Artwork for Julian and Benjamin
Julian, when you and your mama were discussing Nonna’s paintings of the sun and the earth, Mama said that you and Papa were born in Germany and that she and Nonna were born in the United States.
What does it mean to be born? Your baby brother will soon be born. Right now, he’s growing inside your mama, isn’t he?
Do you remember growing inside your mama? Mama and Papa made you out of two of their own cells, one very tiny cell from Papa — so tiny that you can’t see it — and one tiny cell from Mama. Papa’s and Mama’s cells joined together to make you. From these two cells you grew. You grew inside your mama. First you were a tiny embryo, and then you grew into a small baby.
A human cell is amazing. Cells are our building blocks – you know what blocks are! Cells are special building blocks because they know how to do many things; they change food into energy, they have a kind of brain and they have a kind of skeleton – much like all the things you have! One beautiful thing cells do is divide into other cells. That was their first job when they were becoming Julian. Your cells kept dividing and dividing into more and more cells until they made the shape that is you. They will always be dividing inside of you, on you – all over you as you change and grow.
When your cells had divided enough to make you a complete little baby, your mama worked hard tightening and relaxing the strong muscles in her uterus to help you slip out of her – you were being born!
You were born on Tuesday, January 16, 2017 at 17:17. (In the United States, we say, 5:17 p.m.) You were 50.8 centimeters long (20 inches). You weighed 3.17 kilograms (7 pounds) when you were born — that’s about the size of a bunny rabbit! Mama and Papa gave you four names: Julian Samuel Frederick Mahlmeister.
In the artwork, do you see how Nonna painted the picture of you inside Mama? You have to pretend you can see through her belly. Do you see your umbilical cord? Isn’t it beautiful? I saw your mama’s cord when she was being born. It was iridescent; that means it sparkled like the far-away stars.
Your baby brother is growing inside your mama’s uterus now. He is doing the same thing you did. His cells are still dividing into the shape that he will be. When he is a complete little baby he will be born, too. The time is getting very close. When you meet him, he will be quite small, and he will need your help because you are big and you know about things; you are his big brother. He will love you so much.
We too are very excited to meet your baby brother. You can introduce us to him! Until then, we are sending you our biggest hugs and kisses in the whole world!