Showing posts with label Dear Baby Berry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dear Baby Berry. Show all posts

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Remember Bartok?

Yep.
My little blog post about that cute (if that is what you wanna call him) little character
And his wonderful skillz.

Well as of lately, I don't have to lay real still 
And hold my breath
Or even turn off the music
(references to that post above.
go back and read it.
made me laugh.
and the video is pretty cute too.)

The last week I have been in little pains here and there
And I finally found out why.
I was reading in my What To Expect book
And at 33 weeks (which is what I was at last week)
Said this:
Your Baby in Week 33 of Pregnancy
Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There's less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once she's outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs. 

It makes sense!
All this uncomfortableness wasn't just in my head.
I now understand why women just want the baby out
In the last month of pregnancy.
Before I was this far along
I kept saying to myself
"Ah, this is fun, and I'm not sure I want her out just yet."
Well....I now see.
Yes, this has been a fun experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything
But if she could wait to practice her gymnastics
And soccer skills until after she leaves the womb
That would be really nice of her!
=]

It HAS been really fun watching my belly take on different shapes
As she sticks her bum/head (not sure which) out to one side.
She particularly likes my right side.
Maybe that is because I lay on my left side
Or because she knows my bad rib is on the right side
And she thinks she is pretty funny!
But whatever her reason, it IS pretty cute
And fun!
I love to see her whole back pressed to one side
And then I rub her back with my hand.
It makes it feel so real to be a mom.
And to see how little her body is.
This is so cool!
I love this!
She is so cute
And I can't wait to see her.

I have loved all this personal time with her
And am getting anxious to see Nik hold her
And love her,
And give HER raspberries on HER belly.
haha.

They already have a sweet relationship.
(I say that semi-sarcastically and semi-seriously)
Last week Nik was being a goof and we were joking around together.
I made the comment
"You better be careful,
Because she has a good kick too
And you just might get one!"
So I pushed my big belly up to his like we were hugging
And after about 15 seconds
She kicked him!!
It was SO funny.
We couldn't stop laughing.
She is already quite the character, just like her dad!

Dear Baby Berry,
Just thought I should let you know that we are so excited to meet you.
Not only but also your grandma and grandpa on both sides.
And your aunts and uncles too!
Oh, and pretty much everyone else that is related to you!
Auntie Amy wrote this on our Facebook wall
And I told her I would get the message to you...
dear baby girl,
get here now! I'm ready to play!
love always and forever,
Auntie Amy
Mother's Day was awesome!
Last Sunday I was able to celebrate AS a Mother
And I hope that I am everything you need me to be.
We celebrated with the Berry Family this year.
(you'll love them!
their funny stories,
their laughs,
their hugs,
and their delicious food!)
Everyone was wanting to feel you kick or move.
Lots felt your little rump poking out my right side
But that was about it.
For some reason, 
I guess it makes sense,
You like to fall right to sleep after eating.
You go into a little Food Coma
(or that is what I call it.)
And it makes me laugh.
I have loved watching you change
And grow and prepare for this life ahead of you.
Your Mommy and Daddy love you,
You are our "little jewel" and we couldn't be happier!

Love,
Mom and Dad





Monday, April 25, 2011

My First Quilt. Her First Quilt.

Yep!
I did it!
I used a sewing machine for the first time
And made a quilt for my Little Jewel.

The only down side to having this quilt for her...
....I wanna wrap her up in it
RIGHT NOW!
I hold it so tight picturing her in the middle.
Agh!
I love it
I love her
I love life!

I took this class at Scrapbooks, Etc.
Love that place!
They have fabric and scrapbook supplies.
It is awesome!

The class was Friday night.
Started at 5pm and lasted until 11:30pm.
Let me tell ya....that went FAST!

When I got to class the instructor explained how to make the quilt.
The first step was to make the X's in the squares to bind all 3 layers
And then to sew the squares into rows and the rows into a blanket.

Well, I am a bit OCD about some things.
Especially permanent things I make.
So I spent the first HOUR drawing X's with a straight edge ruler
Onto the top layer so everything would be perfect.
Little did I know....
....it is much harder for an inexperienced sewer to sew straight lines.
haha.
So that HOUR was wasted.
No straight lines
Whatsoever
But I love it!

I spent an hour or two cutting the fabric
Then from 5-11:30pm sewing.
Went home and showed Nik the unfinished quilt.
I still had some energy and was on a roll...
so I pulled out my machine again and sewed from Midnight to 1am.
After that, Nik and I went to bed.
The next morning I spent 3+hours cutting the edges to make it raggedy.
Washed it a few times...
....and this is what I got!
(and you can't forget the 2+hours I spent trying to pick out the fabric
while my Grandma Allred was ever-so patient with me.
Just a LITTLE indecisive sometimes.)

Look Ma, I can sew!!!

My Little Jewel's first quilt!

I LOVE IT!!!

Front

Back

And then here are some pictures of me the same day.
Haven't had any belly pictures in a while
So I figured it was time.

 31 weeks 3 days.

 Dear Baby Berry,
I hope you love the quilt I made for you.
You dad and I love it.
It was made with you in mind
And I can't wait to wrap you up inside it.
Or to take you to the park and let you play on it.
You are getting so big and time left is getting so small.
I love how you kick and move so much more every day
Even when it hurts me.
You get the hiccups at least once a day
And last night your Gma and Gpa Berry got to feel them
And so did your Auntie Amy.
I know you might not have liked the hiccups all that much
Because sometimes they do hurt
But it was fun to feel each little one.
And it is fun to feel you wrestle around trying to get rid of them.
Your dad gets hiccups bad too,
So you aren't alone in that aspect.
I just want you to know that
I love knowing that you are my little girl and I am your mommy!
That your daddy is so excited to make you laugh
With raspberries on YOUR stomach.
Oh, and can't forget about next Easter.
Gma Berry is excited to have another little one decorating eggs.
Your Uncle Sam and your daddy are good at it.
They can show you are the cool tricks.
And the Easter egg hunt at Nanu's is a BIG DEAL...
....you we will need to get you some good running shoes!
We need to be the first to find the Purple Polka Dotted egg, k?
Then we win!
Just giving you a heads-up on the awesome family you have!
Everyone is so excited to meet you in 8ish short weeks!

Love,
Mom






Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Precious Moments

Your Baby: Month 6

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes (cute!!).

 
So we tried this last night.
I was getting ready for bed and remember reading this earlier in the day.
So I asked Nik if he wanted to hear something cool.
He was up for it.
I told him to put an ear on the baby and to listen closely.
He had to move around a couple times and finally found it.
He lifted his head with the sweetest smile of one happy daddy
and said he could hear our daughters beating heart.
He put his ear back to her and closed his other ear so he could hear better.
He was soooo cute!
I wish I could hear it without a monitor...
...but that's not possible...
...I have a huge baby in the way.
lol.
I asked him how fast it was beating just to make sure it wasn't mine he heard.
He mimicked it perfectly.
About 155 beats per minute.
(At least that is what the doctor said on Monday).
Awww....such a sweet moment.
I was afraid it would be too soon to hear it but I guess not.

Such a precious moment that I had to document it.
It is the little things in life that make us smile.
I don't ever want to forget this.




Dear Baby Berry,
I haven't written you in a long time.
Sorry.
I just want you to know that I can't wait to see you!
13 short weeks left.
Can you believe that?!?!
You will be here before we know it.
I also want you to know that you are so precious and special
to your mommy and daddy already.
We love you so much!
This has been such a fun journey
getting ready for your big debut.
You have changed your mommy and daddy's lives so much
and it is all for the better.

You have so many friends and family members
that love you so much already,
without even meeting you face to face.

Your Auntie Amy and Uncle Tim
got married 12 days ago.
You were so cute during the ceremony,
kicking around and making your presence known.
Auntie Amy loves you so much and gives you a special hug
every time she is around.
You even made it in the wedding pictures.
Just you, me, and her.
She was so pretty that day,
I'm sure you will love that picture!

Your Grandma Allred asks about you every morning.
Sometimes you would think I don't matter anymore...
...at least not as much as you,
but I know that isn't true.
She loves us both.
When you get here...you should ask her about
The Owl Quilt.
You could get a good laugh outta her with that one.
She was just so excited to be a Grandma,
she got started early!
She loves you so much!

Nanu is always excited to have you around.
Don't be surprised when soccer season comes around
and you are out on the field.
Don't worry,
we will all be there cheering you on.
You might have actually heard her a time or two
talking to you.
She loves you so much.
I know she will make a wonderful Great Nanu!

Can't forget about your Grandpa Berry.
Every time you are around he is making sure you are good and healthy.
One time he gave me a whole plate of strawberries...
...just because "his granddaughter needs her vitamins."
It was very sweet.
Hope you liked those!
I sure did.
Grandpa even got a nasty scrape all along his forearm while working.
I made sure to bandage him up and take care of it
before it got any worse,
because we all know he needs that arm to hold you.
Especially when it comes time for you to go out hunting with the Berry Boys.
Don't worry though...you will look cute in all that hunting gear,
bows and all!
;)

Trust me...everyone else is so excited to meet you too.
Auntie Carrot has even set up a website and clothing business
so she can give you cute little clothes.
She sure misses you while she is in Utah but she will be here in July to visit.
Be careful though, she might squeeze you to pieces!
Auntie Bagel and Boog love you too.
They count down to your arrival with me.
They are having so much fun.
Your Uncle Sam is excited to teach you how to play ball
and is very sweet to let me have the soft seat in the house
so you and I can be comfortable.
Uncle Jake always checks on you,
just like a good big uncle would do.
And we can't forget about your Grandma Berry.
She loves hearing all the cute stories of what you have been up to lately.
Your Grandpa Allred is sweet and excited for another girl...
...I mean, heck, that is all he knows.
All your other Great-Grandparents and other friends
are so happy to have you joining the family.
You are going to have loving people around you all the time.

I guess for not writing in a long time
I can become a chatterbox.
I'll let you get some sleep now.
I love you,
my Little Princess.
You make me smile.

Love,
Your Mommy and Daddy

Friday, February 11, 2011

Chocolate, Cheese, and Cherished Memories!

Last Saturday (February 5th) Nik and I had our Valentines Date.
Yes, a little early...but it was cheaper that way.
We had a coupon* and some gift certificates to this lovely little place we call...
...THE MELTING POT!
Oh how we love that place.

When we got there there was a little 2-seater booth available for us
Curtains
Candles
And lots of Romance.
It was perfect.

It was nice have that curtain so we weren't distracted by all the people outside.
Just me.
Just Nik.
Just love.
Just Us!

Well...we went about the cheese entree and then the salad...
...and then as we were waiting for the main course,
the most beautiful thing happened....
...Nik felt our little Baby Girl kick!
I hadn't really been able to feel her kicking while I was sitting up, but just that day she started to get stronger.
She was loving the food and decided to make her presence known.
So after a few strong kicks I had Nik reach over and put his hand on my belly...
...and he felt her!
It was now even more real to him.
The expression on his face was priceless.
I had tears in my eyes.
It was beautiful.
THAT was OUR Girl saying Hello!

We had our main course and then the chocolate...
...but the best part of the evening was Nik connecting with his Baby Girl.
Gosh!
I can't get over how sweet he is and how much of a great Father he will be.
I love him so much!


Now wait...it gets better!
Just last night he and I were laying down watching our movie.
She was moving around a TON!
I wanted Nik to feel but she was being so jumpy.
She would bump over on my left side
and then down
and then to my ribs
and then to the right.
Just a bump here and there.
So I didn't have him waiting to feel a little bump.
Figured he wouldn't feel much, if anything at all.
But he wanted to try.
So he placed his hand on my belly button...
...and the coolest thing happened!
She started kicking so hard...RIGHT THERE!
She was giving her strongest movements right where his hand was.
His eyes would get so big with every little move.
And she was doing it one right after the other.
She was saying Hello to her Daddy.
After about 2 minutes of that, he took his hand away.
She then started kicking randomly like earlier.
He waited about 10 minutes and then wanted to see if she would do it again.
And.
She did!
It was so cute!
Her strongest kicks were all in a row, right where he waited.
It was so awesome and beautiful and amazing!
I can't wait to play with her in my arms.
And to see her daddy squeeze her so tight with all his love!
(sidenote: she is about 10inches from head to toe.
so big in there!)



This is becoming more and more real to me everyday.
Sometimes I forget I am pregnant,
I just feel like I am getting huge,
Until I feel her moving.
I have yet to feel and understand her hiccups...
...and for that day, I can't wait!
She is so sweet already!
She is OUR little Baby Girl.
I love her so much!
21weeks 0days
Running out of shirts to wear.
Don't wanna get Maternity shirts yet,
Cuz, well, I am not THAT big just yet.
Probably in a month or so.
Trying to make what I have work!
 
This is the only picture I have for this whole post
:(
We pulled out our camera...
...and it was dead!
Shouldn't have been,
But oh well.
We have the memories in our hearts.


Dear Baby Berry,
Your Mommy and Daddy love you so much!
We are so excited to bring you to this earth.
To be a family.
To be friends.
To be together for Eternity!
We have enjoyed every little kick and little bump.
Yes, sometimes I hurt from all the changes, 
But I just remind myself that you are healthy
And that this will all be worth it...
...to be your Mom.
Can't wait to see you.
If all goes well we will see you in 18 weeks and 5 days!
Yes, June 22nd.
Let's make that happen!
Unless you have a different plan,
and that is okay.
Whenever you are ready!
We love you!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy Berry
 
 
 
*Courtesy of Entertainment Coupon Book,

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

It's A Girl!

Yesterday was QUITE THE DAY! Let me tell you a little story, k?

December 20th was a day of GREAT IMPATIENCE. Nik and I heard about this little urine kit that would be able to determine the gender of the baby after 10 weeks. Well, I was past that at 13 weeks and figured it would be a little more accurate being farther along and caved into the idea.
I mean, wouldn't it be fun to find out a little earlier what the baby is going to be?
So I took the test and it was suppose to read the level of testosterone or estrogen in my urine as I am supposedly passing the baby's urine as well. The test came back CLEARLY a BOY.

Yep, a boy! 
I had a feeling it would be a boy and when looking back through Nik's line, there is a majority in boys. So, I was going to have a boy. FUN! Totally new to me but a piece of cake for Nik. I only know girls....that's all I have, 3 little sisters and 0 little brothers. And majority of my cousins (that I know) on both sides are girls. But a boy would be fun.
Nik and I both talked about how this test could be wrong and that we weren't going to plan plan plan for a boy until the doctor confirmed it. It was fun talking about boy names and passing on the Berry name. Fun seeing all my friends that have boys and to wonder how mine was going to be. 

Well, my mom, so anxiously excited to be a grandma, started in on a quilt a little early. Just 3 weeks too soon. See, we had told a few people about the urine test we took but we also made it clear that the test wasn't 100% positive...that this is just a good starting point but that was it.
Back to grandma...she started on the cutest little green and brown owl quilt for Baby Berry. It was and still is adorable! I feel in love with the collection from Scrapbooks Etc and she ran with it. Oh, it was so fun planning the placements of the patterns and the little elephant she sewed on the front. So adorable.

Yesterday comes along and she has me come with her to pick out the backing for the quilt. She had just completed the whole top the night before. So down to Scrapbooks Etc we went and picked out the last of the fabric. I left her there for her quilting class and I went to my doctor's appointment.
My dad was the only one of both families that didn't have work and I wanted someone with me when we found out the gender. Nik couldn't get work off, my mom had her class, my father-in-law was in California, and my mother-in-law had work as well. So my dad came with me to the appointment and I was excited and nervous, still thinking it was a boy, but knowing this appointment could change everything.
I even called my cousin, Eden, the hour before the appointment and told her how nervous I was, that she could end up being a girl...which would be exciting, SO EXCITING, but a complete 180 from what I've been thinking.
Anywho, we get in the room with Dr. Beck and he checks around.
THERE IS A BABY IN THERE! It was amazing! I mean, of course there is but the last time I had an ultrasound, the baby was still a peanut.
I mean, of course that's a baby, but that was all I had seen since November...and my belly has ever so slowly grown, making it feel like "am I really pregnant?"

Ok ok, back to this wonderful ultrasound. Dr Beck checked and the baby has all 4 limbs moving like they should, the brain looks properly developed, and there is not cleft palate...the baby looks great!
Then he looks for the gender. He keeps moving the little instrument all over my belly just looking and looking and looking some more....then he says
"Well, looks like we have a girl."
Now I swore to myself that I wouldn't say what I was about to say...but it just fell out. In shock I asked "ARE you SURE?"
Gosh, I felt so dumb! OF COURSE he is sure...he's the doctor, been doing this for over 22 years! Duh, Dawna.
I started to cry...little tears of joy. I looked over at my dad and he had little tears of happiness in his eyes too. It was such a special moment.
NIK AND I ARE HAVING A GIRL!!!! A GIRL!
I kinda felt silly for doing that little urine test and getting my hopes up so high on a boy but a girl is just as great and something I am a little more comfortable with anyways. I don't want her to ever feel that she was not wanted because we thought a boy for so long, because that just is not true. We are so excited to have her in our family an can't wait to meet her.
Yes, it is fun saying HER and SHE. Oh, so surreal. This is REALLY happening!

 I won't add the picture that proves she's a girl...because heck,
I can't even tell that well.
So we'll just take Dr Becks word on it.

She was moving around so much during the ultrasound. Her hands were up to her head and then down to her feet and then back up again...like she was having her own little dance party in there. Then the cutest thing happened...she gave this GIANT YAWN. It was so precious. I couldn't believe it. All of a sudden we could see her jaw bones open so wide in a nice long yawn. She's real. She is really there, growing and moving around. Oh, how wonderful that appointment was. I wish I could have gotten that on dvd but maybe Dr Beck doesn't do that or maybe he does it later on. I am not too sure but how real that moment was to me.

I am in love. Ya know the feeling? I haven't even met her in person yet and I love her so much. I didn't understand and couldn't comprehend how possible that was. How was I going to find room in my heart that Nik as already filled up? How was I ever going to make room or feel that real love for anyone else? Well, it's happening. It's real. Nik and I have this little family. We are her parents. She is here because of our love, our love that will last through the eternities. She is ours and we are so excited to meet her.

Well, I finished up my appointment and went to tell the families. Hannah came with but I made her stay in the lobby because this was a special moment of my first baby and just wanted it to be me and my dad. But as soon as I got out to the lobby you could tell she was just DYING to find out what the baby is...and so I told her and showed her the pictures. Her eyes got so big and she jumped up and down. Hannah does this really cute thing when she gets really excited, she folds her arms so tight almost as if she is going to burst from excitement. She did just that and I could tell she was happy to have a little niece to play with even though I know she would have been just as happy with a nephew.

I called my mom as she was still in her quilting class and told her that that quilt was going to have to sit in Grandma's Quilt Stash a little longer. lol. She screamed and laughed all at the same time "IT'S A GIRL?!?!" It was such a funny moment and one that will go down in history. So, onto picking another collection for another quilt! Then I texted my sister in Utah and I could tell she was screaming cuz her texts came back in all caps. haha. I let my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Colby (my dad's siblings, Allreds) know and Lisa replied "Girls are all we know to make ;-)" and Colby said he called it, which he did.
See, on the Allred side my grandpa is the only boy with 4 sisters. Then there is my dad who has 1 sister and 1 brother and then for grandchildren there are 10 girls and 2 boys. Let's add in the babies of that generation and so far there have been 2 girls and then my girl to add to that. So, girls are the majority of what us Allred's know how to make.

We waited to tell Nik's family until they all got back in town or off work and then we met up last night. I showed the pictures to my mother- and sister-in-law, Randee and Amy, and they tried to guess what it was. They guessed a boy cuz heck, how are we suppose to read these grainy little pictures? We aren't doctors. haha. So then I told them it was a girl and everyone screamed. It was so fun! Nik keeps telling me she can be a girl but only as long as she knows how to hunt and camp and play sports. I just laugh and tell him that is fine because that is just what the Berry's do! It is going to be so fun!

 Here I am the day we found out.
January 17, 2011
17weeks 3days

So, that is our wonderful story of finding out the gender of our little baby.
IT'S A GIRL! YAY!
In the poll I posted, there were 12 Girl votes to 9 Boy votes.
Next time we'll just go off the votes rather than a urine test.
lol. 

Dear Baby Berry,
We are so excited to have you in our future,
and right now as you play around in mamma's belly.
Being a girl is so much fun!
Your daddy is so excited and has already been plotting
his threats to any boys who do you wrong.
You are going to be so pretty and have lots of pretty girl things
but daddy wants to make sure you know how to hunt and camp
and do all the Berry stuff...cuz after all, you ARE a Berry now.
Don't worry...you can still look cute while you do that, it's okay.
And mamma is excited to pass on her middle name to you.
This has been a tradition for 3, going on 4, generations.
You are so loved and we are excited to meet you
and your sweet personality.
I sit here waiting for you to make some sort of movement
that I can make out is you, but I will wait as long as it takes.
I've heard you can be pretty forceful in there as you run out of room,
so take your time making your stay known.
Just about 5 more sweet months until you are in our arms...
and can we please talk about the 22nd of June?
It would be pretty rad if you could be born on that day.
Just letting you know.
I'll explain when you get here.
Can't wait til you come out!
Love,
Your Mamma

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Boy or Girl?

MONDAY JANUARY 17th.
The day is FAST approaching!
I can't believe it is right around the corner.
SOOOO excited!
So....in the top left corner of the blog is a poll...go cast your vote of what you think we are having.
=]
Wow! This day is almost here.
          [p.s. don't forget to vote before 1/18 in the top left corner
           on what you think we are having! fun stuff!] 



Dear Baby Berry,
I hope you cooperate so we can start the planning!
If you are a girl I am so excited to dress you in the cutest dresses
and the cutest little hair bows
with the most adorable little flowers and bracelets and shoes.
To see your Dad wrapped around your little finger
because YOU are his Princess.
And if you are a boy to pass on the Berry name,
I am so excited to dress you in cute sweater vests for church
and little polos for the playground
and spike your hairs in little fauxhawks.
To picture you out in the yard throwing a football with your Dad
and him teaching you all you need to know about camping and hunting.
But mostly I am just so excited to be a mommy and hold you
and kiss you and cuddle you
and to know that you are the next step and continuation of an Eternal Berry Family.
We have been waiting for you and long for the day you are here in our arms.
Your Mom and Dad love you so much already.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy Berry