A note to my child who is currently living in my wife’s pregnant belly.

You’re growing fast, little one.  You’ll be 13 weeks old tomorrow and I’ll be taking a picture of your mommy’s belly so we can keep track of how fast you (and your mommy’s tummy) are growing.

I learned today that your taste and smell will be further developing this week and that you’ll start to grow little hairs.  If you’re my son, then you’ll be happy to know that back hair doesn’t run in my family, so you’ll be good there.  If you’re my daughter, then, well, uhh, I guess that’s a good thing for you to know as well.

However, I do have chest hair, so I truly hope you take after your mother in that department

Little unborn child.  It really amazes me how much you’ve already touched our lives.  I mean you’re already the center of our lives, and we haven’t even met you yet.  All of our decisions we are making now and for the rest of our lives, will be made with you in mind.

I hope you somehow know that I’m already trying to be a good daddy for you.  I make sure that mommy eats enough food, I make sure she gets enough rest, and I tell mommy no when she asks me what I think about so-and-so for a girl or boy name.  So when you’re in third grade and the kid next to you is being made fun of because the name their parents gave them, just remember your daddy hooked you up.

It is quite mind boggling for me to think about how much you’ll have to learn after you are born.  I promise to teach you everything I can about anything you want to know.  Be curious about everything.  Ask me a ton of questions.  I’ll explain how things work, why the sky is blue, and if you ask me something that I don’t know the answer to and you’re young enough, I’ll even make something up so it sounds good.

Yes, of course daddy knows everything.

I hope to become your hero; someone you look up to.  I hope that you’ll never be afraid to tell me anything when you are a child or even older.  However, when you are a teenager and if you’re anything like how I was, I’d actually you prefer you to leave out some of those details because you’d make me a nervous wreck.

I hope to be the type of father you brag about to all of your friends about how ‘cool’ he is.

And I hope to inspire you to live a life that you love, and that you never ever let anything hold you back from reaching for the stars.

Look at me.  I’m already jumping many years ahead of myself.  You’re just 13 weeks old.  But I also know that time goes by fast.

You’ll be here before we know it.  It wont be long before I’m here in my office working and I’ll be hearing your mommy talk to you and sing to you.

It won’t be long before I’ll hear you crying and your mommy yelling upstairs that it’s my turn to change your diaper.  I’ll then quickly pick up the phone, walk to the stairs and say, “shhh… I’m on the phone on a business call…“.  I’m Kidding. Of course I’ll change your diaper, even if I’m on a real call… as long as you promise not to cry.

And it won’t  be long before you’ll be big enough to walk up the stairs and come into my office just to give me a hug and say, I love you daddy.

It’ll be quite some time for you to really realize it, but you are going to be your mommy and daddy’s everything.  The center of our universe.  The core of our apple.  The middle of our Oreo cookies – which of course as everyone knows, the creamy middle is the best part.

My child.  You’re going to be loved by a lot of wonderful people.  And I already know that you’re going to have a lot of love to give in return because you came from your mommy and I.  And we’ve been known to have a ‘whole lotta love’ going on.  Especially after jello shots.  But that’s a story you’ll have to wait for… until your 28.

As you grow every single day in your mommy’s belly, without even knowing it, you’re making your mommy and daddy grow too.  And I’m not talking about my belly because of all the ice cream I’m eating lately.  I’m talking about growing as human beings.  Growing as a couple.  Growing as individuals.  Growing as a family.

Changes are happening to us that just, well, it’s hard to put into words.  For me, I’ve noticed that I reflect on life more.  It seems that everyday I obtain a tiny bit more of an understanding of this whole thing we call life.  And I expect by the time you are born and I get to see you for the first time, my understanding will become complete knowing.

At that very moment, everything will just make sense…

Another change I’ve experienced lately is a deeper and growing love for your mommy.  I call her Jane on this blog, but that’s not really her name.  And I noticed yesterday she doesn’t even know you’re talking to her if you call her Jane.  So it’s best to call her mommy.  Anyway, I really love your mommy so much.  I will do anything to make sure that she and you are always ALWAYS happy.  You two are my everything.

And the great thing is that you’ll have two loving parents who will do anything in the world for you, too.  Well, almost anything.  Once when I was a kid, I really wanted a helicopter.  Those are very expensive and we didn’t have room for it.  Besides, allowing an 8 year-old zoom around town in a helicopter wouldn’t be the safest thing to do.

Anyway, I’m just excited to meet you.  We’ll be finding out in a few weeks if you’re a boy or a girl.  I’m not wishing one way or the other.  Just know that if you’re a girl, I’ll be buying you comfortable shoes because your mommy will be taking you shopping all of the time and you’ll be walking and shopping like crazy.

Your mommy wears shoes that gives her blisters when she walks in them for a long time.  So many women wear heels and other shoes that look good, but kill their feet.  Why woman do that I’ll never ever know or understand.  But you’ll never have to worry; your daddy will always make sure you have very comfortable sneakers to wear.

And if you’re a boy, know that we’ll be doing a lot of fun guy things together like baseball, treasure hunting, play catch, chase frogs, play in the mud, play with toys, and other fun guy things.

Either way, no mater if you are a boy or girl, you and I are going to have a lot of fun together.  I’ll always be doing things to make you smile.  It’s funny, I don’t know you yet, but I just know that I’m going to love seeing you smile and I’ll be doing everything I can to see it as much as I can.

It’s funny how things work…

My life used to be just all about me.

Then, one day I met your mommy, and soon after my life became all about us.

And now that you’re on the way, our lives will soon be all about you.

We love you, and we can’t wait to meet you.

Love,

Your Daddy

You might also want to read:

1. A note to Baby Tarzan regarding your movement in my belly
2. 25 weeks pregnant: A note to my baby boy
3. 30 weeks pregnant: A note to my baby boy
4. A Child Playing Makes Your Heart Smile
5. 17 weeks pregnant belly and guess the sex of our baby!

Tagged as: baby, Father, Husband, Pregnancy, pregnant, week 12, week 13