Letter to the Baby #2- 17 weeks

Dear Baby,

I am 17 weeks along with you now and all the articles say you are about 5 inches long and weigh about 5 ounces. I have put on 10 pounds and I am starting to show. My midwife told me I should be eating about 100 grams of protein a day. She said that protein builds babies, not carbs. I was not happy about that at first and thought it was an impossible goal because I don't have enough time to cook meat more than once a week or so, but it really only took me a few days of thinking and planning to get into the habit of consuming that much protein. I mainly drink a lot of milk and eat a lot of yogurt, nuts, seeds, eggs, etc. I started eating more fruits and veggies when we first started thinking about having you. We have almost doubled our weekly grocery bill, but for your health and mine, it is worth it. It's very difficult to work full time and grow you, too, because building you takes a lot of energy and all the new lifestyle changes take energy, too.

I am barely starting to understand what a big deal it is to have a child. You have already changed my life a great deal and I know the changes are only going to continue. I think about life a year from now and I really have no clue what it will be like. I won't be working anymore, I'll be breastfeeding and cloth-diapering and staying home taking care of you. I am privileged to get to do that. Your dad and I have been living in a trailer on about 40% of our income the last few years so that we could build our house without a mortage, and be debt free so that I could stay home to take care of you. It's been pretty inconvenient and sometimes stressful, but I have seen too many young women desperately in love with their babies who have to work full-time and it makes them miserable and bitter. Some moms don't want to stay home, and they're very happy working, but everyone is different and I have always known that that path is not for me. Your dad is willing to keep working to take care of us. He doesn't always like his job, but he does it because he loves us. I am very grateful that he worked hard in high school, went to college, chose a lucrative profession that he is passionate about, got his Master's degree, and found a job that provides for us extremely well. By doing all that, even before he met me, he has given me this chance to take care of you.


It will all be worth it when we finally get to meet you. What will you be like? What will your life be like? Will we be able to teach you all the things you will need to know? I pray that you will have a kind heart and that you will seek God. I pray that you will feel secure enough to explore your world without fear. I pray that you will try new things and meet new people, but still make wise choices about who to make your friends. I pray that you would be succesful in whatever you choose to do with your life, but that you would always remember that God, love, and people are more important than money or stuff.

I have less than 5 more months to carry you and you and I both have a lot of growing to do in that time. It's still weird for me to think of being anybody's mother, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.

See you in June, baby.

Love, Mom.