I want to talk about one of the best things a pregnant mom can buy. It is a very inexpensive item, but the memories and quiet pondering moments it brought to me are simply irreplaceable. What I am talking about is this tiny, little book that you read to your baby in utero. More about the book in a moment.
We all know that our babies hear our voices when they are in the womb. So we often hear people say to talk to your baby or read to them while they are in utero. So I decided to do this the entire time I was pregnant. At first it felt a little strange in a way to be talking to my belly! Once I felt my daughter kicking and moving it felt so awesome to talk and know she was in there moving, listening, growing. It was an amazing experience.
My fondest memories are of reading the little book I started to talk about above to her. This tiny, little book is called “Oh Baby The Places You’ll Go A Book To Read In Utero.” It is a Dr. Seuss book!
I found it a hard book to find and I had to buy it from a specialized book store. It might be more available now. It is available on Amazon. You can click the image of the book above to check it out.
I read that little book to my daughter basically every night. It was a moment I would love. Resting in bed, rubbing my big tummy, feeling for her movements and kicks and reading her the book. I think that just about every time I read that book to her a tear formed in my eye. Sometimes it made me weep with joy and excitement. No matter what, it was an amazing experience and amazing moments with my daughter while she was in utero.
I had to have a planned c-section so I knew when we were the night before her birth. My mother and sister were down for the birth. My fondest first memory of all of us ladies together with my daughter is the night before she was born. We sat on the bed. I was tired and had swollen ankles…luckily something I only had a week before the c-section. My sister was rubbing my ankles to help the swelling. I showed my mom the book I read every night. That night would be the last time it would be read to my daughter while she was in utero. What and exciting night. My mom opened the book and began to read. I type this moment now and tears form in my eyes. What a moment in life. What a wonderful time full of emotions to share with my daughter, her Aunt and her Nanny (what we call grandmother) and of course me, the new mommy.
As Nanny read each page, everyone’s eyes slowly filled with tears. Turn the page and more tears. Nanny closed the book and everyone of us was full of tears, excitement and anticipation. We all loved my daughter so much that words could not express it and we could not wait to meet her the next day. What an exciting time!
I have often wished that there was some way that I had, had that moment with all us ladies sitting on the bed reading the book, on video. Then I realize that it is not necessary. It was a moment that did not need recording. It is a moment that will stay with me for my lifetime. It plays back in my head as clear as if it is happening right now. I can feel my emotions and my swollen ankles. I remember rubbing my tummy. I remember where my sister and mom were sitting. I can hear my mom’s voice saying each word of the book. I can feel the tears of joy. It is a moment frozen in time for me to re-experienced over and over again.