Monday, November 26, 2012

Countdown To Christmas Visit, Baby Shower and Birthday!

Dear Caitlin,
     Well, Thanksgiving is over and it's now on to Christmas and your baby shower!  It has been several days now and I am STILL putting out all of my Christmas decorations...you KNOW how many I have but I do love getting the house looking festive for everyone.  And this year, Parker is sure to notice and LOVE everything.
     Today is Monday and I am also gearing up for my next dental implant surgery on Wednesday (ugh...).  I'm really not looking forward to that at all and am just ready to get it over with.  My doctor has assured me that it won't be as bad as the last one but I'm not taking any chances...I'm stocking up on all medications I could possibly need now!  That is another reason I wanted all of my decorations finished by Tuesday; so I could just sit back and enjoy them and know that I don't have anything pressing after my surgery.  Hmmm..."not pressing"?!  I suppose I shouldn't put it THAT way.  I will still have to finish Christmas shopping (thank goodness for shopping online!) and preparing for your baby shower.  And speaking of the baby shower, the invitations should be going to the printer today and I have ordered some really cute decorations from Etsy this morning too.  I have some real "Girl Cuteness" planned and I hope you love it.
     On to your birthday now...It's coming up in only a week so you just be looking for the surprise I will be sending you to hopefully make that day a happy one for you!  I still can't believe that 23 years ago I was getting ready to get my Christmas present for the year...and for life; my own little baby girl.  And now my baby girl is having her own baby girl.  Wow! Time sure does fly and I must admit that it has been so much fun.  From hair bows to bloomers and dresses and dance costumes to cheer leading pom-poms;  Teddy Bear Tea Parties and high school dances...you have been a little ball of joy in our lives and we are so happy that God gifted us with you.  I pray that your little girl will bring you as much joy over the years as you have brought our entire family.  We love you, Baby Girl!  And we miss getting to see you every day.  I cannot wait until Dec. 19th gets here and I get to see you again! Until then...I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON and BACK!
                                                                                                               MOM

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Today Is The Day! BOY or GIRL?

Dear Caitlin,
     I'm just sitting here waiting for the call.  Oh, I know you are planning something "special" to tell Dad and me what the sex of the baby is, but TODAY is actually the day.  And just to let you know...I'm STILL sticking with my guess...I think it's a BOY!  Well, since I think that, it most like is a GIRL because, as we all know, I'm not really good at guessing; I thought Parker was a boy...wrong!  And WAY BACK WHEN, I thought Ryan was a GIRL (Haley Taylor...)...wrong!  So, in saying all of THAT, I am still sticking with my guess of a BOY but you are probably right and it is a GIRL.  Anyway, I don't really care; I'm just ready for another happy, healthy baby who will call me Ya Ya!  So...Here's to waiting.  Now, HURRY UP AND LET ME KNOW so I can start buying more baby stuff!!!

                                               11 and counting...What will number 12 be?!

                                                                                                                  Love,
                                                                                                                  Ya Ya

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Laying Our Hands On "Baby Jarrell"...

Some mothers-to-be are funny about people touching their growing baby bumps, but fortunately for us, you are not.  And so while you have been here on this little visit to the south, well...the women of the south have laid their hands on our precious little "Baby Jarrell"!

I'm not sure why we all want to touch a pregnant mommy's belly but we all do.  Well, of course, I do have my own theories as to why.  Most of us have either had children or are wanting to have children; touching an expectant mommy's belly is a way of connecting with the little baby growing inside her.  One cannot help but notice the smile begin to spread across the "toucher's" face as they approach the new mommy-to-be with hands stretched outward and when you smiled back...that was all it took for those hands to reach out and rub your belly.  And the thing that is so interesting about this phenomenon is that it is women that we know from everywhere that want to participate in this activity; family member, close friends, church friends and even the nail shop ladies!  I though it was so cute how after rubbing their hands over your growing belly, they all made a prediction of what the sex of the baby would be.  We are all connected in some way..."Baby Jarrell" has had hands laid on him/her.  I consider this to be a blessing or sorts from other women who have brought (or hope to bring...) new life into this world.  We all love you, "Baby Jarrell" and cannot wait for your arrival.  This week we will find out if you are a girl or a boy.  It really doesn't matter to me; I just want a healthy baby and mommy.  However, I DO have my own prediction...I'm thinking "BOY".  Caitlin is thinking "GIRL"...





                                                                            18 Weeks...

"Baby Jarrell", I already love you so much before I have even met you...
                                                                                                               LOVE,
                                                                                                                YA YA








Thursday, November 1, 2012

Dear Daughter, Life Lesson Number 1: Treat Others The Way YOU Want To Be Treated

Dear Caitlin,
     It is so nice having you here for a week and a half.  I love the fact that you are here to watch movies with me and drink hot chocolate in bed in the mornings.  It has been fun to actually have you sit here in person while I talk to you instead of just seeing you on Skype.  I'm so glad that "Baby Jarrell" has been moving around so much while you have been here; I'd like to think it's because he/she has heard Ya Ya's voice and can't wait to get out here and meet me!  As we have talked this week, I have realized that you too will now be in the unique club we call "Motherhood".  And with its membership there are many things that you will need to know in order to equip yourself for the job.  I hope that I have already taught you many of these things through my own words and actions over the years and feel that I most likely have since you have grown up to be such a well grounded young woman.  But today, I will offer a bit of advice that is absolutely necessary but also one you will find difficult to adhere to as a mother:  "Treating others the way YOU want to be treated."

The Bible tells us this and I believe that most of the time you do well with this, however, when you become a mother this will become an increasingly harder thing to do.  As that little baby grows inside your belly and you feel it move around, a bond develops; one that is stronger than anything I've ever known.  You will want to nurture and protect that child from every injustice and evil in the world.  And in your quest to do that, you will want to hurt those who hurt your child.  This is only human nature and you should realize that fact.  However, God tells us that we are to forgive (very difficult when someone hurts your child...) and we are to treat others the way WE want to be treated.  Hmmm...THAT is definitely NOT an easy one.

Although treating people nicely when they do not treat you nicely is difficult always remember...IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.  And at the end of the day, you will always feel good about what you have done; thinking of others before yourself.  I know that you have seen me struggle with this myself over the years, especially in your high school years.  When someone treated you unfairly, all I wanted to do was to hunt them down and make them pay!  HEY!  I'm only human too.  I have had to pray MANY times for God to forgive me for my words and thoughts concerning this.  But the importance of this lesson is not only for you; it is for your child also.  Our children watch us and whether we want them to or not, they become just like us.  As we watch our children grow over the years, we often times see bits and pieces of ourselves in them...sometimes things we would care not to see.  And so, what I guess I am telling you is that by YOU doing the right thing, your children will see that and also do it.

This was just a little "Life Lesson" that I was thinking about and decided to put down.  It is something good to remember and I hope that it will help you with your passage into motherhood...


                                                                                                I Love You To The Moon...And Back!
                                                                                                                           Mom