Dear Hayden,

As of today, your big girl room is finished! You’ve been sleeping in a big girl bed all summer, but today Dad and Papa put together your headboard (which we designed out of a piece of fence to match your bird/outdoor theme), and that makes the room complete! To tell you the truth, I cried the day this summer when they moved your big girl bed in, and took your crib out. I love watching you grow and change, but it’s all happening a little too quickly for me. I love being with you, and I don’t want these precious years to end.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Baby,

Today we’ve been working on the finishing touches for your room! We got some storage baskets, some picture frames and a hat rack. I am going to paint you a piggy bank, and I think that will be the last little detail! We will have to fill the picture frames and hang the letters of your name after you get here, though!

I also made a collage of some of your ultrasound pictures. It says “We dreamed of you…” and that is the truth! We dreamed of and prayed for you long before you were on your way, and now we are only 86 days away from the day you are due to arrive. We just can’t wait to meet you!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Uncle Darryl has been home on leave for a couple of weeks now. You have seen a lot of him because you swim at Nana and Papa’s a lot and hang out with him then. You have fun when he’s around!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today was your first day of preschool! You were so excited and you went right into the room without even saying goodbye! I am glad you are happy there. You had a great day!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today we went to meet your preschool teacher! She is very, very nice and I think you are going to have a great year! You got to play in your classroom, too. Thrsday is your first day of school, and you are so excited!

Love you,
Mama

You and Mrs. Schuster:

Playing with the dollhouse:

Playing Dress Up:

Playing with new friends:

Dear Hayden,

Tonight when your dad got home from work, he changed out of his work shirt and you put it on!! We were all cracking up at how silly you looked — you were laughing the hardest!!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Baby,

This weekend, Dad and Jiddoh painted your room and put your furniture together! All we have left to do is hang some things on the walls for you. You are loved so much and you aren’t even here yet!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

We spent this weekend camping with our friends. It was really, really fun!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

We just spent a long weekend in South Dakota. You had a great time playing with your cousins, and doing other things that you don’t normally do!

You  rode horses with Uncle Jim:

We visited Mt. Rushmore:

You had a sing-a-long with Uncle Jim:

You played with your cousin Josey:

You played in the creek:

You enjoyed the nightly campfire:

We went to a park that is Flinstone-themed:

You watched your cousins Soren, Clayton and Ben play baseball:

And we visited the final resting place of the beautiful and brilliant person after whom you are named, my cousin Eva:

And you loved and explored the area:

Love you,

Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today I shared with you that you are getting a brother. All you could say is, “No, I want a girl baby instead.” I tried to explain that we don’t get to choose, but you keep saying how much you want a girl baby, so I think we’ll leave this topic alone for a while.

Here’s a cute picture of you holding your brother’s picture:

I’m sure you’ll warm up to the idea!

Love you,
Mama