hi, wiggle worm.

lately miss Lyvia, you have been movin and groovin in my belly. I'm not sure if youre doing cartwheels or play soccer of what. but it sure does feel funny.
and the other night, you kicked daddy in the face when he was trying to hear your heartbeat.
he giggled, he thinks it's funny when you move.
i can honestly say you two make quite a pair.
and he's making quite the change on being a better husband and daddy to you little girl.
you're changing everyones life, and you've only been in my belly for 23 weeks, we havent even met you yet and you're changing our whole worlds.
he's putting us first and thats all he ever thinks about.
he's growing up, you'll learn when youre older that for guys, thats a BIG step and it takes awhile.
but he's beginning to be amazing, and he loves you so so much already.

you got your first Christmas present in the mail today from Aunt Kelly. though we're going to have to give her a clever name, seeing that we all have goofy ones around here.
we have Mimi as your grandma on Mommys side, and Pops and Unk too. Mommy is Bug to your cousins Gracie and Drew, and daddy is occasionally "Guppie" but he's not around too much that they tend to forget. Grandma on Daddys side hasnt chosen a name yet. he suggested MeMaw, but Mommy doesn't like it. she's not redneck enough, hehe. you are known as  baby "Lybia" to your cousins, one day they will get it. I guess thats Mommys fault for making it so unique. and if Pops starts calling you Fred, it's because he has trouble saying your name. He suggested me naming you Piper today, which is very silly, but then again he wanted to name Unk Quincy Macquein before he was born. thankfully Mimi said no. So maybe he will nickname you Pip. either way, whatever people decide to nickname you, we all love you already, baby girl.

Mommy and Daddy now get 12 whole days together without him having to go to work, so we're going to work on projects for you since time is beginning to grow short. we've decided your room theme with me cows and cowgirl, since Mommy is Country at heart. i think you're going to love it. just like, I LOVE YOU!

love forever,
Mommy.

P.S. one of my favorite things to do with you is to take a bubble bath. i place my hands on my belly, lay back, and wonder what you're going to grow up to be like. you're already my best friend Lyvi Jean. i can't wait to meet you, and grow with you. you're always going to be my world, little beautiful baby girl.

Lyvia Jean Nelson.

on Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 at 0800, Mommy and Daddy walked into the ultrasound room.
Mommy laid down and they put cold gel on her belly and moved a little wand around to see you.
first the tech found your spin and all your little organs.
your tummy, your bladder, your kidneys, your heartbeat [that was Mommys favorite!]
then the regular lady sat down and turned the screen so i could see a little bit better. you were being a little stinker and kept moving away from what she wanted you to do.
you little wiggle worm.
but then she started showing my all of you. your arms and legs and where your little belly button would be.
and i got to see your nose and lips in a 3D image, i swear they come from daddy.
you and your little upturned nose.
i saw your little bones and they measured your belly and head, youre almost a pound!!!
and right where you should be with growth.
and theeeeeeen, the good part!you sat all daintily in my belly with your knees crossed, but she was sneaky and went underneath you so i got a clear view of your little booty.
and right there, between your crossed legs, guess what!?
NO LITTLE BOY PARTS!!!!
Mommy was sooo happy, you're exactly what she wanted.
i couldnt stop smiling, i have a perfect baby girl in my belly!!!
so today i went to the thrift store and bought you pretty little dresses. 
and a stuffed monkey because thats Daddys favorite.
some more bottles that will be better for your tummy when you eat.
and a little mini skateboard Daddy and i are going to fix up for you and make it cutesy, since Daddy use to skate everyday.
of course, it's going to be pink.
and Daddys going to have his hands full with the Queen AND the Princess.


i love you my darling Lyvi.
i can't wait to meet you, hold you, love you forever and ever!!


love always,
mommy.

whatever happens.

my dearest Lyvia or Mikey,

tonight wasnt a good night for mommy and daddy. alot of things are changing way too fast, and the things that really need to change, are not. mommy is really unhappy, and isn't being treated as well as she should be.

no matter what happens, wherever life takes us, as a family or just me and you, please know that whatever happens, i love you. i have loved you since the moment i found out i was carrying you. i love you through thick and thin and you gave me strength. even has a little itty bitty one stil growing in my tummy, you have given me the strength no one ever has been able to give me. you and me, we're the strongest there is baby. whenever i get upset, or scared, or lost and confused, i always hold my belly, i reach out to you. i feel your little wiggles and kicks and i cant help but smile, a little me, growing inside.

this world is a crazy one. there's alot of hurt. I'm going to save you from all that i can until you have to have hurt of your own. i will do all that i can for you baby, from now until the end of time. you will always come first, youre my life. you're the only reason i wake up every morning, just knowing that it's one day closer to seeing your scrunched up little face, i cant wait to meet you.

love, mommy.

18wks; 6 days.

hello little baby, mommy loves you!
only one more week and we are at our halfway point.
but of course thats only if you decide to stay inside mommy that long.
i'm hoping to meet you sooner than that!!
lately i have been able to feel your wiggling around in my belly.
and little tiny kicks.
you made my tummy pop out this past week and daddy and i had to struggle to get mommy into her ball gown, but with a little elastic we made it work.
mommys belly is so cute.

you seem to lke the Marine Corps, little one.
are you going to grow up and be a Marine like mommy was going to be, like daddy is?
he's our hero isn't he?
i played a Marine cadence for you with my earbuds with you in my tummy and you moved around, just like you did during the ball ceremony.
we find out if you're a little girl or a little boy in 2 weeks!!
even though i keep having dreams you're a girl.
mommy and daddy cant wait!!!

15 wks

Lil Sprout you are 15 weeks in Mommys belly.
Six inches long.
and about the size of a naval orange.
youre growing some hair, [i hope its reddish blond]
and youre getting eyelashes, [i hope theyre long like daddys.]
we can't wait to see if youre a Lyvia or a Michael.
keep cooking, though know we love you very very much and can't wait to meet you.

p.s. you can tone down on the random heartburn at 0123.
and let mommy sleep, the insomnia isn't making me a happy momma. =]

Were You An Accident?

No, baby Sprout, you were not an accident. Mommy and Daddy planned you and we started on July 14th, 2010. Daddy had graduated his MOS school, his job training, for the United States Marine Corps, and headed on back home to Indiana where we lived. We started talking that night about making YOU, and we decided, that we were ready to start our little family along with our new life. I started taking baby pills. at one point during the 2 weeks we were left in our hometowns, Daddy decided maybe we should wait to try for a baby. He got a little scared and wasnt sure if this was the right time. Daddy was never good with words and when he told Mommy this, i got really upset. it was the night of our going away party and it caused an arguement. during our party alot of the family was talking about babies with us, i walked away from the conversation. later that night when we were laying on the couch at your Grandmas house, Daddys moms, he kissed my shoulder and held his hand in front of my tummy. he whispered to me, "we're next" i turned to him and asked him if he was serious, and he said yes, we were back in the game.

we moved to our new city in TwentyNine Palms, California, where you will be born, on August 1st, 2010. we stayed in a motel 6 for 3 days and moved into our house on the 3rd of August. I had always told Daddy after a lot of chances for a baby, that i wanted to be in our own house first, so i could run to him with the test after he got off work and show him. thats exactly how it happened. On August 13th, i woke up and took a pregnancy test and got a positive result. i went to the Naval Hospital and got it confirmed. when Daddy called me on his lunch break, he already knew when i said i had a surprise for him. he always could read me like a book. when he got home that night he ran in the door and started kissing my belly and wanted to see the test. he took a picture of it and sent it to everyone he knew, he was so excited!! this was is, the beginning of our family. as shocked as we were that it happened so fast we were sooooo happy, words couldnt even begin to explain.

Hello Little Sprout.

My Dearest Darling Baby,

One day when youre all grown up, you're going to come into the room as ask me for your story. were you planned? how did it happen? what was it like having you grown in my belly for 9 months? were you everything we had ever hoped for? the thoughts and feelings of Mommy and Daddy throughout the rough months with everything going on. So here it, from the beginning. Every question you could ever ask, throughout these pages, every little detail and feeling, non sugar coated. pictures and videos of you as a little sprout in my tummy, your birth, first rolling over, crawling, walking, words, the first time you get to meet your handsome daddy. all that and more. every month or week update, every good and bad day with and without you in this world yet. but no matter what happens between now and the time you read this, ust know that both Mommy and Daddy love you very very much. We couldnt have asked for a more precious gift to grace us, but you. whoever you become, a soccer player or a Marine like daddy, a reader and a dreamer like Mommy. carrying on in this world with every cautious step, lesson learned, heartbreak and more. we never would change who you're going to grow up to be. wherever this world takes you, the skys the limit. never less. I promise.

Love Always, Mommy.