Dear Toot,

it occurs to me this week that I should thank you.

You see, your mother has always been a little bit high strung and neurotic. I tend to get bent out of shape about the tiniest things -- strangers at work? Oh, God, we're going to get laid off. Funny tingling in my feet? Oh, God, I am going to die. You get the idea.

But since we found out about you, I have had to teach myself to to calm down. You see, I love you so much that I want to make sure my body is the most hospitable place possible for you to hang out. So lately, when I experience something that would normally make me really upset, I consciously choose not to let it bother me. At work, I stopped letting things stress me out. I learned to say no when I felt overwhelmed. When your father and I disagree, I am learning to seek reconciliation faster, spending less time in a cranky mood. This is a lesson that I desperately needed to learn. I think it stands a decent chance of sticking even after you show up. So thanks!

Oh, so you're the size of a banana now. I assume we're talking about length here, since it would be pretty creepy if your actual shape shifted from "small cantaloupe" to "banana."

You should also know that you're going to be getting an extra middle name. Your Grandmother Garrett asked if we'd consider adding her Japanese family name, since there's nobody around to carry it on. I was a little hesitant at first, purely because I am unfortunately resistant to change, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that you will probably really appreciate having both sides of your heritage represented in your name. So, you'll be Alexander Kennedy Wada Garrett. It's kind of a mouthful, but I am sure you'll get used to it.

I've started feeling you move around a little bit this past week. At least, I think it's you. It's still sort of hard to tell baby nudges from gas and other normal stomach-related motions. But I am pretty sure it's you. It feels odd. Your Dad felt it too. You get really wiggly right after I eat. It's pretty neat. Keep on wiggling.

Can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Mom

21 weeks, 4 days in the oven