Dear Everett,

As of right now your dresser looks so great! Today Dad and I went to Home Depot to find some sort of board slats with a rough texture and they could only be 3/8 thick to fit on the side of your dresser. We found exactly that, which I couldn't believe. We also bought some fence post to make your name sign since they have more texture then the regular 1x8 board we already bought. We have all the boards cut for both things and the sign is already put together. Tomorrow we are going at them with some vinegar and steel wool to make them look aged. I can't wait to see how they turn out. I still need to pick a font to use for your name on the sign before we can finish it. Hopefully this weekend we will start on your crib. I would love to finish it but I'm not making any promises with how not smooth the dresser went. I need to clean out the dresser drawers real good then I can start washing your clothes and putting them in them. Ok love your brother is fighting for my attention so I must go. I love you sweet boy.

Love,
Mom

Dear Everett,

When I was a little girl I had a best friend named Erin. We grew up in the church together and our mothers were best friends so we became best friends at a very young age. We did silly things together and of course got in trouble together. There were many times we were not allowed to sit next to each other in church for those reasons. Our mothers would go walking some evenings and I use to put on new clothes before we would head to Erin's house for the evening walk. Us girls would stay at the house and secretly get ready for bed and be asleep by the time our moms got back, or at least pretend in hopes I could spend the night on a school night. We told each other everything and did most everything together. In 7th grade my mom put me in a Christian school because she thought that's what was best for me at that age in my life. Well she decided to change her job the summer after my 7th grade year to spend more time with us. Which meant I would be going back to public school and back to school with Erin. Later that summer something awful happened and Erin's Dad got laid off of work and ended up finding a new Job in College Station. My best friend in the whole world was leaving me. There was a song back then I use to listen to over and over for comfort and for a good cry called "How can I help you say Goodbye." Back then everyone didn't have cell phones and calling long distance cost money and was a privilege we didn't get very often, so we wrote letters. Our parents would meet halfway sometimes to drop us off with each other for a long weekend or something. Then a few years later her Dad got a Job in a town right outside of Midland which was not driving distance. By this time we were in high school and were old enough to fly on our own. My freshman year in high school I got to pick from going to a school dance or going to see Erin for spring break(I think it was spring break!) Of course I picked going to see my best friend. She came down to visit here grandparents one time and then I got to go back up to see her again maybe my Senior year. That was a fun crazy trip! The next time I saw her was when she came down for My wedding. Your Dad and I got married in Galveston and Erin and I stayed in the bed and breakfast where the reception was the night before. She was of course my Maid of Honor. After that Dad and I moved to Arlington which was closer to Erin. I want to say I visited her at college one time after that. The last time I saw her though was at her wedding. Her parents didn't agree with her choice to marry and I was the closest person she had to family there. I was so happy and proud of her and took a million pictures for the day when her parents would come back around wish they were there for that moment. She is still married to her handsome husband Josh. They have 3 daughters together, Josh has a daughter from a previous marriage and they are Expecting a little boy in April. The reason I am telling you this story is I haven't heard or talked to Erin in a few years and today we received a baby present from her. Son I know with your Dad being in the military you will have to leave best friends you have made and I wanted you to know I understand. I know it's hard but moving away doesn't have to mean the friendship is over it just means it will change. Honey use to tell me "where there is a will, there is a way." Your Dad never believed me when I would tell him this no matter how many times I would tell him if you want something bad enough you will find a way to get it. I still don't know if he believes it but things have always worked out for me believing that. Someday Erin and I will meet up again and I can't wait for that day. We will get to meet each others precious children and spend many hours catching up and reminiscing about old times. I do hope you find a friend like this in your lifetime son. I love you sweet baby.

Love,
Mom

Dear Everett,

Today we had our 37 week appointment and it was very disappointing. I was hoping they would check for dilation and stuff. When I asked why they weren't the nurse practitioner we saw today said that can cause progression and sense you have a scheduled birth they didn't want that to happen. Maybe next week when we see the doc she will check us. I should have worked on your dresser today but I didn't. Tomorrow I'm hoping to have it pretty much done. Then we can start on the crib. I don't know if I will have time to decorate your room like I want which make me sad, but I will try.

Dear Everett,

I think I finally got your dresser almost like I want it tonight! The other day I mixed some glaze with some brightish orange paint we got for something else in your room and tried to use that on your dresser but it didn't work. So tonight I mixed a little of that mixture with the orange we got for our bathroom to redo a hanging shelf thing for the guest room. The color came out good and thicker since the glaze to paint ratio was less so I used the leftover on your dresser. Now this was about 7pm so it was dark outside except for the back porch light and grill light but I think it's going to work great! It will be such a relief to get the dresser and then crib done. I really need to start washing what clothes I have, but I don't want to do that until I have somewhere to put them! Just a minute ago I walked into my room to get in bed and saw your bassinet next to the bed and had a little panic attack. I guess since nothing is ready and your room is still empty it still doesn't seem real that you will be here in 18 days! Sure you kick and hit me in the right spots all day long but the reality of you a physical person is going to be here just hasn't set in. Ahhhh... Having a baby is scary the unknown struggles that we are about to face is scary. With all that said it will be great and new is always exciting! I love you sweet little Everett.

Love,
Mom