.

Your brother, the soon to be middle child, is Eli.  We're still getting to know him but as best as we can tell he's even louder than your sister.  He is stubborn, strong-willed and adventurous.  If you're going to get hit in the face with a foam sword or a wooden train on your 4th day of life it's going to be by him.  My best advice to you is to learn to sleep with your hands in front of your face, a permanent block defense from your brother's curious "love."

You were a surprise blessing for us.  God knew all along that you were coming, but your Dad and I thought we were done.  That's cool, that's in God's plan.  He is in control and we will trust in Him.

I would like to apologize for all the chocolate, I guess I didn't give up caffeine in all it's forms.  Mommy has a weakness and really, you don't want to be around me if we're out of chocolate.  I've been know to eat chocolate chips just to get my fix, but hey, it's not crack so you'll be fine.

Please stop making me burp, I find the indigestion is already getting on my nerves.  If you don't like something there has to be a nicer way to tell me.  Get used to the flavor of mixed berry Tums kid, you'll be seeing them a lot.

I would like to ask you now to please be nice to my inside.  I'm sure from your vantage point you can see the old scars from the mortar shell attacks your brother waged on the inside of my uterus, and the area where your sister kept trying to get out through my oh-so-tender belly button with her knee or elbow or some other pointy thing she had in there with her.

Most of all I want you to know that before you were born I loved you.  You will make me laugh and cry, scream and roll my eyes in frustration, but you are our blessing.  Please grow strong and healthy in there and come out all pink and looking just like the other two, and weighing exactly 6#9oz.

Love,
Mommy