journey in mommy's tummy.

Dear Brielle,

February 18th, 2013 was the day I found out I was having you!

Mommy and Daddy were scared, but very excited. Your daddy and Grandma were with me when I took the test. When I saw that plus sign, I was so happy!!

9 Weeks & 2 days

Mommy's belly started growing very quickly. You were not shy!!

16 Weeks and 3 days

We found out you were a baby GIRL on May 20, 2013. We had your Grandma, Grandpa, NaNa, Papa, Auntie JJ, Uncle Russ, and Uncle Josh all packed in a small room when we found out! The nurse wasn't suppose to let us have that many people, but she was so sweet and let us do it anyways. It was so exciting!

17 weeks & 1 day

At 19 weeks and 1 day, mommy and daddy went in for an ultrasound and they told us you were measuring 6 days smaller than you should, which was nothing to worry about! You were just a tiny peanut. :)

21 Weeks & 5 days

22 Weeks & 3 days

23 Weeks & 1 day

At 23 weeks and 1 day, you measured 10 days small. They told mommy that I needed to come in for an ultrasound once a week and a Non-Stress test to monitor your heart rate and my contractions twice a week. That continued until you made your big appearance. 

But, we didn't mind because I got to see your beautiful face every week! Yay!

23 Weeks & 1 day

Mommy's bellybutton popped out!

Mommy and daddy got a wonderful surprise on July 22. We went in for my normal weekly ultrasound and they did a 3D ultrasound for us! We finally got to see what you looked like. You were, and still are, the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen! Seeing your face left me speechless.

26 Weeks & 1 day
First 3D Ultrasound

We all guessed that you would have mommy's nose and upper lip and daddy's facial shape and bottom lip. Also the bumps near your eyes are your toes! Silly girl. You always had your feet in your face, haha.

One of my favorite cravings was Krispy Kreme's chocolate iced cream filled donuts. Your daddy would drive there at 2 am to get me some!!

One of the scariest moments in my pregnancy was on August 22. I started having constant contractions every few minutes. I was only 30 weeks and 5 days. Daddy took me to the Emergency Room at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange. I was given an IV because they thought it was caused by dehydration. THEY STOPPED!!! Thank God. It was way to early for you to come.

Monitoring my contractions and your heart rate

But then, it happened again on August 26. We went back to the ER and this time, the IV fluids did not stop the contractions. They had to give me a shot to stop them, which burned really bad!!

31 Weeks & 1 day
2nd 3D Ultrasound

We got another 3D ultrasound of you! You had grown so much since the last one! You were changing so much! I couldn't stop looking at this picture. I even made it my background on my phone! :)

Both of your Grandma's put together my baby shower. I had two, one with friends and one with family. It was so much fun!

Here is the last picture I have of you before you made your big appearance!

34 Weeks & 4 days

Mommy's cousin, Savanna, did a photo shoot of me when I was 37 weeks pregnant. She did an amazing job!!! Mommy is NO model but Savanna made me look great :) haha!

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Photo credit: Savanna Melanson

Last Belly Picture
37 weeks & 4 days on the left
39 weeks on the right

Fun Facts about my pregnancy with you:

• My last period was on January 20, 2013 before I got pregnant. 
• Morning sickness - I threw up about 1-2 times a day from about 4-5 weeks pregnant until I was about 15-16 weeks pregnant!
• No one except family and a few close friends knew we were expecting you until I was about 4 months pregnant.
• We loved you from the second we suspected you were in my tummy :)
• I craved egg salad sandwiches, turkey and bacon sandwiches, Krispy Kreme donuts, In n out burger, and anything sweet!!
• I thought you were a boy before we found out, but EVERYONE told me you were a girl.
• I only got stretch marks on my butt cheeks and hips.
• My bra size went from 34B to 36DD!
• You were very active! Always kicking me in the ribs.
• I carried like I was going to have a boy. I was all belly!
• I got HORRIBLE acid reflex (heartburn) during the end of my pregnancy. It got so bad that I usually ended up sleeping sitting up or not sleeping at all.
• I went into Pre-term labor 4 times!!
• My feet, ankles, and face got SO swollen.
• Your nickname in my belly was "peanut" because you were so itty bitty.
• The nurses told me you were going to have a full head of hair!
• I wanted to do a fully natural birth.

I'll be writing to you again soon and tell you all about your big appearance!

I love you so much!

Love,

Mommy