Hello there little Julius!
Today daddy and I did some last minute shopping at Babies R Us - breast pump, bassinet bedding, an incredible swing set (that frankly, I wish they made for adults, not just newborns), sunscreen spray, baby laundry detergent, and baby washcloths. There’s only one more thing we need and it’s a baby carrier. I’ve seen lots of kinds and the only one I really want right now is something called a ring sling. Other than that - wow we have pretty much everything we need to make your first few months on earth absolutely luxurious!

I’m rounding the ninth month this week - and according to all 5 of my doctors (yes, 5) - in one more week you’ll be considered full term. So when people ask when you’re due, I always say, “Less than 4 weeks.” Pretty soon you’ll be in my arms and out in this world.

I gotta tell you. I think about you all the time. I talk to you a lot too, even right now. I’ve been trying to memorize the words to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns n Roses, one of my favorite songs - and singing it as a soft lullaby to you. My hope is after you’re born, I can videotape me singing it to you so you can remember it was the first song you heard in the world. I’ve been highly emotional lately, everything makes me cry. I must have sang that song to you about 40 or 50 times last night and was so choked up on the meaning of the lyrics that I burst into tears while singing it to you. Guess you didn’t seem to mind, you were sleeping peacefully in the belly.

I’ve been reading several parenting books - one I ESPECIALLY love called “Positive Discipline - The First Three Years” and the author, Jane Nelsen, has written these books for every age group - even teenagers. Her philosophy is simple. No punishment. No negative reinforcement. No yelling at kids. No violence. It deals with parents learning to get into the world of their children to better understand their desires and needs. It shows parents how to teach and guide, rather than punish to receive results. I’m also reading a book on how to help newborns and little babies a good night sleep - to encourage self-soothing while giving me and daddy a chance to sleep peacefully too!

A few other things too… I’m learning “baby sign language” and there are about 300 different signs I’m trying to memorize. This way you’ll be able to better communicate with me with your needs when you’re still learning how to verbalize what you want. It’s so important to me that we able to understand one another. It encourages many positive values that will instill better social skills, communication skills, and believe it or not - negotiation skills too! Imagine being able to negotiate with me when you’re about a year old! Nice! I look forward to it!

Your father and I have been attending BABS, childbirth and parenting classes, for a few months. This has helped us get more mentally prepared not only throughout the pregnancy, but for your arrival. Once you’re here in the world, I’m confident I won’t be in a panic when you cry and will have at least 30 solutions to try before I start to pull my hair out hehe. Just knowing you are living inside me is a joy that reminds me of how vast this universe is - and how miraculous the creation of life actually is.

We’ve hired a doula named Cheryl (and we have a backup named Jennifer) who is also very excited to meet you. She’ll be in the delivery room with me! I’ve been learning a method called “Hypno Baby Birthing” which combines hypnosis and childbirth to help reduce the pain during delivery. I’m also combining a method called “Orgasmic Birth” with the hypnosis so that I will have a more successful time transforming the pain into pleasure. I’ve read enough research now to know that whatever emotions I am feeling during labor set the precedent for your emotions too. I want this to be a pleasurable experience for both of us with as little anxiety or trauma as possible. Realistically, I know that things often don’t go as planned in the delivery room. Emergencies happen. Ideal births can turn into the exact opposite. But I believe if I keep thinking positively and focus on a smooth labor, the odds will certainly be in our favor!

Daddy and I took some photos of ourselves so we could remember this very special time.

Love
Mommy