To our Daughter,
What an amazing week it was; filled with so much excitement and anticipation! Since Christmas morning we’ve been waiting to find out if you were a boy or a girl and that wait is now over.
A few weeks ago we had the ultrasound to tell us how you were doing in Mama’s belly and Dr. Chang said that you’re a perfect baby and healthy as can be. We were given the sealed results of your gender in an envelope and once we had it in our hands we quickly gave them to “Auntie Em” for safe keeping – knowing she wouldn’t tell a soul.
The plan was to have a party and invite family and friends over to reveal your gender to everyone at the same time – including us! Emily took the results to Build-A-Bear and made a boy bear or a girl bear based on the results. Once we had everyone together, we would open the box and that would tell us what you are!
Not since the days leading up to when we got married had we been bursting with such thrilling energy. For the first time you looked like a human in Mama’s belly as opposed to a squirmy little alien and the thought of you arriving in August was more real to us than ever. Below is a photo of what you looked like when you were only 21 weeks old!
The 48 hours after the ultrasound was very challenging for us as we really wanted to know what you were so it was a good thing we had a party to get ready for to keep our minds off what that envelope held!
In addition to the surprise we were about to get, we had an unexpected one take place the morning of the party. You were clearly just as excited as us for the day to start because we felt you kick for the first time while we were lying in bed. What an unforgettable feeling!
We got so much help with the party it was incredible and are so thankful to everyone’s generosity to make it such a special day for us. Emily Gill did an amazing job ensuring that no one found out the contents of the box and had it in hand all day ensuring that no one snuck a peek.
Aunt Sara had been helping for weeks prior to the party making crafts to decorate our home with and they were perfect. Sarah Lang came over Friday afternoon and began cooking the food for the party and even stayed the night so that she could wake up early to ensure everything was fresh and delicious – and it was! We got help from Stefan Tomm and Kevin Lang who were on “poof patrol”; hanging blue and pink poofs around the house and Grandpa Frank was there too helping out where we needed him . Here are some photos of the crafts, food and poofs:
Once all of our family and friends arrived, we Skyped in Grandma Chris, Uncle Jason, Aunt Chanin and their families so they could join in on the celebration. It was absolute chaos! So many people around us bristling with anticipation!
The time had finally come. We were given the box with the boy bear or girl bear. Here’s the look on our faces when we opened it:
And there it was: a beautiful ballerina teddy bear. You are a GIRL!!!!
The final surprise of the day came when we told everyone your name: Audrey Marie Fredricks!
As we reflect on all the events that have taken place since we found out we were having you, there wasn’t much doubt you were going to be a girl. It was destined the moment we woke up Christmas morning and knew that you’d be named after your Great Grandma Audrey who’s Birthday happened to be that same day. Imagine the smile on her and Great Grandpa Bernie’s faces as they looked down on us as we celebrated with our loved ones.
So now, you’re 24 weeks old and growing rapidly; although your kicking has calmed down a bit (which worries your Mother, so if you can somehow muster up the energy to let her know you’re okay once in a while that would help her a lot). We’re getting ready to start painting your bedroom and we’ve begun getting things to put in it. We have our first baby class tomorrow morning and get to take a tour of the birthing center next week. Things are beginning to move fast – in less than 16 weeks you will be in our arms and we can’t wait!
We love you Audrey and pray that you continue growing strong and healthy and are filled with happiness inside Mama’s belly!
Love,
Your Mother and Father
