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 

26 weeks...3rd Trimester!

Little Byron,

Mommy is now in the 3rd and final trimester of my pregnancy! My oh my how this is flying by! We cannot wait to meet you, but I am also loving being pregnant! You are now about 14.02 inches and weighing about 1.68 pounds! So small, yet getting so big :) You are now able to pick up on rhythms and may even be moving to certain rhythms you are hearing! Mommy loves country music, especially old country and your daddy has a love for all kinds of music! I can't wait to see what you enjoy and love! I pray you take after your daddy in your love for music and the outdoors. Your brain is beginning a 

period of growth and over 50% of your energy will be used for this purpose. Your lungs are developing air sacks called alveoli and your membrane that allows for the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen is now thin enough for you to begin taking breaths!!! Your eyes are now completely developed and I can't wait to see what color they will be. My belly is beginning to fill out more and more each week! I'm still feeling great! You won't believe the look on daddy's face every time he feels or sees you move...you make him so proud and we can't help but believe what a true miracle you are!! I haven't been having any unusual cravings, but can you believe that your dadd still is... Sweets, sweets, sweets... I just can't keep enough in the house! I'm making him some muffins right now! You are gonna have some awesome aunts and uncles and they can't wait to meet you!! If there is one thing I can PROMISE you right now, it's that mommy and daddy will love you no matter what! You will make mistakes in your life and you will see mommy and daddy make mistakes, but we will always love you! I pray that God teaches me and daddy how he wants us to raise you and that He continues to guide our decisions! We love you with all our hearts little Byron and smile all the time because of you! You have blessed us so much already and we can't wait until May! 

Goodnight little child of mine,

Love mommy and daddy 

Aunt Shell and I went shopping for you!! 

25 weeks...size of a papaya!

Dear Sweet Byron,

Mommy has now been carrying you for over 25 weeks and you are about 13.62 inches and weigh around 1.46 pounds!! I can't believe how fast these 40 weeks are going! This week your primitive memory is beginning to develop, meaning that music and voices will be leaving an impression in your little brain! Your daddy loves music, he's an amazing singer and he can't wait to teach you how to play the acoustic guitar with him! Your spine has over 1,000 ligaments, 150 joints, and 33 vertebrae! YOU ARE A MIRACLE FROM GOD, THE END! Your little nostrils are beginning to open this week! My favorite part of this week was that your daddy got to SEE YOU MOVE! He loves feeling you move around and kick but now he was able to watch my belly move! You are just like your daddy...you don't like to sleep much. This week mommy has felt great!! I have been craving pop tarts and apples this week and drinking lots of orange juice! Daddy continues to want a dessert with every meal...cookies, brownies, cake, just anything sweet! 

This will soon be your spot every night... Hanging with daddy and Thorn!!

See you in less than 15 week, my precious SON!

Love, mommy and daddy and Thorn 

24 weeks...16 to go!!

Dear Byron Michael,

Another week has come and gone! Closer and closer to holding you in our arms! This week you are about 11.81 inches and 1.32 pounds!! Your hair is now the color it will be at birth! Daddy said he wants you to grow a rat tail mullet like he had when he was little, but we will see! Your lungs are developing more and preparing for your first breath when you are born. We had a doctors appointment to check on you today and you are above average in height! You were measuring exactly 25.5 centimeters and the doctor said 24 was average this week!! Your tiny heart was beating at 140 and makes me numb when I hear it!! You are perfect, healthy and such a blessing to me and daddy!! I can't believe in less than 16 weeks you will finally be here! You are just moving around like crazy now! Daddy is feeling you move more and more and loves it!! We continue to pray for you and us as a family each and every day! I hope you like camo, cuz your room will be covered in it ;)

Keep doing flips baby boy! Goodnight and sweet dreams! Mommy and daddy love you more than you can imagine!!