31, 34,37 Lot's of 30's in this HOUSE!

Hey Little Girl,

Well another week has come and gone. 

Your Daddy has been working so hard on your room. And it truly has become just that. A beautiful bedroom.   We know that you won't really appreciate the work until you are much older. But this will be the nicest room in the house by far.  Mommy is so happy to see the transformation.  Just like she has transformed over these last 31 weeks.  Here are some pictures of what he has done. 

Audrey's Room (Better known as the catch all room):

The carpet & trim were removed:

Walls have been painted gray & white and new white trim installed: 

Daddy working hard:

New gray carpet has been installed:

Daddy just needs to put the coral "A" on the wall. And then your room is complete.

Mommy & Auntie Sara will then add all the finishing touches! Crib, bookshelf, chair and dresser. Plus all the fun little girl items! We cannot wait!

As for the "30" Numbers: 

You are now 31 weeks and growing and kicking. You are obsessed with Justin Timberlake, Pearl Jam and Katy Perry. You love hearing all their voices. You kick constantly and do back flips all the time. Your friend Betty was born on June 16th. She can't wait to meet you! 

Daddy is now 37 years old. He had a wonderful birthday and received lots of great birthday wishes from all. He is doing great and has really helped Mommy a lot during the entire time you were inside her. Even when she cries for absolutely no reason he still comforts her and takes away all her worries. He is currently out in the yard doing his favorite thing outside. Yard work. He loves being in the yard and can't wait to teach you how to kick a soccer ball and throw a football. Someday we'll show you what your yard looked like the first year Mommy and Daddy moved in. 

Mommy is now 34 years old. She also had a wonderful birthday. She received a wonderful bracelet from Jocelyn and Avery. It read All You Need Is Love. Which is very true. This will always remind her of those two little sweet girls she once nannied for. You will meet them soon. They always talk about you and ask questions about you. Mommy is doing great as far as the pregnancy goes. She has gained some weight but it's not too much. And she's pretty much all belly.  Mommy is still very active and doing lots of things. But she does enjoy her 2 hour naps on certain days of the week.   

As our countdown becomes single digits we look forward to meeting you very soon! 

We love you so much Miss Audrey Marie!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Last Week in My Twenties

Little Audrey,

This is it. Our last week in our twenties. It's been 5 years since Mommy has been able to say that.  It's hard to believe since this week Mommy also turns 34 years old. 

She thought that she would tell you the things that she has been able to do while pregnant with you. 


1. Mommy is still able to fit into her figure skates each day to coach skating. 

2. Mommy can bust a move with the best of them on the dance floor.

3. Mommy still rocks a two piece swimsuit and doesn't care what a single person thinks.

4. Mommy is able to touch her toes. This is something that your Daddy has never been able to do but tries really hard at. When you're older ask him to try it, you'll get a good belly laugh out of this. 

5. Mommy is still able to do the splits. Yes the splits at 29 weeks pregnant. She guesses that not many woman are able to do this.  And the night she did this you rolled around and around in her belly. You clearly loved it!

Uncle Kevin flew in from San Francisco this weekend.  We asked him to be your guidance parent. Both Mommy and Daddy feel that he will be able to teach you about respect and caring for others. Your Uncle Kevin is not only funny and quick witted but kind hearted and truly one of the best people that your parents know. When you are old enough you will be able to fly to San Francisco and visit him. One thing that Mommy and Daddy ask is that when you are a teenager you make an effort to keep in touch with him.  Relationships are successful when both sides are making an effort. 

On Friday morning we all headed up to Webster, Wisconsin for Sandy's 30th birthday.  Many friends from around the U.S. traveled to the cabin. We had so much fun swimming, playing yard games and just catching up with great friends!  It's always very tough to say goodbye to them. 

Mommy and Daddy are ready to take on these last 10 weeks. You are growing stronger and stronger and your kicks are much harder than a few weeks ago.  We are getting so excited to meet you! 

We Love You,

Mommy & Daddy

A Mother's Love For Her Little Girl

My Dearest Daughter Audrey,

As I have carried you around for these last 28 weeks my love for you grows stronger and stronger. Your movements inside me bring tears of happiness to my eyes. Your fluttery kicks make me laugh and even wake me up at night. Last week during birth class you kicked so hard even your Daddy jumped. 

As I grow larger and larger it makes me so proud. Because these changes just mean that I am going to be a mother. Your mother. With each pound I gain I embrace. Although at times it may be hard to cope with. I understand that it's for you. With each pain I deal. Because I know these pains are for you. All of this is worth it to be your Mom. 

I promise you that I will always be here for you. I promise that when you need a shoulder to cry on I will have two.  I promise that we will have laughing fits that will bring us to tears. I promise to love you each day to the fullest. Each hour to the max, and each minute forever. 

I cannot wait to meet you. I cannot wait to see just how much hair you'll have on your head. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms. And give you lots and lots of kisses.

You are my light! 

I love Miss Audrey Marie!

Love,

Mommy

Memorial Day BBQ's, Sun, Yard Work, Painting

Hi Audrey,

Lot's has been going on these past couple of weeks. You've mainly been on the move and growing bigger and stronger. 

Mommy and Daddy have been taking birthing classes, Daddy has learned that Mommy's stomach will move all the way up past her ribs when you are full term. That scares Mommy just a bit, but she knows you're worth it! 

Mommy has been learning that stretching is very important for you to enter into this big world. So she's been doing lots and lots of stretches. In fact your Mommy can still touch her toes at almost 27 weeks pregnant. 

A few weekends ago was Memorial Day. Lot's of BBQ's with family and friends. Friday night we went to Grandma Gerri and Grandpa Frank's house for salmon. You'll spend lots of time at their house when you're born. When you're older Mommy and Daddy will even let you ride your bike to their house. (It's only 4 blocks away!)  

Saturday during the day Mommy had to work. Daddy went to work in our yard. You see he's been perfecting it over the past couple of summers and it's starting to look beautiful! He puts so much time and effort into making sure you have a great yard to play in. I know he can't wait to play catch with you or teach you the proper way to throw a football back there.  All things your Daddy will be excellent at teaching you. Mommy will teach you to skate and kick a soccer ball. Oh and show you some mad dance moves.

Saturday night we went to Uncle Kevin & Auntie Sarah Lang's house for a delicious smoked pork shoulder. Audrey it was amazing! You loved every single bite of it. You even went back for 3rd's! You got to hangout with Sonny, we've decided that if arrange marriages were still around you two would be married. He's adorable and great around the ladies! You'd be one lucky little girl!

Sunday morning Mommy woke up nice and early and made Daddy some pancakes!
 She wanted to perfect her pancake making skills for you.  She hasn't quite mastered the skill of animal shapes. But by the time you eat them she will. 

 Mommy also planted her flower beds. Next year you can help her dig holes and plant different colored flowers in your garden. Mommy and Daddy also went to Gerten's Nursery and bought lots of new plants for the back yard. We also went to the paint shop and bought your nursery room paint. The colors will be perfect! We hope you enjoy them for a few years. 

Later that afternoon we went to Uncle Darin and Auntie Sara's house for another BBQ! Yep we love BBQ's! You had 4 helpings of food at this party. It was yet another fun evening with friends.  Daddy and Uncle Darin were in a bean bag tournament. They didn't do so well, but sometimes it's not about winning or losing. It's about how much fun you had and I know they had fun.  

Monday night Uncle Stefan came over. He and Dad played catch in the backyard and Mommy went shopping. She had no summer clothes that fit her.  Here's a fun picture of Stefan and Mommy. You'll know which one Mommy is!

Well Miss Audrey Marie! This has gotten to be quite long! Just know that we will always have lots of fun with family and friends. And we'll have plenty of BBQ's when your born!

We love you so much!

Mommy & Daddy

Baby He or Baby She What Will Baby Fredricks Be?

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

April 4th and SNOW!

Hi Baby Freddy,

Well you woke up to lots of new fallen snow on the ground. You see your Mommy and Daddy picked a state for you to live in with lots and lots and lots of snow. The movie Frozen (someday Mom will make you watch it with her. Please don't mind all her bad singing) is actually called Minnesota! The lakes freeze, the wind blows and the snow falls in inches, sometimes feet.  But soon it will be Spring and Daddy won't have to snow blow the driveway anymore (yet another thing you'll learn about as you get older). Mommy's only complaint is that all her "winter" clothes don't fit and she refuses to buy new winter clothes. If it doesn't get nice out soon you'll be able to see the bottom half of her belly hanging out. Not a good look!

Other things have been going on as well. You are now 19 weeks! They say you're the size of a heirloom tomato. You're 6 inches from head to toe! Can you believe it! Almost an entire foot. You are growing each week. Mommy still can't feel you kick, Daddy said it's a good thing because if you're anything like Mommy you'll be kicking all the time! 

Mommy got pretty sick last Monday (March 24th). She woke up at 1:00 am with some really bad morning sickness. It was very odd because during your first 12 weeks she wasn't really sick at all. Mommy was sick from 1-11 am. So your wonderful, amazing Daddy brought her to the Urgency Room. She had gotten too dehydrated and needed some fluids. Mommy even had the nurses check your heartbeat just to make sure you were doing good. 165! Your little heart sure beats fast. The nurse also said you were kicking and moving around in there quite a bit. But that you were strong and healthy.  Mommy was so happy to hear this she started to cry (take note: your Mommy and Daddy are both criers).  After about 4 hours Mommy was feeling much better and they let her go home.  She did however take the next day off to really recover.

Daddy has been working hard in the bathroom. And it's coming along quite nicely. He asked Mommy to pick out some paint colors. So the painting will take place soon.  

Mommy has been working on your Gender Reveal Party. She has been making pink and blue poofs and a few other things. Auntie Sara has been a big help as well and is really good at crafting. Someday you'll get to craft with her.  

Mommy is still skating lots! She's doesn't want to give it up when she gets bigger but knows that it's for the safety of you! 

Auntie Ali turned 18 last month also! Mommy can't believe she's 18 years old.  She remembers the day she was born.  Your Auntie Ali has a very big heart and loves you dearly.  You will be her first niece or nephew!  She can't wait to meet you! 

Daddy and Mommy love you very much! Only 2 weeks until we find out just what you are! 

Love you Baby Freddy!

Daddy & Mommy

Seventeen Weeks

Hello Baby Freddy,

It's been a few weeks since we've written to you. But not a day goes by that Mommy and Daddy don't think about you.  

Lot's has been going on. 

You went to your very first BIG concert; Arcade Fire. We were only 10 feet away from the front of the stage. This band loves it when their fans dress up. Mommy and Daddy dressed up in costume. Mommy was a pregnant Jackie O. and Daddy was Clark Kent.  You'll have to google Clark & Jackie when you're big.  Here is a picture of us. Clearly your parents are very cool and hip. 

Mommy has been doing lots of skating due to ice show time. Thank goodness her feet haven't gotten any bigger or skating may be difficult!  This is something that your Mommy has done since she was a little girl. And some day she'll teach you how to do it. Just be nice to her and she'll be patient with you.

Daddy has been working very hard on remodeling the main bathroom. He wants it to be all nice and new for you.  Mommy is very proud that she married such a wonderful man that is willing to take on projects in the home.  He even crawled up in the attic, which isn't easy to do at all.  Slowly but surely the bathroom is becoming complete.

You went to the doctor today! You're heart rate was great! Nice and strong and fast!  The doctor said that Mommy will soon be able to feel you moving and a kicking.  She can't wait for that day!  So kick all you want to! All is good though and we have about 3 more weeks before we find out just what you are. A BOY or A GIRL? 

Mommy is still convinced you're a little girl. But who knows!

We love you very much and look forward to your arrival in August!

Lots and Lots of KISSES!

Mommy and Daddy