28 weeks

Baby Girl is the size of a Chinese Cabbage!

Do they have particularly HUGE cabbages in China?  Just saying...

Hola princesita,
How are you doing?  It has been a busy week!  Your grandma and her cousin Julie came to visit us this week!  Which meant lots of American treats, showing them around the country, hosting a leadership training and pancake breakfast at church...  

 

taking them to the barrio to meet some of my friends..

going to visit more friends at the school...

 

(this lady - Martin's mom - is like the best mom ever - I love her and have learned so much from her this year!  And she loves you too - have I told you that she brought me an apple, or other piece of fruit, every day of my whole first trimester?  You and I are blessed girl!)

and....

We had a baby shower!
There were pretty decorations...

 

Yummy refreshments...

 

People came from near and far, like your Auntie Paola, cousin Rachel...

 

And your cousin Ana Leah who came all the way from Santo Domingo!

Your Auntie Johanna created a photo booth with all kinds of homemade baby props that we had all kinds of fun taking photos with...

Your auntie Jo and I in the photo booth

With Lizbeth from Barrio Cristo Rey

Marisol from La Alianza

Enjoying time with the baby girls who came to represent

 

 There were a million more I could show you, if only they would all upload ;)

 

 Some of us got a little crazy with the props.  

Your mom is friends with some funny people

 But I love them all TONS!  And they all love you too!! 

We played a game about your mom and dad as kids, and everyone had to guess which childhood story belonged to who...

Can you guess which stories belong to your mom and which are stories about your dad?

Then all the guests each decorated a onesie just for you!

Look at all that creativity they're pouring into your new clothes!

Modeling all of your new onesies - can't wait to see them all on YOU! 

Then it was time for gifts..

There were sweetly written cards

Lots of ADORABLE clothes...

And some very sentimental gifts, like this baby blanket that your great grandmother (your mom's mom's mom) bought for me and I came home from the hospital in myself almost 30 years ago!  Can't wait to bring you home in this!

And lots more fun and useful stuff for you - even your own kiddie swimming pool!  We are going to have fun together girlie!

After the party, everyone prayed over us, and as soon as Val started praying, you started kicking like you always do when anyone prays for you!

So little chica, it was a very special day for us, and you should know that you are VERY VERY VERY loved... by all these people here and many more in many other parts of the world too who wished they could be there with us.  Never forget how loved you are - your dad and I love you SOOOO much already.  It is incredible how much you can love someone that you haven't even met yet.

Love,
Your momma  

Photo credit for all photos from this post: Jessica Ensing and Bonnie Bradshaw - thanks for capturing so many great photos of this very special day!

27 weeks

Poster for my going away party made by your dad and his art students :)  Also, notice the frosting the kids put on my face!

Baby Girl is the size (weight) of a head of cauliflower (2 whole pounds!)

Hey little ladybug,

How are things going in there for you this week?  It has been another eventful week, and a sad one, cause it was my last week teaching first grade.  I am super blessed that Dominican law says I can take 3 months of maternity leave before or after the birth of the child, cause I am ready for some rest, but it was super sad saying good-bye to my little six-year-olds.

I had them write me these letters last week with their words of advice on how to be a good mom, goodbyes to me, and pictures of what they think I will look like with my new baby.  Here's some photos.

Your mom and dad are a prince and princess - it looks like I have a caterpillar and butterfly in my belly, more than a baby.

Looks like I grew taller (or your dad shrunk), we are became royalty too, and I dyed my hair black... not sure what kinds of magic potions are coming off that tree and out of my head as well?

Gotta love your mom's two-tone big hair and our colorful little casita.

Looks like we got some kind of big yellow bus - Dad is driving and I'm holding little you out front... and apparently we're carrying a house along with us?

I love all these ones of you still in my belly.

Looks like I went behind a heart-shaped bush, popped out a baby, and your dad hid behind one next to me to watch and called out "Thank you God" (probably thankful that we didn't have to share a bush) :)

I think I have some kind of unhappy pregnant ghost in this one, standing between your dad and I

Looks like your dad became Dr. DeYoung... hmmm, maybe he had to deliver you?

There's lots more cute ones, but I'll stop there cause our internet is slow.  Here's the long list of all the answers they wrote on how to be a good mom:

1. Love the baby

2. Be careful with her

3. Don't leave your baby crying

4. Give her pow pows (aka spankings - only when you really need them ;)

5. Give her kisses and hugs

6. Care for her 

7. Play with her all day

8. Go to the park together

9. Buy presents for her

10. Bring her food to school

11. Give her hugs

12. Take her to school

13. Style her hair pretty

14.Eat ice cream together in the park

15. Go on trips together

16. Work hard 

17. Feed her salad

18. Sleep good

19. Make good food 

 20. Love your baby by kissing her and give her hugs

21. Take her to the park

22. Go to the park and eat ice cream

23. Bake cookies with her

24. Give her a lot of hugs

25. Remember that babies need kisses.

26. Teach her to obey

27. Teach her to help others and love others

28. Give her hugs and kisses

29. Bring her food

30. Read lots of books to her

31. Give her kisses

32. Give her lots of good hugs

33. Make her favorite food, like tomato soup

34. Say lots of prayers with her at bedtime.

35. Cook dinner for her, like spaghetti

36. Love her a lot (I already do!)

37. Give her lots of hugs

38. Play with your baby

39. Pray for your baby

40. Cook lots of soup

Pretty good for six year olds right?  So lots of hugs and kisses, definitely we will eat ice cream in the park, and I plan on cooking, praying, and playing with you a lot! :)  I can't wait for the fun to begin.

They also shared extra notes to me like:

Be a good mother.  - Martin

 I love you.  - Silvette

You are going to be a good mom.  - Genesis

 You are a good teacher.  You love first grade. - Alejandro

 I like when you taught us reading groups, centers, and read us stories.  - Yudeli

 Tuerelinawhanapo - Jhonas (usually I can figure these out, but no idea on this one). 

 You are like my mom so you will do great. - Rosmairys

I love you and the baby will love you too. - Brianna

I love you because you are a great teacher. - Eddily

I will miss you. - Kiara

There were a lot more that made me feel like a very loved teacher. :)

Some of the parents also sent in letters of mom advice.  Here was one of my favorites from Yudeli's mom (forgive the translation errors):

Dear Mrs. DeYoung,

This is my advice on how to be a good mother.  Love, love, love your children throughout all things, just as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown love to us through all things.  Have patience, tolerance, kindness, and demonstrate affection and love to your child.  Remember to keep all people included in your child's life, like all of your special loved ones.  To be a mother is a great blessing gifted to us by God, and we can use it to give and teach our children all the good things in life and help them learn how to live life to the fullest.  Thank you Mrs. DeYoung for shining all of your affection and teachings, but most importantly your love, onto my daughter this year. 

With love, Yudeli's mom

 I think these kinds of things are what makes all the pulling-my-hair-out crazy days totally worthwhile.  I also had an amazing going away party.  Your dad worked with a few of the parents to plan something extra special for me. I owe him BIG (gosh I could say that every single day).  

The fruit basket the parents made for my party - so sweet!

This weekend your dad went to the beach to hang out with your Auntie Pam, and wouldn't you know it he got the SAME big handprint tan mark that your mom did, only on his shoulder?  Guess you may have some bad tan lines to look forward to and thank your parents for in the future... I will try my best, but I guess we're just both kinda tontos when it comes to putting on sunscreen. 

That's all for this week I think.  Today I went out to Palo Blanco on a research trip to help get our church's new feeding center ready (you are going everywhere girl, I don't know if anyone ever traveled around a country this much at your age), and tomorrow your Grandma Bonnie and her cousin Julie come into town.  I think that brings us to like 20 visitors this month, talk about March Madness huh?  Then your Grandma Mexico comes next!  Everybody just loves you - but I think your daddy and I do the most! 85 more days til I get to meet you! 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoo (in following the advice of my 1st graders :)

Love,

Your momma 

26 weeks

Dressed up for Super Hero Day as "Super P" (for Super Preggo! :)

Baby Girl is the size of an English Hothouse Cucumber! 
(this is babycenter.com coming up with these food analogies, not me!  I would think of a much less random kind of food, I swear) 

Hi baby girl,

Sorry I haven't had time to write you this week!  And sorry I don't have time for a real letter, but here are just a few things I wanted to share with you this week:

*My belly button is officially an outtie now, you can even see it sticking out of my shirts!

*I was craving an M&M McFlurry the other night so your dad went the next day and bought ice cream and M&M's and tried using our mixer and a metal cup to make it into a McFlurry... mostly it made a mess, but it still tasted really good and it made me happy!

* You have a stroller now! (thanks to your Auntie Karen!)  It is really nice, and I'm so excited for you.  Now listen to what a bad friend I am... your dad baked her cookies as a thank you and all I had to do was make the card.  But instead the days passed while her card was on my to-do list and the cookies were on my desk at school, and one by one I ate all of her cookies!  Can you believe I did that?  Hopefully you enjoyed them with me! 

*My friends Christelle and Gina came to visit this past week.  The first thing that Christelle did when I saw her (for the first time in a year) was lifted up my shirt and started playing with my belly button. (we are like sisters) We also set up a reflexology clinic here at the house (maternal reflexology was glorious!) and they brought lots of little gifts for you and donations for our safehouse and ministry.  You will love them when you get to meet them!

*Your Auntie Pam is here visiting now from Boston, she just came back tonight from climbing Pico Duarte!  I hope you and I can climb Pico Duarte together someday (I will need some SERIOUS getting in shape first).  Oh and she brought you some stylin' clothes - like H&M baby (your Auntie Pam is a fashion queen ;)

*You went on a field trip today to Rancho Baiguate with my class to learn about animals - fishes, butterflies, bunnies, horses, donkeys, and more.  I wonder what your favorite animal will be?  Will you be crazy about monkeys like your mom or a dog lover like your dad? (I know Santa sure loves you already!)

*I don't know what you're up to in there, but it has been painful with you up in my ribs!  I think you may end up in karate, or maybe kickboxing.... whatever it is you're doing, I think you are a fiesty girl! (like your mom :)

That's all for this week, but remember that I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU like crazy!!  Oh yeah, and one more thing, I have one more week til I'm on my early maternity leave.  Then I'll have lots more time to write you longer letters, and get ready to meet you (and making more cookies for Karen!) :)  Hope you're enjoying yourself in there! 

Love, Your Momma

25 weeks

Dressed up for Prom Day for Spirit Week! :)

Baby Girl is the size of a rutabaga!  She is over a foot long and over a pound and a half!

Hey Little Mrs. DeYoungcita,

That's what the kiddos have been calling you the past couple of days in my class.   When I turned on the computer the last google search was for "homemade ninja turtle costumes".  I wonder what your dad is up to.  You probably won't know who they are but they were like the COOLEST THING EVER back in our day.  

This week has been Spirit Week and the kids in my class have had spirit and energy like WHOA (a little TOO MUCH sometimes).  Here's a photo of your dad dressed up for Prom Day.

Your dad made a homemade tux shirt for prom using sharpies.  Isn't he a stud?  He also made me a 3D flower corsage out of construction paper.  He pretty much rocks my world.

Check out your dad's sweet moves on the dance floor.  I won't blame you at all if you are a total daddy's girl. :)

 

Brother and Sister breaking it down at "Prom". 

Today was "Career Day".  We had a lot of doctors, a couple of teachers, a baseball player, a rock star, a salesman, a mad scientist, and a few others..

 

I dressed up as your momma! (but I won't really cart you around in my apron like I did with this baby doll all day :)

 

Your dad was pro surfer dude - here he is surfing on the cafeteria table with another Hawaiin ;)

(photo credit Jessica Ensing)

I'll share some more Spirit day pics next week when we get there.  At school, we also celebrated Leap Day (with fun froggy centers) and Dr. Seuss's bday this past week.  I can't wait to read you Dr. Seuss books - I love all of them so much and have loved reading them with my kids!

Also, this past week, it has been like HOLY VISITORS!  And it's only going to get.. better ;)  There are SO many people coming this month, probably mostly to see you in my big fat belly.  Speaking of fat, the doctor put me back on the weight gain diet because I've only gained 8 pounds this pregnancy - how can this be possible when I am SO BIG?!  Are you creating some kind of optical illusion for me?

This past week your Uncle Tim, Auntie Paola, and cousins Ana Leah and Rachel came up to visit.  How fun is it that you have 3 girl cousins so close to your age?  I think it will be SO FUN!

Rachel who has been staying with us for 3 weeks also flew out this week, but not without leaving lots of American goodies for us!  Here's a pic of her at Carnival (which is another reason things have been crazy here... meaning Carnival was crazy, not Rachel ;)

  

 

We spent our last day here hanging out by the pool.  I swear I put on sunscreen, but somehow I screwed up.... check out this tan line... (don't ask me how I did it)

 

We also took her out for her last night to eat at a Colombian restaurant - I wonder how you liked eating Colombian food for the first time? I loved every bite of it.

This past week our visitors included these 5 kids who stayed with us for 3 nights while their mom was out of town visiting dad in prison and trying to get documents so they could go to school (mom is part of our sex trafficking ministry who is trying for a new start at life)... these munchkins were ages baby, 2, 3, 4, and 7.  Which made them a HANDFUL and a half.  Besides the fact that where they come from, they don't have so much as a toilet or diapers, so we had a lot of cleaning up to do.  But we loved them and had so much fun with them and I was really sad to say goodbye when they left.  I look forward to working more with their family.  

 

This baby girl loved your daddy.  He was so good with her, and she couldn't get enough of him.  I bet you'll love him just as much as she did.

This is the house they went back home to. (photo credit - Rachel Lanouette)  I was SO thankful to Rachel for bringing down lots of clothes for them.  They usually chill out in the yard naked (using the baño wherever since they don't have one) and now they have lots of new clothes.  Your dad said the other day maybe we should just do that with you, and let Santa train you to go in the yard. (that is a JOKE.... kinda a bad one)  But anyways, just let pics like this be a reminder to never take anything in life for granted and always help others less fortunate than you. 

 Okay, so now for my pinterest photo/quote of the week.  I think I have to do this every week now cause a board just full of them for you.  Maybe we will print this and hang it above your crib.  I don't know,but I love this.  And more than anything, it reminds me of your dad.  He has gotta be the most original person I know.  He beats to his own drum and does what he wants and what he believes is right no matter what, and doesn't care what anyone else thinks (just look at him dancing in that video :).  It's one of my favorite things about him.  When I first met him on our mission trip in Chicago, I kinda called him the weird kid in the group (hopefully he's not reading this so don't tell him).  I remember when the rest of us were heading to Ed Debevericks our first night there, I found him wandering into a pizzeria by himself across the street.  I ran across the street rolling my eyes and asked what are you doing!?  He said he was in Chicago and wanted Chicago pizza and that was that.  He didn't follow anyone else, and everyone else ended up following him there.  When the rest of the group was all huddled in a corner together when we were painting in the projects at Cabrini Green, he was off on his own slapping a homeless man's back telling jokes and laughing like they were old friends.  He just didn't really fit in with everyone else in the group.  But I secretly loved that about him.  The day after our trip, I was hanging out with your Auntie Tracey and she said "If you don't like him and thinks he's weird, then why can you not stop talking about him all night?"  And she was right.  I was smitten with your dad's uniqueness from that first weekend.  And now I'm so glad I didn't end up with some ordinary guy, but got an extraordinary one like your dad.  So baby girl, learn from your daddy and JUST BE YOURSELF.  Don't try to be anyone else cause no one out there is better.  Like Dr. Seuss says, "There is no one in the world who is more YOUER than you!"  Love you baby girl and can't wait to meet you in 99 more days!  Love, Your Momma