All For You - A Letter (And Special Day) For Baby Girl

"All For You" - Keith Urban

Dear baby girl,

Happy February.  Your mama loves this month - the sentimental memories it holds - the way winter truly embraces itself - the extra chilly air that makes for the perfect excuse to hibernate inside more often. Your due date is next month.  I'm trying to wrap my mind around that fact.  When I tell myself you're due March 24th, it still seems somewhat far away.  But when I realize you're considered full-term in just a little more than four weeks, my heart dances, I get butterflies and my imagination runs even wilder.

I woke up this morning to your twists and turns.  Sometimes it feels as if you're tap dancing on my sides.  As you're growing (and your mama's growing), this irreplaceable connection I have with you - it grows.  Your daddy and I are not just seeing your kicks, but watching your body move in a way that makes my whole belly shake.  You should see the way your daddy's eyes light up in these moments.  He truly is mesmerized.   

Last night, after one of my many potty breaks, I returned to bed to your daddy snoring like a rhino.  You were either just as annoyed as I was, or you wanted mommy to be a little kinder to him.  Whenever I screamed softly whispered "Steve, shut up, PLEASE!" and added a big little back kick to his shins, you would begin kicking me like crazy.  I have a feeling you wanted mommy to shut up.

He treated us to breakfast in bed this morning.  Decaf and wheat toast with peanut butter (a slice for you and a slice for me - with a heart carved in the middle of each slice - yeah, he's laying it on thick - that must have been for the snores last night).

I'm still in bed.  It feels glorious.  Your mama has been very busy. 

 Today, your daddy and I have lots of plans - more decorating in your nursery, more organizing and tidying up.  But before we start, I requested some quiet time.  Just me, you, my laptop and music.  Oh, and Muffin.  She's stretched out in her "Superkitten" position beside us, sound asleep.

Today, I want to tell you about a very special day - last Sunday.

Your daddy, me and forty beautiful people gathered that afternoon to celebrate you.

I've dreamt about that day for a very long time.  And last weekend, it became a reality.  It was surreal at its best.  It was emotional and joyful.  It was heartwarming and adrenaline-filled.

It was beautiful.

I couldn't wait to start planning.  And trust me, your mama is not usually the type to get giddy about planning a big event.  I was never big on running from craft store to craft store and brain storming creative ideas.  I'm not the swiftest with a glue gun and scissors.  I am a clutz and a tad careless when it comes to crafting. But this time was different.  I wanted nothing more than to make this day special and give it my all.  I wanted to pour all my love into this day.

I wanted to do it all...

for you.

"You changed my life.  You changed my ways.  I don't even recognize myself these days.  It must be a reflection of you.  Only you." 

I went out one Friday afternoon in December and picked up the pieces for the invitations. 

And by that Saturday night very early morning, they were complete.

(Note - your daddy cuts a straight line about as horribly as your mommy,

but he was a big help with stamping.)

"Every Day Is A Country Song" - After our incredible journey to you,

how could I not go with a western theme?!

Many nights, your mama would stay up late - the living room floor hiding under bags from Dollar Tree and Michaels.  With "Friends" and "The Golden Girls" to keep me company.

And of course, the kitties didn't miss a thing.

We had fun together.

*adorable iron-ons from Etsy

It's going to be so sweet to see you in these in a few months.

I finally put my chalkboard paint to good use.

Last Saturday, your Aunt Jessica and Uncle Ed met with your daddy and I to help set up for the big day.  Let me tell you, Aunt Jessica is a genius when it comes to making things pretty.

Uncle Ed and Daddy did a little ironing and ribbon tying.

But, you'll have to forgive them, they had important business to take care of.  Like, rooting through the sixty-five million baseball cards they ordered the weekend before.

 And sipping on stale beer.

It was wonderful walking into that giant room all set up the next day.

Such a rush.

Such a happy day.

Your daddy brightened up lots of  boring $1 frames with a can of red spray paint.

Target dollar bin duckies took a swim in the lemonade.

Your Aunt Kelly made fabulous barbeque pulled pork

and barbeque pulled chicken. 

Aunt Jen made twenty pounds of her awesome potatoes.

Your daddy made cornbread and mistook two-thirds cups for one and two-thirds cups of milk (for 6 loaves worth) at 12:07 in the morning.  He ran back out to the grocery store immediately when your mama pointed out, that for once, she was right (when it comes to anything in the kitchen).

Everything was so good.  So good, your mommy was scared we'd run out of food.

But there was plenty to go around.  Enough for seconds.  And enough for me to pack your daddy the leftovers for lunch this past week.

Ahh, the dessert table - a favorite of mine.

Your Aunt Jessica had the super neat idea to turn cowboy boots into a couple of vases.

I called your Poppa up and asked him to wrangle up and dust off his old cowboy boots.

I've always loved them.  And now, after trying them on, I want to borrow steal them.  They're just a bit big, but I can make em' work. ;)

I almost cried when I saw your cake.  It was perfect. 

And there's still quite a bit frozen in our downstairs fridge.

Maybe you'll get a taste later this year.

Aunt Jessica made corn on the cob cupcakes.  Seriously, how cute are they!?  Popcorn jelly beans and melted lemon Starbursts make them look so real.

Dee Dee made her famous tandy cakes and magic bars.  Magic bars are one of my (and now your) favorites.  We ate a lot of them this past Christmas. 

<3 Sunday, January 27th 2013 was one sweet day. <3

Your daddy and I have talked about it all week - recalling touching moments, funny times and all the love that poured over us and you that day.

Baby girl, I know I say it often, but I'll say it again and again...

You are so loved.

So very, very loved.

Just see for yourself...

*Thanks to Aunt Jen for snapping away and capturing the day.*

32 weeks exactly - what a celebration!

I sat down in the huge mama chair with your daddy right next to me.

Aunt Kelly wanted a photo with Santa mama.  We recreated the famous "baby crying while meeting Santa for the first time photos" you see all over facebook during the holidays.

love it!

Dee Dee (Cowgrandma) came perfectly dressed for the occasion. <3

Aunt Jessica passed us present upon present and Aunt Kelly made sure to photograph all the sweet moments that followed.

Not even a couple minutes passed, and I was already feeling the lump in my throat start to swell.  It was all hitting me in a new kind of way.  Sitting there beside your daddy, looking out into a room filled with the most important people in our lives - people who stood by your daddy and I every step of the way on our journey to you, these past 3+ years.  People who you're gonna love just as much as they love you.

Beautiful, generous, thoughtful, unbelievably remarkable people, who your daddy and I are so grateful for each and every day.

Baby girl, your daddy, me and you...

We were all showered with so much love.

So much crazy love.

I could go on and on about all the amazing gifts your daddy and I received for you.  Many will be making an appearance in future posts and in the nursery reveal post in a couple weeks.  I could write pages upon pages of thanks on the overwhelming thought and love that came with every single present we opened.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

It's all we can keep saying.

The tears fell with Poppa.

Daddy couldn't hold his back either.

Cowgirl Kitty and "the richest Hello Kitty ever" (as your daddy put it) from your Aunt Karen.

Before I even got to the shower, I was bawling in the car at her sweet card and gift.

We left that night with all kinds of bursting emotion (and new names given to us by Aunt Jessica)...

 "Brokeass Magic Mike" and "Pregnant Queen of Hearts"

Her gift decor always makes for great accessories and photo ops. 

 Our living room, the next couple days, served as a perfect reminder of all the beauty Sunday held.

We love you, baby girl.

"Some might call it insanity

But without a doubt, for the rest of our lives,

We're gonna be crazy.  Baby crazy for you...

All for you.

We're all for you."

<3<3<3

Happy weekend, everyone.

<3

Crazy Love Lovin',