Penelope Joy,

you…little one…are hilarious. you growl, squeal, and chuckle at pretty much everything. you are a HUGE fan of being in crowded places. whenever we are at church, during worship, you get so excited that your arms are permanently shot out to the sides and you wiggle and giggle in my arms. you spend most of the time looking over my shoulder and locking eyes with whoever you can find. flashing your sweet smile all over the place.

you love sleeping on your side, daddys scruffy face on yours, and watching mama make things. anytime I get a crafty bug you sit and stare so in awe of me cutting, pasting, glittering, and making. i cant wait to make things with you. we’re gonna have so much fun!

you are growing so much. every time i pull you out of your crib in the morning i swear you are bigger. and you greet me and you dad with a huge grin that melts our hearts…like whoa.

we love you so much little one. cant wait to see what new things you learn this month.

xoxo,

M

I realized today that I spent 9 months writing to Penny when I hadn’t even met her yet.  Each week I told her all about the things she did in my belly (weird).  Yet, I haven’t written a single word to her since she was born…and she is WAY more interesting now!  So with that being said…here begins my monthly notes to this baby girl…who is all sorts of crazy and awesome!

Dear Penelopy Joy (“Penny-kins, “Pee-nuh-lohp”, “Booger”, “Honey bear”),

Im not going to lie to you.  The first 2 months were pretty tough.  you were getting used to being a part of this world and we were getting used you being in ours.  You were a new baby and we were new parents (we still are).  You cried pretty non stop.  We really only had time to marvel at how beautiful and how tiny you were when you were sleeping…which to be fair was most of the time.  So we marveled at you a lot.

Today you turned 3 months and I have to say so far it has been my favorite month with you.  You are so super smiley.  You think it is HILARIOUS when we suck boogers out of your nostrils which is often because you get stuffed up quite a bit.  You also think its hilarious when I poke your nostrils.  Nostrils in general are a HUGE it with you.

For about a week now you have been reaching for things on your own.  And now we have a hard time leaning you on our knees because you pick your head up and try to sit up on your own (which usually ends in you over shooting it and folding like a lawn chair…or toppling to the side…we always catch you!).

Yesterday you were smiling at me and I took the opportunity to give you a lengthy speech about how I will always be there for you.  How you are beautifully and wonderfully made and im so honored be your mother.  and then..during this said speech a began to cry.  you and me.  alone at home.  you smiling wildly and your mother blubbering about how im going to do t best I can for you.  I can hear your little teenage voice now “OMG Mom, why are you crying? its just prom!”…oh yeah…I think of these things and you are only 3 months old.

I love you more than I ever though possible.  we both have our days.  sometimes you are a doctor crankenstein and I have less than a little patience, but we’re getting a hang of this thing…and its safe to say im enjoying getting to know you.

youre amazing penny joy.

XOXO,

M

little one,

My goodness…what a journey we have been on.  I cant believe we’re on (what i hope to be) our last week of the pregnancy phase in our relationship.  It’s been an adventure so far thats for sure, and you are already teaching me so much about being a mother and about that sweet sweet word that we all love…”patience”.  Your dad and I were convinced you were coming last weekend.  It was partly a gut feeling and partly wishful thinking.  We are UNBELIEVABLY ready to meet you!

Knowing that you can come literally at any moment from now through next week is so exciting and so nerve racking.  I wish we could know when exactly you are coming but I guess that wouldnt be as fun for you.  Not even here yet and already keeping your parents on their toes…wondering what you will do.  These last 39 weeks have been hard in ways I didnt expect and so incredibly amazing in ways that i could not have known.

It’s so crazy to feel your little knees and hands and buns rollin around in my tummy and I just cant wait to see all of these parts of you.  i cant wait to kiss your little knees and hands and to squeeze those sweet buns (im gonna do it…probably even when you are in your teens…and you are going to love it…because im your mom.  and i said so.)

we love you beyond words, and as much as we love our little family of 2, we are so glad that you are going to be the 3 in this mix.  get here when you can little lady.  we’re ready for you.

XOXO,

M

Hello Little one,

You are not so little these days.  We had a doctors appointment this morning and you are already 6 lbs! My goodness!  Our doctor also tried to get a good measurement of your little legs and you kept moving them away from her.  You may be getting bigger, but you are NOT slowing down.  We may have our hands full with you.  Another one of your little friends was born yesterday.  Everytime this happens I feel a twinge of envy.  All of us moms have been going through this together, and one by one they are starting to get to meet their little ladies and dudes.  Not much longer till we get to join them on the other side.  I can’t wait to see your little face.  I hope you have your dads cute little dimples and he hopes that you get my ears.  All I know is that you are going to be absolutely amazing.

It’s so hard to believe that you could pretty much come anytime you wanted now.  My mom had me two weeks early and fast, so there is a possibility you and I wont make it to 40 weeks on this little journey.  But don’t feel pressure.  You can come whenever you’re ready : )

love you penny, you’re pretty neat : ).

XOXO,

M