12.21.11

My dear sweet Sophia,

You were born on 12.3.11 on a Saturday at 4:41am. You were 8lbs 12oz and too big to come out of me. I went into labor on Thursday night at 9pm. Your dad was starting a big job the next day so I let him sleep, while I sat downstairs with contractions (I didn't tell him, and I didn't want to worry him just in case it was fake labor AGAIN). I finally woke him up at 5:30am (Friday) becuase I needed a bath. At 6:30am we left our house to wait at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The hospital would not take me until the contractions were closer together. We got to the hospital at 10:30am on Friday morning. I was already 4.5cm so they admitted me right away. I was put on a bunch of machenes, medications, and Iv's. I was in labor a total of 33 hours before the surgeon came in and told us that you were not going to come out that way. Your dad and I made the decision that I would have surgery to get your out. We were ready to meet you!

They preped me for surgery. Both of us (your dad and I) were very nervous, I had never had surgery before. At 4:41am the doctors pulled your out of me and I heard you cry for the first time. I've never felt so happy in my life. I remember crying and saying "thats my baby girl!". Becuase of all the medication I was on for the surgery, I wasn't allowed to hold you. But your dad went with you everywhere and held you close to him. When the doctor showed you to me for the first time, (I thought it would feel like I was just meeting you) but it erally felt like I was saying "Hello Again". I know I've always known you, and you were always meant for me. What joy and relief I felt seeing you and kissing you for the first time.

Oh my sweet Sophia I could never explain in words how much I love you. Your such a dream and the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. You were worth all the craziness to get you out and bring you here. The whole hospital experiance is kind of a blur to men. I don't remember large chuncks of what happened. I was awake for 3 days straight, working very hard to bring you here. Then I had to start recovering from surgery.

So many people came to visit you. It was wonderful to see how loved you are from so many others. All of your dad's freinds and some of my freinds came to kiss you. On Sunday night at 7:30pm we walked in the front door of our house for the first time as a family of three. And we couldn't be happier.

This is when we brought you into the house for the first time

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Since that day you have been glued to me. It is very difficult for me to put you down. I am so used to you being in my belly its hard for me to share you. You sleep in bed right next to me, every night. You are kind of a bed hog. I usually end up with about 6 inches of bed with you under my armpit, while daddy has the rest of the bed.

I have been having so much fun with you. I call you my little lion girl becuase you make the most amazing Rawr face when your hungry and searching for food. Then when you find it you make such a feriocious attack sound. You are so fun and funny to watch. Especially when you are sleeping. I always wonder what you could be dreaming about.

Well my darling girl you are 18 days new and it gets easier every day. We are learning together how to be a family and I seriously look forward to what is next. I love you my little lion Girl!

11-11-11

Sophia Anna Renee Bradley,

My darling daughter today marks a 19 day count down to your expected arrival. Your dad and I couldn't be more excited to meet you. We bought you a big beautiful house just a few weeks ago and we've been running around like crazy to get it ready for you to grow up in. Your room is ready and so is mine. I dream of you every night and can't wait to kiss your sweet face. I love you so much already and I haven't even met you yet. See you soon I hope:)

Stages of mommies pregnancy

17 Weeks, This is when I first started showing a little belly



18 Weeks




20.5 weeks. Your Great-Great Grandmother  'Sophia Anna' this is who you are named after. She knitt you this quilt decades before I was born, but they were meant for you.



 22 Weeks

 23 Weeks

 24 weeks

 25 Weeks

October 2, 2011

 October 8, 2011

October 31, 2011

Last picture before you came 40 weeks

9-10-11

Tomorrow marks the 10 year reunion of 9/11. You are 28 weeks and 5 days old (in my belly)

This one is from your dad (mine is below his):

Hello my wonderful amazing bundle of joy daughter Sophia Renee Bradley. I am your Daddy, Jon Michael Bradley. I love you so much and I haven't met you yet. But in 12 weeks I get to hold you in my arms and never let go. I am so happy your coming to be a part of our lives, your mom and I have been enjoying this experience of you growing inside her. The smile on mom's face when she told me you were coming still relives in my mind almost every day.

I was shocked but 2 seconds later I was excited and overy joyus when I found out. you made me feel like a man for the first time and like a real adult. I've done alot of things in my 27 years but you made me. I remeber I saw you for the first time on the ultra sound machene, and you took my breath away. Just like your mom did the day I met her and the moment I first saw her in her wedding dress. You put your foot up to the ultra sound imager and waved your toes right after I said "Hi Sophia, Nice to meet you!" When I talk to your moms tummy, you always start kicking, so I know we are going to have an amazing bond. The kind of bond your mom and I have. Did I mention: you girls are my life, I love you both so much!

So far to date your dad has owned two businesses (a karate school and a construction company) and over all that personal achievments you and your mom are my best. I hope you grow up to be as amazing and beautiful as your mom, strong willed as your dad, as smart as your grandma Bradley, as caring as your Grandma Dowding, and an incredible teacher like your grandpa Bradley, and most of all: as awesome as you'll be just being you. I love you Sophia Anna Renee Bradley. I promise to give you as many oppertunities to live well and prosper in this world, just like I do for your mom. I can't wait to bring you home to the house your mom and I are buying for our new Journey together. I hope to see you for the first time on thanksgiving. And thank you for giving me Joy!

Dad

(Mom)

Just in case you didnt already know, your father is the most amazing man. He is so caring, gentle, kind and giving. I grew up without a father. I never knew how incredible life could be with two parents. My mother did a fantastic job of playing both rolls. But I knew when it came time to start my own family I needed to marry a real man. Your not even born yet and I know I made the best choice for you. It may not seem like it all the time but he really is superman!

 Mom and dad with Gma and Gpa Bradley

Mom with Grandma V and moms Dad

 Mom, dad, Reese, Uncle Justin and Gma and Gpa

 Auntie desi, and Auntie Chelsy (Calie was in her belly)

Mom and Uncle Chris

Mom and Dad June 5, 2010

Our wedding was the happiest day of our lives until the day we found out you were coming. These are some pictures of you:

 This was our first picture of you. You were 10 Weeks old

 This picures were taken on July 16, 2012. Your feet, your head and your whole body

This is measuring your heartbeat, and how tall you were.

The first time you saw your dad you waved your little toes at him when he said: "Nice to meet you sophia" when you get to know your dad you'll see just how significant this little toe action reall was. He is always jokingly pointing with his toes. You were a perfect show stopper for him!

8-23-11

My darling Sophia Anna Renee Bradley,

You are currently growing lungs inside my belly, every now and then you give me a little reassuring kick that you are surviving my inside world. Oh how I love you so! Today marks your 26th week growing in my belly. The 14 weeks you take to get here will be the longest of my life.

I want to take this time while you are still quiet and living inside me to share with you about me and your wonderful father. I found out I was pregnant on March 22, 2011. I found out you were our Sophia (a girl) on July 16, 2011. Both were absolutley incredible days.

Here is your first picture: you were 10 weeks on (May 2, 2011)

On March 22, 2011, I took a pregnancy test (however, I already knew, I don't know how but I did). I waited until 5:30pm to take it because I knew your dad would be home shortly after and I wanted to tell him right away once I read the positive test. I called your Grandma V right away (she screamed!) Then I called your dad becuase (of course) he was late. He got home closer to 6pm. I said to him on the phone "where are you? can you come home now so I don't say anything stupid over the phone (I was afraid of spilling the beans)". He had asked me when we started planning our family, not to tell him over the phone if I found out while he wasn't home.

So, I sat and waited on the couch for him to get home, he thought I was mad, (HAHAHA) and I just didn't want to spoil it for him. When he got home, I jumped up, I couldn't wait any longer. I told him "Jon, I'm Pregnant!". Oh Sophia, I wish you could have seen his face! He was in SHOCK! I think. I didn't even let him process the information before I made him get back in the car and drive over to your Grandparents (Mike and Mary) house to tell them the news.

Your Grandma met us at the door, I asked where Mike was and we went together to their office in the garage. I walked in the door first and said "I'm Pregnant" your grandpa teared up and grandma jumped up and down and screamed: "I knew it!".

I don't think you oculd have picked a more loving and warm family to in my darling daughter. We so badly wanted you to come to us and we are so completley grateful and happy to have you.

I just want you to love me as much as I love you. I think about how our lives will be and how I sometimes treated my mother, but I hope we grow close and that I don't ever do anything to push you away.

In this book I hope to show you what your first few months were like, I don't konw how life will be after I meet you, but I certianly hope to find time to write to you.

A little about me...currently its August 2011, So I am 24 years old. I am almost finished with my BA in psychology from California State University of San Marcos. I will finish when you are about 6 months old. I'll make sure to put a picture of my graduation with you in them. Also, I'm a nanny. I work for 3 incredible chldren whom I love dearly and am undenyabley in love with. In just four short weeks another nanny will be taking my place and I will get to start preparing my life to love and take care of you. I'm not taking any classes right now although school has started. I am studying to take a big test so that I can get into graduate school. And some day be a big shot researcher. I am working so hard so that some day you will brag about your mom!