Hi Junior

You just kicked me.  Hello.  Nice to see we have an active little girl on our hands.

Hope you've been enjoying the feast of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, cherries, and especially peaches and nectarines from the Japanese fruit/veggie stand that we've been feeding you for the last couple months.  If you're anything like your mom, you will be a fruit monster.

In about seven weeks, we're moving away from Brooklyn.  As I walk down the tree-lined streets and past the well-manicured gardens and flower boxes that fill our neighborhood in Willowtown, I think of you and how sad I am that you will not grow up in this beautiful place.  I am doing my best to enjoy it to the fullest for both of us.  We'll have to bring you back here, though, because you've just got to see it with your own eyes. 

Daddy continues to enjoy calling you "Jujube."  And he continues to insist that he will adopt some crazy spelling of that name for you.  Don't worry, he's not serious.  Now's the time to get used to his banter and jokes (like how he keeps using Mr. Stripey the Pillow to kick Beaver out of the bed) -- with any luck, you'll be laughing along for many, many years to come.

You're about 12 ounces by now, according to yesterday's 20-week scan, and Mommy's getting a little bigger.  Most of her clothes still fit pretty well and most of the time, it's not all that obvious to others that you're present.  This is, of course, annoying to Mommy when she wants a seat on the crowded train.  But she's thankful not to be huge -- that time will come!  But don't worry about that; you just keep doing your thing and growing.  Daddy and Mommy marveled at your little fingers and toes and that amazing spine during your scan yesterday.  You're growing so well!  Although...you still look like an alien.  :)

We're praying for you, and for us, every day -- praying that Daddy and Mommy will be wise and loving parents who reflect Christ to you and are patient with you and create a stable, loving environment for you.  And we pray each day that you would come to know Jesus as your Savior and that you would follow and serve Him from a young age, and throughout your life.  We don't really pray about other things -- those are all peripheral.  If we can get just the things that we named:  wisdom, love, patience, and your heart won over for Christ, that's pretty much winning the entire battle.  

God willing, we'll see you in 20 weeks, Junior.  We're halfway there!