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!