Letter from Dad

Dear Peanut…

it’s been awhile so thought I would chime in and write to you. You are so big now…at 8 months you’ve developed into a crawling machine, a talker (no real words yet) and a tremendous eater. We decided to not push the eating thing until you are ready and you are definitely ready. You watch mommy and me eat and smack your lips and give us this look like…hey what about me? It’s amazing the change over the past 2 months…we tried some yams at Thanksgiving and even at Christmas we gave you some sweet potato and banana that Grandma Jan put in your stocking…you would have nothing to do with them. But now we’ve been feeding you homemade food such as mashed avocado, banana and soft egg yolks.

Eggs seem to be your favorite until last night when we gave you some chicken. Yes chicken and not some mashed up pureed meaty pudding you get in the store but small dices of baked chicken…the same that mom and dad ate for dinner. You devoured it…literally diving at the spoon for more. I don’t know why this makes me weepy but it does. You’re growing up and it seems so fast to me. Our little baby is eating real food. I’m so glad we haven’t forced you to do anything before you are ready. We are learning what you like and when and read your body language. You tell us when you are ready to eat, when you are hungry and when you’ve had enough. The latter is done with a turn of the nose and a closed mouth…more like clenched mouth.

You’re so grown up. I enjoy every minute with you and can’t wait for more adventures in the kitchen. Maybe we’ll try some lentils or venison or since you are willing to try anything…you and I can share some liver. Either way I love making food for you and watching you eat and grow.

Love,
chef Dad

Mothers Day

Today is Mother’s Day and the anticipated arrival date of Baby Taurus. Things have been uneventful although I think Jenn has been having contractions…her belly becomes rock solid at times with the uterus completely contracting. Baby Taurus, you’ll have to tell me how the contractions felt while you were floating in your amniotic sac.

So a kind of depressing day, as we were hoping to have been at the birth center already and home with a baby…but the time is just not right…so we wait. It was a slow day…a mopey day…although we went to church and that was good. We came home and Jenn napped and then we were bored so went for a walk. We found a new spot…Cub Run Park…and found a creek with a quiet outcropping of rocks. The sun was just behind the trees and so we rested…I did some relaxation on Jenn and her cares went away and a brightness came to her eyes and face…she had been rejuvenated by just about 5 minutes of relaxation. It was awesome and I felt so much love for her at that moment. To know that I can bring such calmness to her and be able to encourage her with a few words and some gentle massaging. It’s amazing. So after the rejuvenation we came home to get ready for dinner and to relax the rest of the day away and had our first positive sign. Jenn’s mucous plug has softened. What a great way to end a long weekend…the baby we’ll be here soon.

Perhaps i'll be shaving in the not so distant future!!!

Dear Baby Taurus... Love Dad

Baby Taurus - your name for now - to be revealed the day you are born. You are for now a mystery hidden inside your mommy. Safe, protected and well loved. We're so excited to meet you.

For the past 34 weeks you've been growing: developing a brain, a nervous system, a heart and circulatory system, lungs and a respiratory system, a stomach and digestive system, a pituitary gland and endocrine system, bones and muscles, and skin to protect it all. All this growth and development - all this genetic work inside mommy, a mix of Alcantara and Sapp to produce you, baby Taurus.

Our baby, our joy. What a miracle for when you are born you will know us without knowing what we look like. You will know, because it is written inside of you - every cell - and you will know us by our voices. This amazes me. For you are not even physically with us, yet you are already learning. You are amazing.

You may arrive very soon. Estimated date of arrival is in 5 weeks...May 13 ~ Mothers day! And you have an amazing mother. I'll tell you more about her later. But for now, know that she loves you very much and is looking forward to meeting you.