2 weeks!!

Dear Baby Kenya,

You are two weeks old today!  I can't believe it, you are growing up before our eyes.  I am listening to Bruno Mars "The Way You Are" right now and singing along to you - every word to the lyrics fit you perfectly.  Your Grandma Debbie and I used to sing this song together before and I told her that now I sing it to you.  Also been singing Rascal Flatts "My Wish to You" - it makes me cry every time thinking about the huge blessing you are in our lives and the life you have ahead of you that we get to spend together.  Your dad and I love every single thing about you and love spending time together as a new family of three (four including Santa!)  At night we pray with you together as a family before putting you to bed.

Every day I am amazed at what an amazing daddy you have.  I know I've told you before when I was pregnant, but since he's become a dad, he's taken it to a whole new level.  Since your mom is having a bit of a tough recovery, that means daddy has been doing double duty taking care of you and nursing me back to health.  I can't believe how natural he is at being a dad - I love watching him with you.  He also works around the clock taking care of me too, to make sure I can get healthy again and take care of you!  Every morning he brings me in a big colorful fruit salad for breakfast and somehow he is keeping up with the bajillion loads of laundry that just keep coming (you pee and poop through a lot of clothes!)  I never thought it would be possible to love him more than I already did, but I really do love him more everyday.  He is the greatest guy in the world and you are so lucky to have him as your dad.  Like I've said before, love is action, and your dad is servant who acts in love 24 hours a day taking care of the two of us.

When your dad and I got married, he wrote his own vows to the Bob Marley song "High Tide or Low", saying he would be by my side through anything and he really has been more these two weeks than ever.  I want you to know that we dedicate the same lyrics to you for the rest of your life.  In high tide or in low tide, we will always stay by your side.  We will never leave you or walk away even when the going gets tough.  I want you to know that now and always remember that.  You are our daughter and we love you more than anything else in the whole world.  Since you were born, I've discovered a whole new level of love that I never even knew existed.  I never knew it was possible to love someone this much.

Oh and one more thing I wanted to tell you about - your name!  I wanted to tell you why we named you Kenya.  It is a very long story (I'll tell you the whole thing when you are older), but we named you after Kenia Cass (I just changed the spelling so gringos could pronounce it :)  Kenia Cass is a woman I met back in September right before I got pregnant with you.  She came here on a mission trip with her husband to help victims of sex trafficking and help start a home for girls who have been sex trafficked.  Her and her husband have started homes in several countries and are such amazing people who inspired me during their time here more than words can say.  But what touched me more than anything was Kenia's testimony and her love and passion for serving the Lord.  She has been through more trials than any person could ever imagine, but has overcome these and lives life with the kind of joy and passion to serve that we all should.  I learned so much from her during her time here and she really changed my life.  I think she is an angel that God sent right to me when I needed one.  Before Kenia came to the DR, your momma was struggling a lot cause I just wanted to get pregnant and have a baby SO bad.  I learned from Kenia the meaning of surrender and finally gave this over to God and for the first time, I left it in His hands.  And you know right after I did that, I found out the next week that I was pregnant with you.  The story is a lot longer than that with lots more details, but know you are named after someone very special and that your story represents sweet surrender.  I am hoping someday you will be able to meet Kenia and see for yourself what an awesome lady you were named after.  Your middle name Kay is family tradition for the first daughter in each family to have that middle name - so you are the fourth generation with the middle name Kay on your mom's side of the family.  And of course DeYoung, that part is from your dad :)  I think you should be honored to carry that name, your dad and all the DeYoungs are really incredible people.

Well sweet thang, right now you are peacefully asleep next to me but I have a feeling you will want to get up and eat again soon (you eat a lot!).  I will try to write you again soon.  Never forget how much you are LOVED.

Love always,
Your momma

Hanging out with daddy

All bundled for bed in your Pooh bear pajamas

Sleeping in daddy's strong arms

Curled up sleeping with daddy

Dressed up for your photo shoot with Rachel Sawyet - you did not seem to like this outfit as much as I did!

Striking a pose

Your dad can never get enough "Poppy time" (as he calls his time with you)

Sorry chickie that our camera doesn't even come close to capturing your cuteness, but my friend Rachel Sawyer got some pics of you this week with her awesome camera and we can't wait to see how they turned out!  Will post them soon! xoxo

You Made it!

Dear Baby Kenya,

We met you six days ago for the first time.  You arrived into our lives at 6:25 p.m. on June 16th, 7 lb. 1 oz., and 20 inches long.  You were and are the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen.  Your dad and I fall more and more in love with you everyday.  When you came out to meet us, the nurse put you on my chest and you locked eyes with me right away.  It was the happiest moment of my life (that and when I got to marry your amazing daddy!).  Your dad and I are constantly saying, "Can you believe that she is our daughter?"  We feel like the luckiest people in the whole world.

This week we have loved getting to know you more and getting to know your spunky little personality.  You are very active and we love all the funny faces you make all the time.  Your dad is always doing funny things with you and making all kinds of videos that he thinks you will become famous for on youtube, like making you dance the "duggy" and pretending you are a car, cranking up all your different parts, to keep you awake while you're eating.  So many people have been coming over to see you, and everyone says you are the most beautiful baby.  Of course we totally agree.  Your dad and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives with you.  You are such a little miracle and we can't thank God enough for bringing you into our lives.  Will write more soon.  Love to the moon and back.

Love,
Your momma

With daddy in the delivery room!

In the same blanket that your mom came home in 30 years ago

In your onesie from Auntie Pam, sleeping so peacefully

First family photo at the hospital, taken by your Auntie Paola

Just arrived home

Chilling in your crib, striking a pose

Your daddy was having too much fun doing this

   Lots more to come... :)

Baby KE

Hey Baby girl, guess what..... youre still not here. I don't know what your waiting for anymore. I thought a couple of walks with your mom would've done the trick but that didn't quite work so then I figured for sure a bumpy ride down the mountain in our jeep would've done it but that didn't either. So not sure what now. Your mom keeps eating spicy foods, and walking all over the place. Today we went to the veggie market to pick up some veggies for some homemade freezer meals for when you arrive we will see if you like them or not.

I've been busy trying to get your moms Jeep up and running so when you do decide to come around we will have a way to arrive at the hospital. It was having some difficulty starting but after taking it to the mechanic it turns out it was just a loose tube and another cracked one which a little duct tape I'm sure will fix it. I also got the horn working which is huge in the country and that was no easy task tearing apart the entire stearing column to do so, but it works now so when you do make your arrival we can toot toot toot all the way down the mountain. I will try to include some photos of the work we've been putting in to it for you. It is in no shape now but hopefully after a couple weeks we will be really styling..... probably not styling but you shouldn't fall through the floor. Well its about that time and I think I should give out the next letter of your name to everyone out there praying for you. So baby Ken............ not as in Ken the barbie but Ken as in the first part of your name. I think this will make your mom really angry maybe so angry she will push you right out. 

39 weeks

Baby Girl, you are the size of a watermelon! (I think you have been for a while now.. :)

Hey little chica,

Guess what we did? Instead of getting our scheduled c-section, we hiked a waterfall yesterday!  I felt like such a rebel.  Actually it was not very big or hard, did not involve scaling any rock, and would normally not allow for any sort of bragging right, but after 2 months of bedrest, I felt pretty sweet for doing it.  Don't worry though, I had a lot of help from my girlfriends who were there to catch me if I fell (I would have felt bad for them if I did cause that would be quite a catch!)  My friends were a little nervous that if you decided to start coming out at the waterfall, we wouldn't be able to get back up to the car, but you decided to stay put.  Even if you did decide to come out early, I think Jaci would have been game for delivering you right there.  She is crazy and adventurous like that.  

The water there was freezing but since it's been nearing 100 degrees everyday it felt so perfect and made for the perfect day.  Sitting in the sunshine, getting sprayed by the cold mist, hanging out with great girlfriends... I think it may have been the best day I've had since we found out we were having you!  Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be able to live in such a beautiful country.  
Here are some pics from the day... (photo cred to Jaci Baily!:)  

Phyllis and Elissa were ready to catch my fall

With my favorite Miss Emelin... check out my buddha belly!

Picnic with Madelin and Emelin from church - I LOOOVE these girls!

Jaci and I going for a dip in the waterfall

Loving some coconut juice, perfect treat for the ride home!

Then today we did another trip with the OANSA kids to the monument in Santiago and to the movie theatre.  Thought maybe you would make your appearance there, especially with all the stairs going up.  But no luck there either.  The kids in my group were saying their leader was a "slow, fat turtle" (in a totally endearing way), but I was still proud of myself cause I made it up and down.  I guess you must be waiting for some really special place or moment?  For some of the kids, it was their first time off the mountain, first time at a movie theatre, and my favorite, their first time on an escalator.  They were like Will Ferrell from the movie Elf (one of my favorite movies we will watch every Christmas), scared to get on, and one of them went into a full splits going up the escalator.  I wonder if you'll do this with your first time on an escalator?  Some pics from our trip today...

Monument in Santiago

Picnic dinner in front of the monument

Group photo in front of the monument - can you find me?

View from the top

Kids being silly

Waiting for our movie to start with 40+ kids (we got there way too early!)

You helping me lead praise songs for the kids, with a few of the girls, at the movie theatre (can you tell one of the kids had my camera?)

It's crazy how for so long, I've been doing everything in my power to keep you inside, and now I'm doing everything I can to get you out!  Moving as much as I can, bumpy car rides and walks, your dad is making curried food for dinner and brewing up raspberry tea to drink over ice.  But so far you've been determined to stay put.  I wonder what you are waiting for?  Maybe you want to come next week to share your birthday with my cousin Lori or your Auntie Katie?  Your Auntie Jaci wrote you this note today...

Dear Baby Girl, your mom has eaten strange and spicy foods, walked to Timbuktu and back, and even hiked to and from a waterfall today. A hike which normal people have to catch their breath after climbing the stairs, not to mention women as pregnant as your mom. I think you owe it to her to come out and soon. Thanks and love you already! ;)


So you see, everyone wants you to come out to meet us!  Oh and speaking of bumpy car rides, your dad bought us a jeep!  It is still in really rough shape but he is working really hard on getting it ready for us and getting all the holes patched (wouldn't want you to fall through the floor!).  But yesterday we went for a ride up the mountain in it and it was a really shaky bumpy ride.  Maybe next we'll go for a ride on El Negro to get you moving??  Just kidding, I know you will come when you're ready.

Last week I told you we didn't know what made you decide to flip around and put your head down.  I told you about the things we did to take credit for getting you to turn around.  BUT we shouldn't have done that, cause it was totally a God thing.  There were so many people praying for you to flip, I have the most precious video of my first graders praying for you to put your head down, but right now it's not wanting to copy on here from facebook.  This is the link to the video, but I don't know if it will work:
Praying for baby girl to flip

It's crazy to think this might be the last letter I write to you - not ever of course, but with you still inside of me!  I'm trying to think of what I still need to tell you that I haven't written already.  I guess the most important things are what we've been saying all along... we love you, God loves you, sooo many people love you in so many places, we believe in you, you are a miracle, dream big, we know you are going to accomplish great things in your life.  You have been created with a great purpose girly, and I can't wait to see your life unravel in all it's beauty.  

We are starting to work on the paperwork to get your passport ready, it seems like a lot of hoops to jump through.  Hopefully we'll be able to get it done, cause everyone wants you to come to Michigan to visit this summer.  You can't imagine how many people want to meet you.  You are also going to have dual citizenship in the DR and the U.S., just like your dad did growing up.  I wonder if you will have better Spanish than your dad.  The people at the airport always laugh at him when he says "Yo soy dominicano" claiming he doesn't have to pay any fees, until he slaps his passport down and they all look flabbergasted about it and he gets to pass through with no charges.  

Well baby girl, you are almost here so I think I will leave it at this.  I'm sure your dad will sneak on here soon to write you and give out another letter of your name.  No one has been able to guess it so far.  People keep sending you goodies all the time.  You wouldn't believe all the awesome clothes and cool toys that you have already.  Love you baby girl and see you soon on the other side.

Love,
Your momma

 

Letter to baby girl from Genesis Feliz

(Translated from Spanish)

To the most fortunate baby,
For many months we have waited for you and now you are finally almost here.  You are very fortunate because your father and your mother love you and have wished for you, to hold you in their arms for a long time.  I am going crazy to see you and be with you and share so many great things with you.  Even though I don't know you yet or what you will be like, I already love you and know you are beautiful.  You are a princess of God.  Be happy.

With love,
Genesis

Letter to baby from Aunt Tracey

Hey there little cutie- This is your Aunt Tracey! I am SOOO excited to meet you. I have been friends with your mom since high school and she is an amazing person and I know you are going to be too! No matter how far apart we live, or what is going on in our lives, your mom is one of those rare friends that is always there for me and when we see each other, even if its been 6 months since the last visit, its like we just saw each other yesterday. You will see as you grow up how special that is and I am so blessed to have such a true, caring friend like your mom in my life. One thing that really stands out to me when I think back on my friendship with your mom, especially in high school, was how much fun we had together and how random we acted.  There are so many pressures out there related to boys, relationships, and being popular that its easy to miss out on great times with your friends and great memories if you are obsessing over guys all the time or always worried about fitting in. Of course, we had our crushes and our insecurities, but more than anything we made time for our friends and families and had a lot of fun and those are the memories that last. I hope that you will do that too. For some reason we always want to grow up so fast and the very best advice I can give you is to slow down!! Enjoy life, make a difference, be a good friend, do what you know is right, and don't settle! A lot of times we are too impatient to wait for God's plan in our lives and we try to take charge and handle it ourselves to create the outcome that we think will make us happy. I hope when you are tempted to do this you will remember these words and even though its SO hard to do, wait on the Lord and his direction and timing in your life.  It is so worth it when you see His plan unfold in your life. Your mom and I have helped each other through hard times, but also through many great times including starting our careers, marrying our soul mates, and now she is becoming a mother!  I am so happy for her (and your dad too!) and cannot wait to meet you and hold you and watch you grow up. Ive been trying to convince your parents to move back to Michigan, specifically Oakland County, but so far Ive been unsuccessful. Im hoping that you can get them too- Im sure that you will have them both, especially your dad wrapped around your finger from day one, so lets work together on this ;) I love you so much already and cannot wait to see your cute little face! Please remember Im always here for you! Love, Aunt Tracey (and uncle dale!)

Okay where to start? Well one more day of school for me which means tomorrow I will be done teaching for the year and have my summer to look forward to. I think my summer will consist of a lot of rocking you back and forth, and trying to get you to go to sleep at night so we can all be a happy well rested family. Your mom went to the doctors today in Santiago and was going to use some of her birthday money, and baby money to purchase you a new car seat! You are so blessed with such a wonderful thoughtful mother, and such wonderful friends and family that support us here. Your grandparents on both sides are such awesome people and your aunts and uncles are too. I really look up to my family for all their unique talents God has given them and they use for his glory. I can't wait till you meet all of them. They are a bit spread out but that is good because you will be able to visit them some day and will be a well traveled individual. Your Aunt Pam lives in Boston, but goes on crazy adventures all over the world get in good with her and maybe she will take you with some day. You also have an aunt Brittany in California which I've never been to see there but maybe someday we can make it out that direction as well. Its always been one of my dreams to go and see the redwood forest, and northern pacific coast. You have one grandma that travels there often as well and who knows might some day live there as well? One of your grandpas lives in Detroit, which is awesome place to go and visit to look at cars, and also is good for the four seasons. Your uncle Brad too, he knows all the hot spots. You have an aunt and uncle James and Lisa and cousins in Grand Rapids area which has kind of been my stomping grounds, and I really love the area and can't wait to take you there to ride bikes, and show you all the cool places to go there. Your Uncle Tim and aunt Paola and cousins live here on the island and hopefully we will see lots of them together for play dates and beach outings. You have Grand Parents who live in Mexico too but they are like your aunt and love to travel around and go to new places so who knows where they might be when you arrive, but they do have a homestead in Kalamazoo where your great grandmas live also.
So you see baby K you will be well traveled just to see your family. And I hope someday you will have such awesome friends like your mom and I that live all over the world. We have learned a little something from each one of these friends about different cultures, and so much more. They have all been such a blessing to our lives and yours, hopefully someday you will be able to meet them all. Some advice for you when you are a bit older is to surround yourself with wonderful friends and family that will always be there for you to build you up and not tear you down. Surround yourself with positive people who love you for who you are and love God. Like your grandpa always says "its not what you know its who you know", so get to know allot of people. Well baby I guess its about that time to give away the second piece of the puzzle and I think your mom is really going to be mad at me for this one but Im going to do it anyways. Baby KE..............

37 weeks and 38 weeks

37 weeks
Baby Girl, You are the size of a Swiss Chard!

Hi baby,

I've been a little behind on blogging so I'm going to combine two weeks into one.  This week I celebrated my 30th birthday, I can't believe I'm 30, I feel so old.  On Monday night, it was Jaci's birthday and so some friends from church had a double surprise birthday party for the two of us.  I feel so blessed to have such good friends to make my birthday special.  
Here is a picture of us about to blow out our candles... can you guess what we are wishing for?

  Jaci said she was wishing that I would go into labor during the party (she didn't get her wish).  I am keeping my wish a secret, but of course it was about you!  Wednesday was my real birthday and it was very special too. (I was really wishing you might come out to see us that day, but I guess you wanted your own bday, can't blame you for that). Your Uncle Tim and Auntie Paola drove up from Santo Domingo and brought me a beautiful wooden rocking chair for my birthday that they bought on their last trip to Haiti. I love it and I can't wait to rock you in it all the time!  

 On Friday I went into Dr. Simon here in town, and we saw that you did a flip!  Everyone says you are going to be an acrobat.  Now you are head down again.  I wonder what made you decide to do that.  If you were listening to all your dad's firm commands, or if it was the crazy exercises I did that made me feel like I had a bowling ball rolling up into my diaphragm.  Whatever it was, I am happy that you did it.  But now that means I just have to keep playing the waiting game until you are ready to make your debut.  I hope it will be soon.  


We are finally in the month of June now.  It seems like all school year, I would tell people our baby would be born in June and it seemed like it was so far away.  I can't believe June is finally here and that I'm going to meet you so soon!  I can't wait to see what you look like and hold you and start our lives together.  There are so many things I can't wait to do together.  This weekend I had a pajama party with a bunch of the girls from church.  Your dad made pizza, we played hide and seek, went out for ice cream, danced, colored, painted nails, and stayed up late watching movies.  I can't wait to do all of these kinds of things with you.  Judging by how much you move and how strong you are already, I think you are going to be an active girl and keep us running.

Pajama party with the girls from Templo Bautista!

Everyday lately I wonder if today will be the day.  I over analyze every pain and movement and symptom wondering if this could be it.  It has been so hot here.  My wedding rings got stuck last week cause my fingers were so swollen from the heat so I can't wear them anymore.  It's been 100 and up, and I've been rotating through the same 3 loose dresses everyday, I don't know what I'll wear if I grow any bigger!  Please come soon chica!! :)  

Okay well your dad is going to write the 38 week letter.  Love you baby girl.   

Water Day at OANSA with the firefighters... yes my eyes are closed and not a good pic of me, but it gives a good illustration of the beach ball I've got going on underneath my dress!

 

 

 

38 weeks

Baby Girl, you are the size of a leek! 

 

Here is a letter from your dad.... 

Dear baby girl,

Sorry it's been so long since I've written you, there is a lot on my mind that I want to tell you.  I think your mom is going to explode and she is having difficulty moving around, but by the sounds of it, you aren't. You were right-side up then upside down, and who knows but I think all around.  We are trying to figure things out with our lives these days and you are a big deciding factor in our future plans. However we try very hard to leave that up to God and hope you learn that from us some day. Some days its very difficult to understand His ways but in the end it becomes all the more clearer and always, always works out for the better. So right now we are anxiously waiting for your arrival. Your cuna (crib) is ready and I just purchased your mom a vehicle for her birthday the other day so she can drive you around in it (that's if she learns to drive a stick and doesn't have problems with driving you around in a junker for the time being, but its better then El Negro ( my motor)  Who knows if we are still here when you become of age, it might someday be your vehicle, but maybe you will start out on El Negro first if your mom will let you.
 It was your mom's birthday the other day, and we thought it'd be really cool if you and your mom shared the same birthday but it looks like God had other plans for you. I think its cool that you will have your own birthday but we will see, there will probably be someone out there that shares that special day with you, I'm sure of it. I am really looking forward to that day and I think you are too judging by how much you are bouncing around. It sometimes feels like you are going to jump right out of your mom's belly. 
I am almost done with school for this year which is kind of sad, in some ways, but looking forward to what God has in store for us these next couple weeks and months and years. Anyways I thought I'd close this off with giving you and everyone else out there the first letter of your name since your mom really wants it to be a surprise but she has already told like all of HER friends and I haven't told anyone. So I figured I'd drop a hint to everyone else out there of what your name is one letter at a time. Every day or so until you're born which means you should be coming very soon hopefully I will give a new letter of your name and well if I did it every day it would take 15 days so that's your count down.  Don't come before that or no one will know your name. Look forward to see you very soon. Baby K..............
Love, Dad