Dear Squirt (Second Trimester)

Dear Squirt,

Just a few weeks left in the second trimester and it has gone even better than the first (I didn't even think that was possible)! One of the only side effects of your presence that I've had this trimester is a bit of sciatic nerve pain. It was especially rough during a couple of the days we were packing everything in Columbus to move to Cleveland, but we pushed through and it's been much better since. This trimester has been full of big changes and exciting news, with lots of transition. As I mentioned, we moved! Squirt, we were so content in Columbus when your daddy was pursued by a church in Elyria, Ohio. We had a really tough decision to make, because we loved the life we had built in Columbus, but this opportunity for your dad was one-of-a-kind. In the end, it was too good to pass up and we packed everything and moved up here. We deeply miss our many, special friends in Columbus, but we are looking forward to all of the opportunities here. 

This trimester we also found out if you were a sweet boy or a beautiful girl. One of my nurse friends from work in Columbus offered to do an ultrasound around 16 weeks, which is pretty early to determine sex, but we decided to give it a shot while your grandpa and grandma were in town, and we FaceTimed with grammy and papa. Well, you were being super modest the whole time and we weren't sure we were going to be able to tell, but right at the end you decided to clue us in. A couple weeks later we were able to confirm your sex at a prenatal appointment and you weren't nearly so modest then! In fact, the doctor made a comment about how proud you were of your manhood. We were so excited to find out you're a BOY!

You're a BOY!!!

Your sweet profile (sorry it's sideways)

You're waving to us!

A couple other big milestones this trimester were:

-Seeing you wave to us on an ultrasound

-Started to feel you moving/kicking (doc said I'll get to feel you a lot because the placenta is toward my back)
-Road trip to Florida for a week of vacation with Marty and Kelly

At the Ponce City Market in Atlanta

-Reaching the point of viability- if you were to be born now you'd have about a 60% chance of survival

-You passed the age of legal abortion

I get it, that last one seems inappropriate to put in such a fun, exciting letter to you, but it's a reality that I don't want you to take for granted, and one that others need to realize and come to terms with, as well. 

Sweet boy, please don't think that abortion was ever an option for us. In fact, we denied offers for genetic testing because to us, it doesn't matter. It wouldn't change the outcome of our decision to carry you and love you for as long as we have. But Squirt, for so many babies, abortion is their reality and their end. In fact, this was the terrible destiny for almost 21,000 babies in Ohio alone in 2015. Statistics like this one break your mama's heart and move me to action, as I hope it does for others. Squirt, there are some who will know and love you who don't understand why I would bring this up to you, but I think it's so important to understand that as much of a living human as you are, all of the babies met by abortion are just as human and just as alive. They have fingers and toes and eyes and they can wave on the ultrasound, too. The only difference is that you are wanted, so deeply, by your dad and I. Squirt, please don't ever question that, and please don't take it for granted. God has a huge plan for your life. Don't waste it.

20 weeks!

We love you so much, Squirt, and we can't wait to finally be in our new house and finish getting your room ready for your arrival! Until then, keep growing strong!

So much love,

Mama