A letter from Avery to her Papi.

Dear Papi, 

Hello! Thank you for picking me up from Lola and Barry's. I wish I could spend days with you and momma but will try to be brave because you have both told me I have to go there. 

I also wanted to tell you that I am glad you are trying to stop smoking. I don't know what that is, but I hear it is a bad habit that is very hard to quit. I know momma is very proud of you for trying so hard, so I am proud too. She also told me that you had a test come back a little high, and that it was because you eat too much yummy food. I know that momma knows how to cook food that will help your test come back better this summer and that you should listen to her because she's really smart in that way. She wanted me to tell you that if we bought a house with a whiz-bang kitchen that she would cook you meals so great you wouldn't even know they were good for you! It will be hard for you to watch your diet, but (just like smoking) I am glad because that means you will be here for me longer! I want you to harrass my boyfriends and eventually walk me down the aisle at my wedding! Momma needs you around too.. she loves you very much, I can tell. 

Well I should go take a nap now. I'm growing very much and that takes lots of energy! I am glad that I was born and that I am your baby. You love me very much, I can tell. And I love when you meow at me and make funny faces. 

Be nice to momma... sometimes she's very tired from getting up early and getting me and her around then working all day. I try to let her sleep, but sometimes by 4 in the morning I am so hungry that I have to cry a little.

I love you very much, Avery Rose

Lonely

Today I met my running group and had to walk for the first time. I was really sad, but my friends Maggie and Elly reminded me it would be well worth it. Daddy and I are also working out where we are going to live and whether it will be together or apart. I so wanted to bring you into this world as a part of a family, and hope you forgive me if it doesn't happen, at least right away. I'll try my hardest to be a good mom.

Running

Today I went running with a group of people. There were 45 of us that met at 5:30 in the morning! It was warm and muggy, but not too bad. I ran up a few hills and managed to get nearly 5 miles in, but was hurting afterwards in my pelvic bones. I ended up running with Becky, who is a doctor and she reminded me to take my vitamins and drink lots of water. About halfway through the run there was a dead and decomposing deer on the road and it was so smelly. I gagged and gagged as we ran by and I kept laughing and apologizing to Becky. Looks like my morning sickness wooziness still isn't gone for good.

Home to Missouri

Today I woke up and went downstairs to read. Daddy's dog Turbo kept me company and kept coming over for kisses. We all went to breakfast and ate LOTS of pancakes and eggs. I got really sleepy and was napping as Daddy was watching racing on TV. He had to take me back to the airport around lunchtime, and I barely made it on the plane because the flight was so full and I had to fly standby. When I got off the plane in Kansas City it was SO hot.. my car thermometer measured 107 degrees for a few minutes, til it leveled off at 97. I was spoiled in Denver with the cool temps and low humidity!

Still in Denver

Daddy, Donny and I went to Auntie Angie and Uncle Greg's this morning and picked Angie and Anna up and went to Alex's baseball game. You would have been proud of Alex for playing so well and Anna for being so patient. It was a little warm in the sun, but it was only a couple hours and I was feeling pretty good. We went back for a cookout afterwards and had a great meal and lots of fun talking. Auntie Angie gave me things to make your bathroom look really pretty and a rubber duckie to stick over the faucet in the tub so you don't bang your head when we clean you up. On the way home we went by a baby store and looked at all the things you're going to need. Wow, there's a lot of stuff there!

Daddy Loves You

Auntie Angie and your cousins Alex and Anna went with me to a mall where we met up with Daddy for lunch. He laughed when he saw my belly, which was much bigger than when I saw him last time. He kept touching it... he loves you so much already!

Growth spurt!

Today I went to Denver to see Auntie Angie and her family as well as Daddy. I started the day off at the doctor's office where they made me wait SO long to see him. Then I got to hear your little heartbeat so it was worth it! I had these cute little striped pants on that hid my little belly pretty well, but by the time evening was here and I had finished dinner I could barely button them. I have been measuring my belly with toilet paper squares and went from 8 to 8.5 in just a day or so! Now I can really tell I'm pregnant and it makes me smile. :)