Dear little tomato,

A typical bedroom scene:  yoga mat with race car and bicycle, tiny smudgy hand prints on the mirror.

The website says you are the size of a tomato the same week my tomatoes in the garden are finally coming ripe!  We haven't gotten to eat any of our tomatoes because your big brother Seamus keeps picking them and eating them, or feeding them to Linus.  You've heard Linus barking, but what you don't know is that Linus loves you a ton - even though you're not born yet!  Linus loves your big brothers as his own brothers and waits at the door for them when they are gone.  Luke and Seamus have started taking turns feeding Linus his scoop of dog food morning and night.  They are going to be excellent, responsible big brothers for you my little tomato.

Right now you weigh about half a pound.  Gain eight more pounds and you will be exactly the same weight as your brother Luke, the day he was born.  Half a pound makes me imagine half a block of butter.  You weigh the same as my chocolate chip cookie dough recipe calls for.  Granted, I usually substitute some of that with peanut butter or oil.  When you grow up a little more you will get to try those cookies.  It's your Grandma Helene's recipe.  Your Dad's favorite.

We are nearly halfway through your incubation.  That reminds me of the caterpillars we watched this Spring.  They grew and grew and GREW, and then they incubated.  They sat in those cocoons for 2 long weeks.  Those weeks seemed interminable to those of us waiting for butterflies.  But they were worth it.  The butterflies came out and were so beautiful!  We are looking forward to you coming out of your cocoon as well. 

When you come, tomatoes will be long gone in the compost pile and in our bellies.  Your brothers will be even bigger and better helpers.  Linus will want to sniff your soft little head.  And fresh warm cookies will definitely be on the menu in the deepest part of Winter.  Your Grammy and Grandpa will be here from California to meet you for the first time.  And we will celebrate the New Year with you as our special gift for 2014, little tomato.  Grow and grow and grow.  You're not quite ripe, yet.