My love, we never dreamed that God would give you to us.  We never dreamed that our sweet God would give us a little girl.  We've always been a boy family, and I think we couldn't even imagine that this time around would be any different.  But, we are so thankful, so amazingly thankful for the opportunity to be your parents.

We saw you for the first time on sonogram in November.  We had decided to have the tech write down whether you were a girl or a boy on a piece of paper, put it in an envelope, and then your Daddy and I would read it together at dinner.  But, when the tech went to investigate whether you were a girl or boy,  you were modest.  You put your little foot in just the right spot, and the tech was afraid to tell us for certain.  So, she wrote her guess on a piece of paper, put it in an envelope, gave it to us, and told us to come back next month.

We never opened that envelope (until after we knew you were a girl!  And, for the record the tech thought you were a girl, so she was right!).  We came back for our December 1st appointment with the same plan ~ to have the tech write down what you are on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope.  Well, she looked and looked and just never could feel just right about it.  She knew what she thought, but she wanted a more experienced tech to double check her.  The other tech came in, looked around for just a few moments, and said to our original tech, "It is what you think it is."  Then, our tech put one of the pictures in an envelope, handed it to Erik, and sent us to see Dr. Y.

After we left the doctor's office, we went Christmas shopping.  Then, around 7 or so we headed to our favorite restaurant, a very special restaurant to us.  After we ordered and received our appetizer, Erik took the envelope out and pushed it toward me.  I refused.  I wanted him to open it and tell me. So, he opened it.  I watched the expression on his face change completely as he looked at the contents of the envelope.  He handed it to me to look, but I refused.  I said, "I want you to tell me.  Just tell me."  I'll never forget what he said....

"You're going to have a daughter."

And, the dam broke.  I cried and cried and cried.  I still can't believe that inside me is a little girl.  I didn't know that was possible.  Me, who nicknamed myself a boy factory, carrying a bit of femininity...

How sweet is my God!

And, now I pray for your health and for a safe delivery, and I wait patiently until I have the privilege of meeting you.  I love you so much already, and so do your brothers.  We are so thankful for you!  Godspeed, sweet love, godspeed...