We love being parents!

Dear Kacie,

Sometimes, I get jealous when my friends post about the exciting trips that they are going on.

I sit for a minute wishing I had gone on cool trips before I got married or before we had kids.

I wonder if I will ever go back to Hawaii. Or if I will visit Disneyland again. I imagine trips to other countries or exotic cruises to beautiful places.

And then I remember that not everyone gets to go to Hawaii at all! And that of course I will go to Disneyland because it's in my blood! And I remind myself that I never have wanted to leave the country. And that the ocean is scary and I am terrified of sharks!

I LOVE being a mom.

And not everyone gets to be a mom. Some of my friends, having those adventures, haven't been given the opportunity to be a parent yet.

I often lay in bed before I fall asleep looking through pictures of you. You bring me so much joy!

When your Aunt Angela was engaged and getting married I was sad! It felt like my family was getting smaller. I would think about me getting married and then each of my other siblings someday getting married. I would think about not seeing them everyday and how we wouldn't have vacations, snowed in to our house. No more weekend dance parties or anti-superbowl parties. (I still have never seen the Super Bowl…). No more advice ready at hand from my parents or siblings hanging out in my room. It was hard to think about all the changes that would come from growing up.

One day I realized though while we won't always be able to do those things, I wasn't losing a sister, I was gaining a brother! And although I wouldn't see them every day, I wasn't losing them.

And as I sat in our kitchen with my brother in laws family, I realized I was gaining them too!

My family wasn't getting smaller, and it wasn't getting a little bigger, It was getting a lot bigger! And someday I would get even more siblings!

Now, my sister is moving, we won't be in Utah much longer with my brother. My other brother is on a mission and my sister will only be at home for a few more short years. Life is constantly changing!

We've added you, Kacie, to the family tree and although much of the last two months has been spent by the toilet, your dad and I are SO excited to be adding another person to that family tree!

I get sad when I think of not seeing the people I love most very often. It's one of the hardest things for me to be away from my immediate family. But in April, you will get to meet your little brother or sister and I just know I am going to be emotional seeing you with them.

My heart will grow a little bit more. I will get to understand a little bit more our Heavenly Fathers love for me and each of His children.

That's the cool thing about love and hearts. There is always more room.

I used to be sad when my family changed. But now, I have found that I love getting new family members whether it be cousins, aunts, grandparents or children, it's awesome to know so many cool people.

So in April, we will welcome a new member to our family. Things will change again, time will be even more strained and sleep will be sparse. But our hearts will get bigger and our joy will continue to abound.

And as much as we would like to be on a beach in Hawaii right now, We are so blessed and excited to have you and your sibling in our life!

We love you so much Kacie!

Love,

Mom, (baby) and Dad