Letter to Baby

Dear Tater,

You and I visited Dr. Cousins today, and everything seems to be well with us. Your heartbeat was a perfect 143 beats per minute. We're measuring a little bigger than expected, so my hunch that you're coming early may turn out to be true! We'll have to see what she says at our next appointment. Even though your arrival would only be about two weeks earlier, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for you just yet. I haven't even started nesting yet and I think I have a few more maternal instincts to pick up before you get here. I know we'll never be 100% ready, but there is still some work to be done. We don't even have a place for you to sleep! Take your time; enjoy your stay.

On the other hand, I think it'd be better for you to be early than to be too big. Your Mommy is not a big person and I don't think it'd be too much fun for either of us if you are oversized. That said, I'll do my best to keep our diet in check.

You're turning out to be a pretty funny little baby. It seems that you like to play games. Sometimes when your Daddy squeezes your little home, you kick or punch back. In addition to the flips you seem to enjoy, it sometimes feels like you are spinning as if you were on a swivel chair. Your Lola says that is because your Mommy used to be a hyper little girl who did cartwheels in grocery store aisles. I pray that you have more sense than that! You also really respond to noise and temperature. Sometimes if you're feeling really playful, you move around a lot when my tummy is covered with a warm sweater and you come to a complete stop when it is exposed. You and I can carry on like this -- open, close, open, close -- for quite some time. I'm really sorry if it bothers you; it is just so much fun! You also really enjoy food; after we eat something yummy, you do a little "food dance" that feels as if it looks like the one your big sister does when she eats something she likes.

About your name ... your Daddy seems to think it's fitting. He says it's short for "Potato," and one day you'll be a "Tater Tot." I must admit that I was not really excited about the nickname at first -- in fact, I sort of hated it -- but it seems to have stuck. I hope you're not scarred for life because of it. I promise we will put more thought into your legal name. :-)

There is a lot going on right now with your development. The amount of your brain tissue is increasing and what was a smooth surface of the brain is now more characteristic of the grooves and indentations of a developed brain. Your hair on your head is growing longer and you may even have eyebrows and eyelashes. Your lungs are now capable of breathing air, but let's all pray that they won't need to for a couple more months!!

The books and Web sites all say you are still lean but starting to get chubbier. You're about 15.75" from head to toe and your weight should be about 2.5 lbs.

Well, that's all for now. I know a lot of this is gibberish, but I promise I will talk you through it all when you are older.

Love always,
Mommy