Meet Baby Jones

Avery:

I was laying next to your mom last night, while you lounged in her lap. Both of us were casually talking to each other about Oprah’s Earth Day show. You were looking up at your mom, your left leg propped up on her thigh. We both giggled with each other watching you. You seem very aware of what makes you comfortable.

I leaned in close to your left ear and said something to you in a normal speaking voice. You immediately perked up and slowly turned your head in my direction. I could have sworn your eyes met mine.

I tried it again a few moments later. Again, you struggled to turn your head to look at me.

Was it that you recognized my voice? Your mother and I started to tear up on the spot.

You made my day just by being you.

I love you, Aves. You’re an amazing guy.

Hey Avery!

Well, the Eagles beat the pesky New York Giants tonight 23 - 20 at the Linc — yay! This means they advance to the next level of the playoffs and play the New Orleans Saints next Saturday night. I am as big an Eagles fan as the next person (and I hope you grow up to be one too), and truly, I am thrilled with what the team has done despite McNabb being out until sometime next season. BUT, I still highly doubt that they’ll make it all the way to the Super Bowl. I just don’t have a lot of faith in Jeff Garcia after how he played tonight. We’ll see.

Today I had planned on getting a lot of things done like help your dad out with setting up Quicken on our home computer and cleaning my office. But, the worst stomach ache I’ve ever experienced sidelined me for most of the afternoon. After I took a shower around 1 pm, I laid down in the bed to try to relieve the pain and that was all she wrote, son. I was out for the count and didn’t come to until almost 4 pm. By then I couldn’t do anything but go to Whole Foods to pick up your dad’s food for next week so basically, most of my day was wasted. I wanted to go to the store early because even though your dad set TiVo up to record the game, I still wanted to catch at least the end of it live. And yes, I was able to do that and with your Uncle Tim at that! That was nice, huh?

So yeah, your Uncle Tim is here until tomorrow. It’s always nice to have company over because sometimes, it just gets too lonely here with just your dad, our cats Melanie and Tiffanie and me. That’s why we just can’t wait until you arrive, Avery! We are sure you’ll fill our house with lots of fun and laughter. And don’t worry, the plan is to give you a little brother or a little sister before you turn 2 so hopefully you don’t get too bored.

In terms of preparing for your arrival, both your daddy and I have been busy, busy, busy working on that. Your daddy is in charge of the big picture: planning for the financial aspect of having you, working on setting up our house so that it is kid- and grandma-friendly and coordinating my baby shower. My role is to set up my shower registry, seek out sales for items you’ll need anyway, and design your nursery. There’s a lot of work to be done before you get here and sometimes, it gets the best of your daddy and me. But at the end of the day, we say to ourselves, “It’s all for Avery”. And it truly is all for you.

Love,

Mommy

Avery:

I haven’t met you yet and I can honestly say that I love you.

I want to give you the best life that I can possibly can.

Some days, I worry that I won’t measure up as a father. That I’ll make mistakes that will negatively impact you for the rest of your life.

I worry that you’ll inherit some of my genetic flaws and experience the same pain and confusion that I’ve felt.

I already want to protect you from these things. I lay awake at night sometimes hoping that one day I can.

I’m absolutely petrified at the possibility that I may not be everything you need.

Know that I love you and can’t wait to meet you.

Know that I’ll stop at nothing to be the very best I can be for you.

Love,

Dad.

Hey, Kiddo.

Your mother and I took another peek at you during our last ultrasound appointment on Monday. The doc says you’re doing a great job in there and that you look really comfortable. You’re already more than three inches long, and I was amazed by all the bones I could see growing: your vertebrae, your fingers - I could even see the bones in your face.

I try to make a point to touch your mom’s womb every day and wish you a good morning.

We think you’re a boy. It’s just a guess, based on your heart rate last week (148 bpm) and a gut feeling I have. Boy or girl, we can’t wait to meet you.

And I can’t wait to spend time with you. I saw a balsa wood model airplane in a store a couple of weeks ago and remembered how much fun I used to have putting them together when I was a kid. I bought that airplane and put it in a drawer in the nursery. I’m looking forward to putting it together and flying it with you someday whenever you’re ready.

Until then, hang out and think good thoughts. You’ve got two people out here who care about you deeply and want only the best for you.

Love,

Dad

Our Darling Baby -

Mommy is 10 weeks pregnant today. This was confirmed on Monday by our perinatologist, Dr. Roberts, during our first ultrasound. You were so adorable, Darling Baby! You were moving about in my belly like you were so excited to finally be seen. As your daddy has written, it even looked like you gave us a little wave. We even got to see and hear your little heart beat! That was such a magical moment for us. I think that moment was when I realized you were real. I mean, don’t get me wrong — you have definitely made your presence known to me. I am nauseous, constipated, bloated and tired all the time, but those symptoms can be ignored or controlled. Add the fact that I can’t feel you just yet (big belly and feeling you move around in there) and it is sometimes easy to forget that you are growing in me. Seeing you, however, has made it official. You are definitely in there.

Some milestones for you this week:
You…
1. … are now a fetus
2. … weigh less than a quarter of an ounce
3. … have formed all of your vital organs
4. … have external changes ie. separation of fingers and toes and disapperance of the tail
5. … have tooth buds that are forming

Until next time, Darling Baby…

Love,
Mommy