Dear Ava

Dear Ava,

I passed the 37 week mark yesterday, so technically we could meet face-to-face any day now, although I think you're going to make me wait a little longer. I'm telling myself you won't be here until 41 weeks, so that I can stay productive and patient until then.

I hope you're comfy in my belly. I know I haven't been sleeping well lately (apparently this is normal in late pregnancy), but it seems you took the opportunity to have a dance party in my tummy last night, so I hope it was a good party. I never thought I would love having a big belly, but I've really grown quite attached to having you nearby.

We've already gone on lots of adventures in the past 9 months and there will be many more once you get out here! Your very first trip was a pilgrimage to Williamsburg, VA (we will take you there again one day) to celebrate my 30th birthday with some friends. Of course, I couldn't do a lot of celebrating, but that was okay. We also went to our first MAE concert together. They never play shows live anymore, so we really lucked out with that! I finished up my last semester of working at GW University in DC (a lot of metro rides) and then your dad and I moved to TX in May! I had to fly back home briefly to say goodbye to your great grandmother, who is my mom's mother. I will tell you all  about her one day.

South TX is completely different from where we're from, but we think you'll like it. It's always warm and sunny, but sometimes there are storms, so your dad and I ended up exploring Dallas with you for almost a week during August to escape Hurricane Harvey. When we got back to Corpus Christi, it actually felt like home.

We moved here for your dad's job, so while he has been working, I've mostly been getting to know our new home and cooking a lot. I also write a lot of our blog posts:) I'm not sure if/when I'll try to go back to work after your born, but we'll take it one step at a time and make sure you're in good hands either way. Sometimes, when I make your dad breakfast before he leaves for work, he thinks that is probably worth foregoing the extra income. I never  wanted us to fall into such traditional gender roles, but we also believe that each of us is strong in different areas, and one of my strengths happens to be making breakfast.

Your dad has been very supportive of us this entire pregnancy. It took him a few days to realize I was actually pregnant instead of just making a big deal over nothing (as is NEVER the case). But when we found out you were a girl, we already had the name. Ava is the first name of one of your great grandmothers, even though she doesn't go by that. I remember us deciding to name you after her on a trip to Philadelphia a few years ago. I'm a little apprehensive about giving you my middle name, only because I don't want you to think I want you to be me or anything, I just have always really loved my middle name and I hope you will too:)

Recently, I've seen your dad start to get really excited about you getting here, although he shows his excitement in different ways than I do. He came with me to your 36 week appointment and immediately after started doing a daily spinning ride. I think he is training for fatherhood. We also went to Target last week and he tried to take me to the baby section BEFORE the electronics section. One day you'll realize how big of a deal this is. He was also invited on a last minute trip to Florida for work that I told him to go on (he is very competent and generous and so people invite him for stuff like this a lot), but he was so relieved when he found out he didn't have to go. I very rarely see him stressed, but he was so worried you would decide to show up without him here, and he wouldn't miss that for the world!

We don't know a ton of people in Texas yet, but you have had people all over the world sending you presents for the past couple of months. I'm not sure if you will ever appreciate the cuteness of your clothes and shoes at this point, but your dad and I will definitely appreciate having things to put you in when you get home.

At this point, mostly we can't wait to meet you. I'm so excited and nervous that I think that is making it harder to sleep....think the excitement of a thousand Christmas Eves combined with the anxiety before you take a test that will determine the rest of your life! There is so much we want to introduce you to here. I have no doubt that the warmth of my belly is a lot more comfortable and calm than the real world (even with me jostling you a million times a night), but there is so much good in the outside world, even though it isn't always comfortable. Some of my favorite things about this outside world include music, food, different kinds of people (SO many different kinds), stories, sunshine, breezes, and mountains. Oh, and animals! We have an animal called a cat who is a part of our family. You will love him.

You are the first child we have coming out of my tummy, so we want to thank you in advance for your patience with us as we figure out how to be parents. We promise we will get better at it as time goes on and that we will NEVER stop trying to be better. We are lucky to have lots of friends and family members who have helped raise us and will help support us into being the best parents for you that we can be. I don't think you can ever be 100% ready for the life-changing role that parenthood brings, but we are ready to show up and give it our best whenever you want to make your appearance.

Love,
Mom
(That's the first time I have ever called myself that. I hope I get used to it.)