Dear Emma

Dear Emma,
I love you so much, and I haven't even held you in my arms yet. I can't wait to snuggle with you and give you kisses, yet I have to wait and so must you... it'll be worth it in the end, I promise!
Daddy and I want you to be healthy and happy more than anything in the world. We've wanted to have you for such a long time and went through so much to get here- you really are our miracle baby. We got married in 2008 and wanted to wait until we were ready to have a baby, and decided that the time was right in spring of 2010. Daddy and I love each other so much and we were really excited to have a little half-daddy half-mommy to raise. But things didn't go according to plan, and I just wasn't able to get pregnant.
So we started the first leg of this long journey to you... we saw doctors and did so much testing and had so many doctor's appointments to figure out what was going on and see if we could treat it. We went through a lot- pills, ultrasounds, and finally a very painful surgery for mommy in July of 2011. In November of 2011, I started the pills again and prayed so hard that it would finally work. Now this is the really awesome part: Daddy and I had our first date ever on December 18, 2006 and on that very same day, Riley (our fluffy little dog... you're going to love her. She's so cute and cuddly and I know she'll be very protective of you!) was born! So that date has always held a special place in my heart. I tracked my whole cycle on the medication and for the first time in years, I ovulated! They'll teach you all about that in health class when you're older ;) When I looked at the calendar, I realized that there was a very good chance that you could snuggle in on December 18th and sure enough- you did! I felt cramps and tingly sensations that night... two days later, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. I was in such disbelief... I ran out of the bathroom, soaking wet and wrapped into a towel, and woke up Daddy. He was so groggy and confused and didn't believe me at first... you'll learn that about him. he doesn't like to get his hopes up so that he doesn't get disappointed. He was excited, but cautious. I had a blood test that confirmed that you were in there and I was in total shock! Since it was so close to Christmas, we decided to tell our family about you on Christmas day. Grandma Bev, Grandpa Chip, Grandma Denise, and Grandpa Bill were soooooo happy and shocked! Grandpa Bill even cried a little... it was one of the best days of my life :)
I was quite nervous in the beginning... since it was Christmas time, "All I Want for Christmas is You" played on the radio a lot and that became my little song for you. That's all I wanted, was you. We had an ultrasound at 7wks on January 16th 2012 and there you were, a little string bean with a giant heart beating away. I was sick from about 6 weeks until 13 weeks, but also ravenously hungry! You sure got plenty of nutrition... which is probably why you've always been a little big for how far along you were at each check. And- I never threw up! I am quite proud of that ;) I felt you move for the first time around 14 weeks. It felt like a little vibration or a butterfly fluttering around and slowly progressed to little pokes and jabs. And that ended up being full-on kicks and punches. Daddy and I refer to you as our little ninja (and hopefully you''ll have that fight in you when you're born!). You've always looked perfect on every ultrasound and you're so healthy, which makes me feel so much better. At 16 weeks, we found out you were a SHE! Daddy and I thought you would be a boy until just before the ultrasound, when we suddenly felt like you were a girl, and we were right! We were both over the moon... you already have three girl cousins who can't wait to meet you and play with you. So Mommy knows a thing or two about little girls!
So now you're 28 weeks and five days... you've been in my belly for about 25 weeks now. I'm excited to meet you, but not yet! Stay snuggly my baby girl... you need it. It's not your time yet!
Daddy and I want so much for you. We want you to be happy, healthy, strong, and to always know that you are so loved, and that we've loved you since the day we found out you existed. We want you to love school, learn as much as you can, have a thirst for life, and be able to love others. I hope you get Mommy's laid-back calmness and Daddy's common sense. I also hope you get Daddy's nose and not mine... your nose has always looked very cute on your ultrasound pictures so I hope it stays that way! Daddy and I also really look forward to creating awesome childhood memories for you and I hope you can look back as an adult and feel that you had everything you needed. I just want you to know how loved you are.
So, to my beautiful miracle of a baby girl: we love you so much. Now stay snuggly and we'll meet eventually, just hopefully not any time too soon.