Editor’s Note: As part of our Mom’s Week celebration, we asked our blog contributors to write a special post entitled, “Love, Mom” Throughout the week we will be sharing their posts with you. We hope you enjoy them and it inspires you to take a few moments to write to the most important people in your life and to sign it “Love, Mom”.
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Dear Spike,

First of all, sorry for the unfortunate nickname. Please know that this is not my fault, so you can go ahead and blame your dad for this one. You see, we don’t like to find out if you guys are boys or girls before you’re born and calling you “the baby” just seems kind of… impersonal. So nicknames. Your oldest brother we called “Junior,” the next oldest brother we called “Squish,” and the youngest older brother we called “Hercules.” Your dad insisted on Spike this time. Again… sorry. I promise that you’ll have a real name as soon as you’re born.

I’m also sorry that as the fourth baby in the family, some people may not be that excited about your arrival. There are those who think we’ve gone past the point where they need to be psyched about you, seeing as how they’ve had to get their excitement up for a few other babies before. But I don’t ever want you to think that we’re among those. Your dad and I are just as excited for you as we had been for your brothers before you. You were planned and hoped for and waited on. You will be met with great joy and delight. And the secret? You don’t just get Mom and Dad waiting joyfully to greet you whenever you decide to arrive- you get three older brothers that can’t wait to see you too. (You may have heard one of them mention that he wanted to give you away to a different family. Just ignore him, that’s what the rest of us do.) So you’re even luckier than your brothers before you, because out of the four of you, you have the biggest family waiting to greet you.

It will be loud and a little chaotic, this family you’re being born into. There are the Mom (me) and Dad and brothers I’ve mentioned, but also two big dogs. They’re hairy and smell sometimes, but they’re part of the family too. There will be lots of talking and shouting and running around you. You may find that people will want constantly be wanting to kiss you and hold you and tell you about the world. Just go with it.

We laugh a lot as a family. We play a lot. We eat good food. We spend a lot of time all together. It’s a good time and I promise that you’ll fit right in, whoever you end up becoming. I like to think that we’re a house full of love. I hope you find that to be true.

So stay put for awhile- you’ve still got some serious cooking to do before you’re ready to be born. We want you to be healthy and arrive when you’re ready… but maybe keep in mind that I have the wedding of one of my best friends 9 days after your due date. I’d like to go. And I promise to get you an adorable bow tie or a super cute dress so you can be my date. (Plus, she’s a good gift giver and she’ll appreciate your effort to be born as close to your due date as possible.) So maybe don’t wait too long once you’re ready.

Just some things to think about over the next 24ish weeks.

Also? Remember that you’re already loved and always will be…

Love, Mom
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