Dear Leighton

My Sweet Leighton,

I am so incredibly excited to hold you!  I hate to say meet you because I feel like I already know you!  We have been sharing a bunker for over 9 months now with no breaks from each other so I find it hard to consider you a stranger!  Just like with your big sister, the bigger you have grown and developed, the more I can tell about you!!  You definitely love food like mom, dad and sissy!!  You get very excited when I eat!!  You also love to be on the same routine as me.  When I sleep you sleep, when I wake up you wake up!  I don't think that is very common in babies but what do I know--I've only done this twice!  If I get upset, you get very unsettled and can't stop moving around. When Paige and Oscar are near my belly-your home-you get so very excited, almost bursting through the seems to get to them!  Oh how Paige loves to see you punching and kicking at her!  Oscar lays by my belly to protect you, he seems to always know when there is a new Beaver brewing up!  Since mommy is 38.5 weeks pregnant (1.5 weeks more pregnant than I have ever been) I'm thinking you are like your dad in being in no rush to join us!  Honestly, your life will probably be more peaceful if you get that quality from daddy!  He must have the lowest blood pressure on the face of the Earth!  Now your sister and I are pretty high on the Richter Scale of high strung.  When we are together-which is most of the time-our energies could literally bounce people to next week!  We love life and I know you will too whether you are mellow like dad or bouncing through the roof with Paige and I!  

We have been doing lots of preparing for your most perfect arrival!!  From preparing all the baby necessities, washing clothes to some pretty elaborate projects!!!  I think you will be most impressed when you find the time to check it all out!  Mommy has designed a beautiful bathroom for us girls to share over the years!!  Since mommy and daddy hope to be in this house for a long, long time I had to be creative in designing it to grow with us!  I couldn't make it any bigger so using every inch perfectly was the way to go!  You will understand once you start using hair dryers and products...your sister started all that very early on but take your time...its a lot of work!  Anyway, we have also done lots of fun things outside!!!  Your daddy planted nine trees a few weeks ago!!  Oh man are they beautiful!  We put in lots of winter plants too so it would be nice and pretty when you get here!  Mommy has also decorated for Christmas since your pending arrival is thought to be right in the middle of the "acceptable holiday decorating days".  You must know now though-mommy does not live by those sort of worldly restraints.  I have many years decorated for Christmas the first weekend of November to get the full benefit and reap the rewards of my hard work!  For your information in case you will be burdened with these type of restrictions, the day after Thanksgiving is the acceptable time to decorate.  I hope you won't be though-I'm sure lots of folks that drive past our house get a huge kick out of all the Christmas nonsense I have up and try to imagine what kind of gal lives here!  It must brighten some people's day!  Also, a little of the subject but please know you can definitely wear white after Labor Day!  In fact, its one of the best times!!  I will explain more later but its true so just know that.  So to conclude our Christmas decorating thoughts, I have three trees up-one of which is on the front porch-that is definitely new this year and I love it, Nonny (your precious grandma) decorated our door sooo beautifully and your stocking is hanging perfectly from the mantle in anticipation of your arrival!!!  We even have a party scheduled to introduce you to to all of our favorite people!!  You just wouldn't believe how many people already love you and are excited to meet you!!  The girls hosting the party are some of my best friends and you will love them and all the people that are sure to join us!! 

Mommy has been spending the past couple of days doing some last minute stuff to feel prepared for you!  Paige stayed with Nonny for two nights while I rested up, got a mani/pedi, a facial, stocked up on all of our necessities and today I will get my hair done so you don't have to meet your mom with bad hair:)!  The good news is, once you get here all I have to focus on is you!!  We have everything we wanted to accomplish done, the house will be all clean and we will just snuggle all day!! 

Mainly, I just wanted you to know how much we all love you and cannot wait to see you!  Go ahead and come when you are ready!  We prayed so hard for you and continue to pray you are healthy and strong! My heart is so happy and full to have two precious daughters! You guys are the most amazing things that have ever happened to me and I promise to always strive to be the best mommy you could ever have!  I love you guys more than life itself and would do anything for you! 

Love Always and Forever,

Mommy