Dear Poppy: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Poppy!!
We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  We are thankful for YOU. We are thankful to be living in Maine with family. We are thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my dad. We are thankful to have told Pam our big news (she jumped on us and started crying!)  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  We sure did keep you busy...take a look!
Your first Turkey Day Game...Deering won!
 
 Mommy and Daddy at the game...it was sunny and beautiful!
 
 Thanksgiving Dinner with Daddy and Grandpa!

 
 Here's Grandpa! He's already talking about getting you in the backyard and playing catch :)
 
 Bug Light...beautiful but chilly!
 

 Turkeys crossing the street...craziest thing I've ever seen!
 
 Black Friday Shopping...Daddy was a great sport and got Grandma 12 vacuums!
 
 Now we are cooking dinner, going to watch the Portland Christmas tree lighting and enjoy another wonderful weekend surrounded by friends and family! We love you, Poppy!!
 xoxo,Mom & Dad

Dear Poppy: We Get to See You Soon!

Hi, Poppy!!

I just got off the phone with your new best friend, Maine Medical Center! We have our first appointment on December 7th at 9:30 and we get to see you for the first time. I wish it was today; I don't know how I'm going to wait two weeks!!

Today, I am going to lunch with Magen and her mom and am going to share our wonderful news with them...you are going to have lots of aunties!

Daddy is in the process still of interviewing with Sysco...they really want him, but it's quite a process! I am applying for various teaching jobs, but it's hard in the middle of the school year! Other than that, we are still getting settled and waiting for the downstairs at Grandma's house to be finished so we can move down there. Now, where are we going to fit a crib? We'll figure it out!

Here are some cribs I have been looking at...what do you think?

Restoration Hardware Antique Spindle:

I like this one for the classic look and the price compared to others at higher-end stores

Sleepi System:

I like this one because it's small at first, which is great for us, but then grows to be a crib and a toddler bed. The only issue is the price ($1,000) and buying different sized sheets!

Pottery Barn Cataline 3-in-1 Crib:

I like this one for the price and that it will convert into a toddler bed

I am thinking that if you are a girl, we will do a light color: either white or light oak. If you are a boy, maybe a darker color. Either way, your sheets and decor aren't going to be that colorful...just simple and relaxing are what we want. Very light pinks or blues with a gray contrast. What do you think? I'm pretty sure you will sleep well no matter what colors we have in there!

Time to get somes stuff done, little person!

This year, I am thankful for YOU (and Daddy)!

Kisses,

Mom

Dear Poppy: You have Grandparents...and Lots of Friends!

Dear Poppy,

A lot has happened since we wrote last. We got insurance, got a positive pregnancy test from the doctor (duh) and found out that we won't get a sonogram until around 16-20 weeks. So...we had to come up with a different idea to tell my parents. I wanted to get something cute for my mom - mainly because she loves presents and getting her a gift telling her she's going to be a Grandmother would totally shocker her - so we headed to the closest store: Walmart.

Surprisingly, they didn't have a great selection...I was looking for a book or journal for grandparents, but came up empty-handed. So, we went to the baby section and found a set of bibs that talk about Grandma. We wrapped them up in tissue paper and put them in a gift bag. We ended up meeting Mom for dinner and I once again had to say NO to a beer and get a laugh from her. I used to be quite the drinker, and everyone says I can still have a drink here and there, but I'm not risking it yet.

Anyways, we got home and Mom went into her room to change. I called her name to come out to the kitchen and told her we got her something. Of course, she was thrilled that we bought something for her...until she started opening the bag.

Her face went blank and we couldn't tell if she was excited or mad! She asked us a few times if it was a joke...if we were kidding...and we kept saying no! Finally, she started crying and I gave her a huge hug. I still had to whisper in her ear, "Are these happy tears?" And she said, "YES!" She hasn't stopped talking about it since. She is SO EXCITED to be a grandmother and is going to spoil you rotten, Poppy!

The harder of the two to tell was my dad...the extremely Republican Catholic man who raised me to do everything by the books. He did a great job raising me, but sometimes life happens and here we are! We started a tradition when we moved home to bring Tony's Donuts to my Dad's house every Saturday and this past Saturday was no different. I barely ate mine in anticipation of telling him...my stomach was in knots and I couldn't stop smiling at Daddy.

There was a break in conversation and I said, "Well, we have something to tell you...you're going to be a grandfather!" Mid-chew, he said, "What?!" Then he calmed down and was extremely excited for us, too. I couldn't have asked for better reactions from my parents!

Saturday night, Grandma and I hosted a Stella and Dot party for her girlfriends from "The Hill." You will understand one day. :) Anyways, we broke the news and they were so excited! Mom was the first of her friends to have a baby, and is now the 2nd of her friends to be a grandma. They all kept talking about a baby shower - you are going to be SO SPOILED! 

Sunday, Daddy and I decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch football, eat wings and drink beer....well, O'Douls for me! While we were there, my girlfriends were texting me about Wednesday night - Thanksgiving Eve - AKA always a night to not remember. Moe lives in Boston and probably won't make it up, so I just had to tell her! I am busting at the seams to tell everyone! I texted her that I couldn't drink on Wednesday night...6 seconds later, I got a phone call from her. :) 

So, a lot of people are finding out, but we are still not telling everyone. It won't be "Facebook Official" until after the New Year probably, but it's out in the blog world and shared with friends and family. 

That's all for now...you are still letting me know that you are there...saltines and Ginger Ale are my new best friends. 

I love you!!

Mom

Dear Poppy: I Know You're in There!

Dear Poppy,

You sure do have a way of waking me up lately! I have been stashing a sleeve of saltines and a bottle of water by our bed for your early morning reminders that you are in there. :) Nausea has been coming and going for the last two weeks, but I finally felt OK the past two mornings...until this morning. Poor Daddy's face when he sees me eating saltines at 6:30 am; I know he wishes he could help, but his sweetness is just what the doctor ordered. He is so enamored with you, Poppy! He talks to you, kisses you and looks at you all the time! It's the sweetest thing to see his face light up when your name is mentioned.

Have we mentioned that we call you "she?" Since Daddy already has two girls, we are thinking you may follow in their steps, but who knows? Maybe you will surprise us and be a mini-me for Daddy. :) We have caught ourselves looking at baby clothes at the GAP, looking at nurseries online and reading blogs about having a baby. We are so excited!

Right now, we still haven't told my parents because we are waiting to get a sonogram picture to give them in a frame...we just have to get insurance first! Since I don't have insurance (or a job), I am going to go with MaineCare for the pregnancy - it covers everything pre-, during and post-labor to make sure you are the healthiest little baby out there! Hopefully we can go tomorrow to get insurance and see you very soon!!

We are looking at a late-June, early-July birthday for you; it seems so far away, but I know it's going to fly by! We feel so blessed, Poppy. And I feel so blessed that God has chosen Daddy to be the father of my children. Even thought we aren't married yet, we know that everything happens for a reason, and we are more than excited to begin this new adventure together!

Love Always,
MOM

Dear Poppy: Week 6?

Hi, Poppy! We still aren't exactly sure how old you are, but you are GROWING...I know that! My pants are snug and I am tired. You are starting to show, too, so I am wearing lots of ruffly and baggy shirts. Leggings are my best friend right now; I wish I could wear them all the time! I definitely need to buy a few things, but have to save a little money, first.

I just want you to know how happy you've made me and daddy. You weren't exactly planned (neither of us have jobs or a place to live - we are living with your Nana!), but we weren't exactly trying to prevent you, either, and we are so blessed to have made you!! Sometimes, it doesn't feel real yet, but there's not a second that goes by that I don't think about you. Especially when my boobs hurt, I'm exhausted and feel like throwing up ;) But I would do anything for you! And it's a great reason to get a foot rub from daddy. :) You will see...he will spoil you and treat you like a queen! He makes me (and you) feel the most important person in the world.

Anyways, I am so anxious to tell people! We are waiting to tell my mom and dad until we have a sonogram to show them; they have always wanted to be grandparents and I know they will be over-the-moon excited about you! I really want to tell my girlfriends because they keep inviting us out to drink and we keep blowing them off! This is such a huge secret....only a few more weeks until we share the wonderful news!

I love you, little person!!

xoxo,
Mom