Hope All is Well

Email from Joe Knight to Ellie:

Ellie and Dan,
     Erica keeps me updated on your soon to be birthed child. My thoughts are with you. I hope all is well.

Hello Baby!

Email from Ellie to Teddy:

Hello Baby!

I am 32 weeks along today. Had a prenatal check-up, all was well. You were kicking away and very awake. I told the OB-GYN that we were thinking Jude for Judah but are now considering Theo for Theodore. Her son happened to be a Theo for Theodore, maybe its a sign.

I found out last night, researching the name Theodore, that there was a famous Greek philosopher known as Theodoros the Atheist. Which is pretty humorous, since Theodore translates as Gift of God. 

I've been writing both names over and over again all week, trying to imagine what your signature will look like.

I hope you're born heathy, little one. And -- ideally -- with hair! Apparently your father is freaked out by babies without hair, the weirdo. Although more so by the 6-12 month babies without hair, I'm sure he'll forgive you as a newborn.

I'm here in Denver, alone... your dad was in Seattle for all of June, and is now in San Francisco, doing sub-Internships. Its worth it for our family, the experience and recommendation letters will make us more likely to be able to live where we want to live for the next 6 years of your life. But its been really rough, especially with me pregnant.

I have two kitties with me, Donovan and Mumble, and they're pretty good company. Giant lightning storm outside at the moment, hopefully it doesn't fritz my computer.

What will you be like, baby?

I hope that above all you are kind. Considerate of others' feelings, thoughtful, and sensitive. Secondly, that you are intelligent -- but I'm sure you will be, I have little doubt of that. I hope you follow in your father's footsteps and treat women as equals, with respect. Maybe, like him, you'll like to cook! I can imagine the two of you having a "special day" together like me and my dad used to do, maybe playing basketball together out in the sun and then coming in to cook dinner together afterward. Hopefully your father will be able to spend that kind of quality time with you in the future, despite going into a surgical subspecialty.

I hope, when you read this, your father and I make it obvious that we love both each other and you. We both already love you so much, and we always will. I can't wait to dress you up in the little tiny cowboy boots I got off eBay, and as you get older hear you laugh when we introduce you to new things. You're going to be adorable, I just know it.

Alright sweetie pea, I'm going to go watch a bad movie (since Dan is not here! hehe), then skype with him, and then go to sleep. I will meet you soon!

Much love always,

your mom (ahhHH!! you have no idea how weird it is to think of myself in that way, I'm not at all used to that yet!)