dear kato

letter to my kato: 

my dear little melon-sized boy, 

we've made it, little man.  you are officially full-term and could make your appearance at any moment.  you hear that, son?  i'm ready!  okay, so i haven't packed my hospital bag yet, but you'll soon learn that mama has a slight tendency to procrastinate!  i pray that you go easy on mama and don't drag this out!  let's be on time and not several weeks overdue.  pretty please.  do this one thing for me and i promise to buy you that new bike when you ask for it!

i hope you are as excited as we are!  we can't wait to meet you.  daddy is looking forward to introducing you to hockey (game 7 penguins vs. redwings tonight...go wings!)!  and you have a lot of people that are very anxious to meet you, even if they can't all be here right away.  

today was my last day of work and i am officially on maternity leave.  my only "job" at this point is preparing for your arrival.  that and propping my swollen feet up on pillows and whining to daddy that i'm achy or tired or achy and tired.  (and by the way, what is the deal with the swollen feet, son?  is this something you have control over?)  it was odd to leave today, knowing that when i returned, i would be a mother.  as is so common with life-changing events, things in life have taken on a specific time slot...before kato and the time that will be known as after kato.  i am glad to have only you to focus on...not sales and hospitality and projects that really have no bearing on my department.  

though i'm not sure (this is my first time as a pregnant lady), i'm fairly certain you've "dropped."  you are so low...the feeling is something like a watermelon being precariously balanced between my legs.  thank goodness you are a boy...it's not exactly a warm and fuzzy feeling.  but remember these words and be good to your future wife and mother of your children (though i am fairly certain no woman will ever be good enough for my first born).  

at 4:30 this morning, i laid awake with you kicking and rolling.  i rubbed you and told you how ready i was to meet you.  you kicked back in response and i like to think you were telling me you were excited too.  

i'm off to work on that hospital bag.  and at that point, it's game on.  you are officially welcome to join the family.  like i said, don't wait this one out too long.  i have a lot planned for my summer and you are a mighty big part of those plans. 

all my love, 

mama