7 Weeks, 5 days

Good morning my little martian, doubling my blood volume and making me feel as though I'm constantly just stepping off a roller coaster. How are you today? No really, I'm curious. The Lord keeps me calm about it mostly but I'd certainly like to hear from you. Got enough folic acid? Am I drinking to much soda? Enough water? Does it bother you that I still sleep on my stomach?

Driving to work today, I saw a red-winged black bird. They're so pretty. There are a lot of things you'll probably really like about Earth. God's an incredible artist (I mean, His latest work of art is YOU, after all) and uses such pretty colors for the sky and the trees ...

... yes, there are plenty of things I think you'll enjoy here. The first place my mind goes is to the zoo. I know that's funny, but I love the zoo. God made sooo many cool animals! And you can't even find all of them there, at the zoo! Deep in the ocean there are thousands, if not millions of different organisms doing so many different things. There are squishy bug-like things and big scary squids ... all with a job to do. Though I think God did just make a couple of them because He was bored and wanted to make something else pretty.

You'll also meet a lot of really nice people, people who leave their whole lives behind to serve as missionaries in other countries and people who don't mind being five minutes late to work if it means helping a little old lady cross the street. There are doctors who save lives and people like my cousin Ken, who fight on behalf of our country (and other countries) to make sure people stay safe.

But you know, there are a few things here on Earth that aren't that pretty.

There are lots of people out there who only care about themselves ... they may not even realize that's the truth, but it is. They hurt people's feelings, and take things that aren't theirs to take.

There are people out there who are just angry. They don't think before they speak. They feel that the world owes them something, that their children owe them something.

If you do go to public school, you might find that some of your classmates get kicked out of their houses sometimes, or are always fighting with their moms and dads ... that's if they even have both a mom and a dad.

I want you to think about both sides of life here on Earth, little martian. You have to understand that it's not always sunshine and unicorns (like it must have been in heaven ... except of course, for the unicorns ...)

... still, for some reason you went ahead and told God, "Alright, I'm ready! Got a mom and a dad ... time to go start growing so I can come out and meet them." You must have known what you were getting yourself into!

Realize that you can be part of the world that is beautiful and good. We aren't supposed to invest much in this world, but the Lord had a purpose for putting us in the world. That purpose was to serve Him here, and to reflect Him here. He knows there's a lot of yucky stuff happening right here, right on His creation ... so, He asks us to help keep it all in check.

I can't wait to take you to the zoo, or to the beach, or camping ... I can't wait for you to meet all the great people in our lives. I want you to know and take in all of God's goodness.

But I don't want you to be afraid to ask us about the bad stuff, either. Dad and I are really honest folks, you know, and we won't sugarcoat anything ... but I hope you can learn from us, too, and learn that, while we do have to exist here for a time, God can still use us to change lives for the better. That's why we're here. To do God's will. (Even when it's hard!)

Alright my little martian ... you sure are funny-looking today. I can't wait until you're bigger and you just look like a teeny, skinny, baby doll. I especially can't wait for you to start kicking me in the gut. All I ask is that you stay away from my full bladder and from my stomach after Thai Smile ...

Week 7

Well, you've been with us for seven weeks, today! (Technically it's more like four or five, but I like how the doctor counts it better.) Your heart should be beating now! How crazy to think I have *two* hearts in me at this moment! (And two livers, and four kidneys, and ...)

I think everyone in the world knows about you. I can't keep my mouth shut. I've told all my students at work and even a few strangers! So far, everyone's been happy. Grandma Morgan's the only one who had a ... well, a weird reaction ... but she's happy now. And Grandpapa said he was happy to be getting a grandbaby before he dies, haha. He's so silly.

How am I feeling, you ask? Pretty okay. I'm still sleepy and hating that I have to come to work every day instead of stay home, do chores, and nap, nap, nap. Not sure what exactly you're doing in there but you are taking all of Mom's energy and that is not cool! On second though, take all you'd like ... knock me out! Whatever you need to grow and be healthy.

I have to apologize for the fact that I am still drinking a little caffeine and aspartame. I'm really trying to make better choices but I realize now that I simply have to drink a little caffeine in the morning in order to function properly during the day. If this is just not something we can compromise on, let me know. Just send me a little note, or something. (Nothing scary. Maybe tell God to tell me ... you still get to kinda visit with Him, right?)

I am also trying to eat as healthily as I can ... lots of greens and lots of protein ... but for the past two days you have not let me get baked potato out of my head. I would happily swim in a big pool of baked potato, with sour cream and cheese and chives and bacon bits ... yum-tastic. Good Heavens.

My pants are a little tight but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is not you. It's the baked potato.

Let's see ... any lessons for you today ...

... well, I can tell you something I'm going to promise you!

I promise to let you have choices. If you want to paint your room black, I'll help you. If you want to dress up like a clown and go to school, as long as you aren't breaking any rules or hurting anyone's feelings, go right ahead. I promise to remind you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made ... I will remind you of that thing that God has asked me to remind you of, that He doesn't make mistakes ... He does everything purposefully, from the last hair on your head down to your pinky toe. You are perfect and in Christ you are made flawless. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Trust me, I'm going to be a boring, lecture-y kinda mom ... but I promise never to give you lectures about negative things.

At least I'll try hard. And feel free to respectfully speak up if I'm not doing very well.

Finally, I'll leave you with this -

Last night, Dad started tickling me in his sleep! When he was done, he hugged me and said, "I love you guys." In the morning I asked if he remembered doing that and he didn't.

I think he's really excited to meet you. Even when he's not awake he's thinking of you.

I love you, Evy Sweet. (And if it's you, Ellie, I love you like crazy, too.) You know you're lovely to me. I'll do everything I can to be sure you grow up knowing that.

That's another thing - yes, you'll probably be tenderest and sweetest as a baby (oh, goodness, that sounds like I was talking about eating you ... ) but you should know, it's okay for you to grow up. I want you to grow up. I'll be crazy in love with you and your teeny fingers and soft little eye lashes ... but I'll be so proud of you and excited about watching you fly away when you grown up. Because the world needs you, sweetheart!