From Peanut...

To My Sissy,
Thank you so much for being you! I love you so much! Thanks for always being there for me even when I didn't deserve it. I know I can come to you about anything and you never judge me! That's why I know you will be a fantastic mom. You are patient, understanding, loving and funny! God has truly blessed me with THE best sister I could ask for. I'm so grateful to have you in my life! I know Samson will be a mamas boy LOL! Thanks again for being you, I love you with all my heart.
Love ~ Peanut

From Richard...

I thank God for my wife, she has truly changed my life. God has blessed me with a pure and blameless woman of God and I wouldn't want to have a family with anyone else! God has given me the one my heart and soul has longed for! Our son Samson is so very blessed because there is not a better mother in this world for him then my wife, Lauren C Mullen.
~Richard Mullen

From Erica T...

Dear Lauren,
You will be the most wonderful, caring, loving and strong mother. I know Samson will be the luckiest little man to have a mother like you.

"A son's best friend is his mother"

Can't wait to meat the little bundle of joy!!

Congratulations!!
Erica T.

From Sue...Momma #2

Lauren and Rich,

You are about to embark on a new life! Life with Samson, you will be parents, how wonderful! You will be called Mom and Dad, how exciting! You will forever turn your head whenever you hear “Mom” or “Dad” called out in a crowd or wherever you are, and no matter how old you are, this is a permanent change to your hearing:) You are now a member of the club!

Your heart will grow bigger with the love you have for your son. I remember how much love I felt when I looked into my babies eyes, incredible, and it struck me then to think how God loves us and our children even more, how amazing and what a blessing!

Lauren and Rich, I know you will be fabulous parents, as I see and hear such excitement and such love from you both as you talk about your son and speak about all the preparations you are making for Samson. Enjoy each and every stage of your son's life and the changes it brings to your lives as you all grow together as a family. God bless all three of you!

Best wishes and lots of love, Sue

PS...available for babysitting:)

From Dannie...

Lauren,
I can't wait for you to be a mom! You are going to be amazing! The best advice that was given to me was " just make it through the first 2 weeks!"
The first 2 weeks, it is purely survival. I love you and can't wait to meet Samson! Him and Titus are going to be best buddies. Love always, Dannie

From Heidi...

Oh wow friend - I should have thought about being pregnant before I asked everyone to do this. I have been in tears reading everyone's this whole time.
Lauren, we have been dreaming since we were little girls. From our make believe husbands, our fake water-balloon boobs, to talking about being pregnant together and raising our children together.
Well we found our husbands, our boobs are huge from pregnancy we don't need the water-balloons anymore, and we're on our way to raising our families together. I just can't believe it.
I am so thankful I've had you to walk the steps of pregnancy first. I could call you when I had a question and ask you about all the weird things that happen.
Samson is so lucky to be raised by you and Rich. BLESSED to have a mother like you that will daily lift him up in prayer and devotion. Lauren, you have loved Samson since the day you found on you were pregnant. It's a day I won't forget. I wish I would have been awake to read your first texts :-) But it's ok...
You have always been caring, compassionate, and nurturing. This will all prepare you to love on your baby even more.
Remember that you have the love and support of everyone who has written on this page and everyone who didn't. You are loved, and we're all here to help you through the especially challenging first couple months, know that we're here.
I can't wait to hear how your birth story is going to turn out, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it afterwards when I get to take some very special family photos. I dream of that day...
I love you with all of my heart - I'll be here every step of the way, through the good and the bad, the easy and the hard, and the happiness and the frustrations as we raise our kids together. I couldn't think of going through this with out you.
I adore you and am patiently awaiting the birth of this perfect boy.
Samson - your mom is going to love you more than you could ever imagine. You are one lucky boy!
Blessings,
Heidi

From Michelle...

Lauren will be a wonderful mother because she is kind, sensitive, and caring.

She enjoys life and finds joy in simplest places.

Samson is blessed because his momma prays for him consistently,

She will teach him to love Jesus

and he will know that he is cherished tremendously.

Lauren has taken such careful steps to provide a safe pregnancy and no doubt will continue to watch carefully for her baby boy.

Lauren will be a amazing mother because she is a amazing person.

From Lea...

"You will put your child above everything and become a 'mama bear', but remember that God loves him even more, so mentally give your child to God and trust Him." -my mom

Learn to accept help. You are a capable woman and mother, but God has put people in your life for a reason.

Trust your instincts. Have confidence in your natural abilities.

Never stop praying for your child.

Read to him. Everyday, from birth.

Much love to the mother-to-be... Lea

From Momma...

Lauren will be an amazing Mom because she is a loving, smart, beautiful (inside and out), Godly woman that will love her son and pray for the best for him. She has always wanted and cherished a loving, close relationship with her family and loved ones, and we all have felt her love and compassion! Lauren, if you love or feel the love from your children that I have, you will truly be blessed! I love you bunches, Mom.

From Katie...

Dear Lauren,

It seems like just a few months ago I was receiving text messages and phone calls in the middle of the night from you trying to eagerly get a hold of me. When I did, I can remember vividly you telling me that you thought you were pregnant and we just cheered and cried together over the phone. Soon you will embark on the biggest, scariest, and happiest day of your life... You are going to bring little Samson Isaiah into this world and I could not be more excited for you. I know you are going to be a wonderful mother because you are compassionate, confident, and genuine. You and Rich will instill all of these qualities into Samson and be great role models for him. I cannot wait to meet him and watch him grow up. I also cannot wait for the many fun family adventures in the future. Think about it… sporting events, vacations, piano recitals, and barbeques just to name a few. Always know that I will be there for you to if you ever need help or just someone to talk to. You are going to be a great mother, teacher, counselor, and friend. Samson, is so lucky to have you and Rich as parents. I am so proud of you and I am so excited to be an “auntie!”

Love always,

Katie

From Scott...

Lauren,
I am so excited for the arrival of Samson and am glad that Heidi gets to share that experience with you. You are going to be a great mother and Samson will grow up to be strong and confident because of all the love and support I know you are going to pour out on him. I am excited that our children will grown up and share camping trips and may memories together. I look forward to meeting him and then seeing the gentle and loving interactions you will have with your son. As he grows into a strong man of God and righteousness, I will need to look no farther than the strong foundations laid and the living example he was shown by you. May God bless you in raising your son and if there is ever anything you need from me to help, please just ask.
Love, Scott

From Erica...

Lauren:
As a fellow Mommy of a baby boy, some words of wisdom: 1. No matter what Daddy says, it's okay for him to be a Momma's boy 2. Always be on your toes during diaper changes, you'll be amazed at how far he can squirt! 3. You'll just have to accept that the baby boy clothes section is far smaller than the girls' 4. Little boys love to cuddle 5. Just one smile from the little guy will make you forget all those sleepless nights I love this quote about boys: Boys are found everywhere -- on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket. You are going to be an amazing Mommy. You and Rich will be amazing role-models for little Samson and he will grow up surrounded by love. It goes way too fast and they grow like lightning so cherish each and every moment: good and bad. You'll find yourself wishing and waiting for all the milestones to happen- first smile, tooth, giggle, word, rolling over, sitting up etc. but then once it happens, you'll find yourself saying, "Remember when...." like it was so long ago. Being a parent is such a life-changing event and your life will never feel the same but having a symbol of your love is the best thing you can experience. Each day is something new for you and your baby and it's amazing to watch them learn and discover and figure out the world. I can't wait for you to share the special gift that is Mommy-hood! I love you and baby Samson!
~Erica Van Alstine