40 Weeks and Counting...

Well, the day has arrived - our little girl's due date, that is.  What does that mean?  Not much, so far.  I feel like she could come any minute, but I've been feeling that way for about a week and a half now, and she has yet to make her appearance.  I'm not complaining.  For a while, my back was killing me, but I think that may have been the Lord's not-so-subtle way of telling me to slow down and take it easy.  The last couple of weeks have been good.  I mean, I don't sleep great at night, and I feel large and slow, and as a result of both I've been extra ornery (David will attest to this), but for the most part I've been relatively comfortable.  More than anything, I'm just excited to meet our little girl!  Here are some pictures I forced myself to have taken just today, on the 40 week mark.  

The following is a letter that I wrote for our baby several weeks ago.  Feel free to read it, or not, but I felt like it would be an appropriate addition to this post as it will probably - hopefully - be the last one I write before her arrival.

Dearest Afton,

  At least I think your name will be Afton. You won't be born for another seven weeks and I want to meet you before officially giving you a name.
  You're kicking around inside me right now.  It almost feels like you're talking back to me as I write you this letter.  Feeling you kick is the most incredible feeling.  Every time you move I think I fall in love with you a little more.
  I have enjoyed being pregnant with you.  Sure the first few months were full of nausea and fatigue, and I'm sure these last couple of months will present some new discomforts, but it has been amazing to feel you grow, and spend time enjoying the process.  We've walked many, many miles together, eaten plenty of chicken salad sandwiches and ice cream, and even traveled to several different states!
I feel like I'm getting to know you already, for some reason.  I feel like you will be a very special girl, and that you and I will have a special, close relationship.  I have to ask you in advance: please bear with me!  I've never raised two girls before, and I have a lot to learn.  You'll have to be patient with me.  But I already love you so much, and I know that Heavenly Father loves you to a level we can't even comprehend.  And he's sending you to us!  We're going to do the very best we can.
  Your daddy and I were so excited to find out you would be coming to this world and to our family.  Your big sister Paisley was no less excited, although I doubt she really understood what was happening.  Along with our excitement came a few concerns, as you would be arriving during Daddy's last year of school, when expenses would be high and income would be low.  Our health insurance was not very helpful, so financially, we knew it would not be easy.  But we also knew how blessed we were to be welcoming you into our family, and we knew the Lord would provide.  And now, several months later, we're just more excited than ever.
  Afton, there is so much I want for you in this life.  I want you to love it.  I want you to be as happy as a little girl can possibly be.  I want you to know and feel how loved and adored you are, and how important you are to this family.  I want you to know and feel how much your Heavenly Father loves you.  You were with Him not long ago.  He sent you on this great adventure so that you could have a body and experience life in all its hardship and all its magnificence.  He also sent Jesus Christ, his own son, a long time ago, to feel all the pain and hardship you would ever feel.  Jesus suffered for the sins that you would someday commit and the hurts you would someday have.  He even showed us how to be like Him, so that we could become like Him and go live with our big heavenly family when this great adventure on earth ends.  Afton, Jesus Christ is your friend, your bog brother, and your Savior.  He is always there for you, and you can - and should - always turn to Him.
  There are so many things I want to teach you and experience with you.  I'm so excited to hold you and rock you, to kiss your little face and tiny fingers.  I can't wait to play with you, read to you, laugh with you, and watch you become everything you can be.  This is just the very beginning, and I can't wait for it to start.

Love,
Your adoring mom.