Week 35...5 weeks left!

Baby boy, 

Where has the time gone? You will be here shortly, and our whole world will be changed! We will love you unconditionally and we will learn what this thing called "parenting" is all about. We couldn't be more thrilled, excited, scared, blessed and ready than we already are! During week 35, you start a period of rapid weight gain; the doctor said you will gain about 1/2 a pound a week until you are born! Your room is all ready, but mommy is so anxious, that I go in there everyday and rearrange something or just look through all your cute clothes! You keep mommy awake almost all night now..I know you are just preparing me, so thank you sweet angel! This weekend, we are doing a maternity shoot and having someone take lots of pictures of daddy and mommy with my pregnant belly :) Then you get to have a photo shoot of just you the week you are born. Mommy loves pictures and daddy hates them (but mommy always talks him into taking them)! 

Not much longer LB! Keep kicking me, cuz here in 5 weeks, I'll miss my pregnant belly and those painful kicks in my ribs!!

Love mommy and daddy

Week 34...due NEXT month!!!

Dear Byron Michael, 

This week is coming to an end already and I wanted to tell you about the amazing experience of week 34! First off, we had our LAST ultrasound on April 8, when we were 34 weeks and 2 days. You weighed 5.5 pounds and doctor said you had some chubby cheeks!! He guessed you would weigh about 7 1/2 to 8 pounds at birth! Oh, how I wanted to just pinch your cheeks with love right there!!! You were moving quite a bit during the ultrasound and it made the pictures kind of blurry, haha! This week, your lunugo (body hair) is gone and your immune system is no longer relying on the antibodies from the placenta. The vernix (thick layer of protection on your skin) is disappearing; however, a little bit of it will remain at birth. Your digestive system is now functioning all on its own! You are now peeing up to a pint a day!! We definitely are stocked up on diapers!! Mommy and daddy's families threw a baby shower in your honor on Saturday, April 5! We had it at Temple Missionary Baptist Church and let me just say, YOU ARE ONE BLESSED BABY BOY! You were showered with many necessities, cute outfits, towels, books, bath toys, strollers, car seats,  but most importantly you were showered with LOVE! Here are some pictures/highlights of week 34! 

It's impossible to describe the love we have for you already, but please know that no one loves you more than JESUS, mommy and daddy ;)

SEE YOU SOON SWEET BABY ANGEL!!!!!

Love mommy and daddy!!!

Week 32 & 33 <3

Dear LB (as daddy has been calling you),

Mommy is playing catch up again on these letters to you! During week 32, you began using all 5 of your senses! You are curious, looking around and practicing a lot of breathing. You are becoming more alert of my voice and daddy's voice! You were weighing about 3 1/2 pounds this week and measuring tall at 34 centimeters! We got your dresser this week and it took daddy 3 days to put it together! Hehe!! Your pappy and nana Hawes visited for the weekend and we had a blast! Nana finished your bedding, pappy bought you your first ball cap and they bought the recliner for your nursery! Here are some pictures from week 32 :) 

Now we are in week 33!!!! Baby boy, mommy is ecstatic about meeting you!!!!! I can hardly stand it! It's so hard to describe my love for you!!! We don't have our next ultrasound until April 8, but I bet you will be over 4 pounds by then!! This week, your brain is developing more distinct functions and is capable of controlling all your breathing, digestive functions, and body temperature! You can now tell the difference between night and day; however, I think you think it's day all the time! It makes me so happy every time I feel you move! When you get the hiccups, it melts my heart!! This coming weekend is your baby shower; I'm so excited; you are one blessed little boy already!! Daddy has been fishing a lot and he cannot wait until you can fish with him! We continue to pray for you sweet angel, and before we know it, you will be here in our arms! 

YOU, Byron Michael Doughty, are an answered prayer!! Thank you Lord for my little family :)

Love mommy and daddy :)))))

Week 30 & 31....

Little Byron,

Mommy is a week behind writing to you! Been lots going on and the time is going faster and faster. During week 30 of mommy being pregnant, you began to see pretty well; even though it's dark, you were scoping out the environment! Your brain grew rapidly during week 30, but you did not gain much weight. Mommy saw the Doctor on March 11 and you were measuring 32 centimeters and average that week was 30cm... You will be taller than mommy for sure! Your hair began growing thicker during week 30! The doctor said on March 11 that you are already in the right "birthing position!" Your daddy turned 26 on Saturday and we threw him a beer and diaper party... We were very blessed and got lots of diapers for you!! I have to teach your daddy how to change them when you get here! He's convinced he will have you potty trained by 2 days old!! 

Week 31...9 weeks to go...OR LESS!!!

Baby Byron,

I can't believe there is so little time left until you will be in our arms! You are now weighing around 3.5 pounds! You are now practicing breathing 30-40% of the time. Your bones are hardening and preparing to support your tiny body after birth! Mommy's belly is getting bigger and bigger and bigger! Although I've been feeling great, I do get tired real easy!! My love for you grows so much every second and my heart aches to hold you now! I can't wait for that moment I get to look at you for the first time! 

John 16:21

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

We love you so much Byron Michael! 

Love mommy and daddy 

Week 29...11 weeks to go, or less :)))

Baby Byron,

I think about you all the time and what a blessing and miracle you are! I know you can hear me and daddy when we talk to you and only pray our bond grows stronger and stronger with each passing day!  This week you are over 15 inches... You will be daddy's little basketball buddy with your long legs! During this week, your brain is in charge of maintaining body temperature and also is controlling your breathing! Your irises are now able to respond to light by dilating and contracting. When you cough or hiccup, mommy can feel you! As long as I feel you squirming around I know you are happy and healthy! I can't wait to teach you about God and how he made you...mommy and daddy's little miracle! You are constantly bursting with energy and love kicking!!! Daddy keeps telling me I need to eat hot and spicy foods because he wants you to like those foods, just like him, he adores you sweet boy and can't wait to hold you and look in your eyes. Soooo... This week, mommy has been eating the hot pretzels that daddy loves, and you either LOVE then or they are tooooo hot for you because I've never felt you move as much as you did when I was eating them! Mommy and daddy celebrated our 2 year anniversary this week...our next anniversary, you will be 10 months old! I don't been want to think about you growing up already! In these short 29 weeks you have taught me so much already! You already have that special place in my heart and I can't even begin to imagine how I will feel when I lay eyes on YOU!! 

We love you sweet, handsome boy! Love mommy and daddy

Week 28...only 12 weeks to go!!

Little Byron,

Guess what? Less than 12 weeks and you will get to make your way into the world! You are about 14.8 inches long and weigh almost 3 pounds!! You are blinking your eyes this week and you are recognizing more levels of light. Mommy and daddy went to see our doctor this week and we got to listen to your heartbeat and see pictures of you!! You kept waving at us, and sweet boy, mommy waved right back :) You have brought an enormous amount of joy to our lives already and I can't imagine how that will magnify once you arrive!!! The doctor also said your femur bones were very long, so thank goodness you will have daddy's height and not mommys! Your nursery is coming along and I can't wait to get it finished. You continue to move and kick and jump and do flips because mommy feels you moving all the time...I don't know if you ever sleep :) When I lay next to daddy, he can feel you kicking!! He loves it!!!! Little angel, you have no idea how much we love you already and we pray for you daily!!!

We will always love you Byron Michael Doughty! 

Love mommy and daddy

27 weeks...about 1.93 pounds!

Handsome boy,

You have been growing now for 27 weeks! You are now around 14.14 inches and weigh about 1.93 pounds!! The amniotic fluid has decreased meaning mommy is feeling every move you make, which I love!!! Your neurons and brain tissue are developing rapidly and your brain waves are hard at work! Your skeleton is completely developed; however, your joints are not yet connected. Your tiny eyelids have begun to open and your retinas have begun to develop! What a miracle you are, something new happening each day! You are the center of mommy and daddy's world already! Daddy talks about taking you fishing and hunting all the time and mommy can't wait to share that special bond only shared between a mom and son!! We are getting so anxious for May! Mommy is nervous, but I know that is common! I've started showing a lot more and finally have my "baby bump!" Daddy still loves to kiss my belly, talk to you and is always asking "is he kicking?" or "is he awake?" Less than 13 weeks and our lives will change!!! We are so ready for this change and can't wait to have you here in our arms!!!

We love you with all our hearts sweet handsome boy!! We are all smiles over you! I often ask myself how I can love someone this much, and we give God all the glory and credit for YOU!!!

Love mommy and daddy