A Letter to Calista

My Dearest Calista Kay,

As we anxiously await your arrival as a new member of our family I thought I would share with you a little story.
A week before Christmas Daddy and Mommy got the surprising news that we were going to have another baby. Although we wanted more children we didn't expect it to be so soon. At first we were very scared. But we realized that God has His own plans for our lives and in His own timing, He saw fit to bless us with another child. We felt overwhelmed and honored that God trusted us with another one of His children to raise as our own.
Fear and joy was replaced by worry when, in January, Mommy got so sick that nurses had to come to our house and hook me up to IVs and give me special medicine so that I could eat and drink to keep you healthy and safe. It was a very hard time but we got through it and by March Mommy started to feel better. We were relieved when we got to have an ultrasound and found out that you were healthy and growing as you should be! Mommy and Daddy both cried when we got to see you floating around inside my belly, kicking your legs and closing your fists!
I have watched as my belly has gotten bigger and bigger and when I first felt your little kicks from inside I was immediately overwhelmed with joy and tears of happiness. Your kicks have gotten stronger and stronger and I have become more and more excited about meeting you, welcoming you into the world and holding you in my arms for the first time.
I am sure that you know Daddy's voice very well by now. You get so excited and move all around when he talks to Mommy's belly or reads you a story. Your big brother Kyle is so excited to meet you too! I am sure you have heard him sing to you and felt his kisses and hugs. He has to kiss Mommy's belly at least a hundred times a day! Kyle has already told Mommy and Daddy that he wants to hold you, read his favorite books to you and teach you how to play with his trains. Your big sister Bella may not quite understand that she will be welcoming a new baby sister but I know that she will be very excited when you arrive. I think you and Bella will be very good friends. You will be playing dress-up and having tea parties and someday will paint each others fingernails and do each others hair. You may fight with your brother and sister from time to time but always remember that they love you and will also be the first ones to come to your aid and be there to support you.
Your clothes have been washed and lovingly placed in your dresser drawers. Your bed has been made and awaits your tiny little self to lay there and dream. Mommy is finishing up a quilt that we will wrap you in and bring you home from the hospital. There are so many family members and friends that have so much love for you already and can not wait to meet you.
You are coming in to a family that loves you already and has since the moment they heard about you. Our entire family believes in the importance of family, support, and unconditional love. Our ties to the Lord are strong and He is the center of our home and our lives! He will be with us to guide us as we raise you so that we can give you the best possible life that you deserve. Now I will tell you that your Mommy and Daddy are not perfect. Far from it actually......but we work hard everyday to be better. Just as you will grow, learn, and make mistakes- so will we. Mommy and Daddy will be learning everyday, right along side you. It is so very important to trust in each other, forgive each other for our short comings, and continue loving each other- unconditionally- no matter what. That is all part of being a family.
Your Daddy and Mommy have so many plans for you and your future. We hope to give you the guidance, the love, the support, the encouragement, and the tools for you to make your own decisions and be successful in whatever makes you happy. We pray that you will be healthy and that your heart be filled with joy. We pray that you will have good friends, be a positive influence to those around you, and have the courage to follow your dreams. We pray that you will know your worth- in our eyes, in God's, and in your own, and that you never let anyone make you feel less than amazing.
Jeremiah 1:5 says "I knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
You have been beautifully and wonderfully made Calista!!!!! You have been formed by the gracious and loving hands of God- and that alone makes you incredible! Do not let anyone ever try and tell you any different.
Almost nine months ago I was worried about how I would care for you. If I would have enough love in my heart to share with you. But just as God has expanded my belly to allow you to grow inside of me..........He has also expanded my heart to allow me to love you as you deserve to be loved. It is amazing how I can rest my hand on my belly and feel you move and be so overwhelmed with love for you already. A big part of me wants to keep you inside so that I can continue to protect you and keep you safe. But a bigger part of me can not wait to bring you into this world, hold you in my arms to nurse you, kiss your sweet soft skin and look into your eyes as you discover so many things for the first time. I am anxious to see you play with your big brother and sister, watch you be carried on Daddy's shoulders, playing in the swimming pool, taking your first steps, sucking your thumb, throwing your peas across the table........... and someday to be there for you when you have a fight with your best friend, learn how to drive, help you ace that English test, and give you a shoulder to cry on when you get your first broken heart.
No matter what joys and sorrows life may bring you I want you to always remember that Daddy and Mommy love you very much and we will be there for you no matter what. You can fall down and make mistakes and we will be there to pick you up, dust you off and help you learn and try again. We are here to love you, guide you, support and encourage you. We will love you regardless of your successes or your failures because you are our child and we all must succeed and fail in order to become who God wants us to be.
We can not wait to meet you Calista Kay! We can not wait to welcome you into our family and be your guides through this wonderful and sometimes crazy life! We are praying that God brings you to us safely, healthy and whole. We will see you soon my little angel.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

I wanted to give a very special thanks to Rhonda at Scooterblu's Whimsy for hosting a virtual baby shower for Cali and I and for all of you who are participating and to those who stop by and leave comments. I am still overwhelmed that Rhonda would do something like this. My eyes fill up every time I think of how sweet it is! I have been blessed with wonderful friends in the "real world" and NOW in the Blogging World. Words could never express how grateful I am for this beautiful sentiment and the wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow bloggers more- and meet new friends as well. Thank You so much! I am truly touched.

Love to All of You!

~Heather :)