Heartbeat!

Yestdarday the most amazing thing happened...your dad and I heard your heartbeat! It made me so happy because it really reassured me that you are alive and growing and everything is going fine. He said your heart beat was beating at 175 beats per minute, which is a little on the fast side, but that is ok. He also said it was really strong for me only being 10 weeks pregnant. I am so happy that you are growing so well!!

As of now, you have fingers and toes, elbows and knees that bend, color in your eyes, many of your internal organs and you are really starting to take the shape of a baby. Your brain is developing and you are about an inch and a half long. From now on you will grow at an incredible rate and will get much bigger very quickly.

I told my students about you this week when I went back to work for the school year. They seem to be really excited for you also, but I promise...I won't let them touch you! I can just imagine all those snot/dirt/food covered fingers touching you and I won't let it happen! But they will be able to see me grow as you grow inside me. It will be fun to share that with them. They are most excited, as am I, to find out if you are a boy or a girl. I will find out in 8 more weeks. Your father really wants you to be a boy and I really want you to be a girl, but we will both love you and be happy regardless of what gender you are! (But if you will work on being a girl, you will help me win some money...haha).

Stay safe and keep growing!

Love you,

Mom

Education

Good afternoon baby. I hope you are snug and happy today. You are starting to get arms and legs and you are losing your tail. You are starting to look like a real baby and it is so exciting for me and your dad. You also are getting many of your facial features and they ones you already had are getting more defined. You are about dime sized and growing pretty fast.

My night classes start today. I have been thinking a lot about school the last few days as I mentally prepared myself that summer is coming to a close and school, and work, is starting soon. Education is very important to me and I think it is necessary to live and contribute to the society we live in. Most jobs that pay a decent salary require some college or even a degree or two. Although many people are successful at what they do with no college, I think it is becoming more important all the time.

I have been in school since I was in preschool (which I went to for two years) so that puts me at 23 consecutive years of school. 8 of them being in college and one more semester to go. I need to take 3 more classes and then I will have my math endorsement and I am going to quit going to school for a while. It seems really weird to me because school is "what I do" and what I have always done. It seems strange to me to know I will be done and trading in school for mommyhood. Although I am sure I will go back again someday and take classes here and there, and maybe teach some, I am going to be done for now (well, done in December). I hope I am as good of a mommy as I am a student!

Although you will be able to make your own choices in life, I do hope you choose to go to college and further your education. I will do everything in my power to help you love learning and love school from the beginning. I will help you and guide you into being successful. I will read to you daily starting when you are a baby and help you learn to read as soon as you are capable. I hope with that guidance you will learn to love school the way that I always loved school. And more importantly, I hope you become a lifelong learner and continue to learn and love learning for your whole life. Know I will do anything to help you develop this passion.

Love you,

Mom