Boy or Girl

Most people are surprised and pleased that we are not going to find out the sex of the baby. There is nearly 2 to 1 odds in favor of a girl. With only 100 days left, you need to vote if you haven't already done so. Besides, this is way more exciting that the presidental nomination crap on TV.

The baby has been quite active lately. Even I can feel it poke and prod Lynn. I wonder if it will play hockey?

Showers...

We have been avoiding the inevitable... registering for a baby shower. Do you want the 2.9 GHz baby monitor or the 5.8GHz? How about the one with video? What does the Baby Bargain Book say? What kind of bath tub? Diaper Genie? Boopie? Papoose? What color? What design? What fabric? My brain got overloaded pretty quick and we were just looking at things online. All these decisions need to be made for someone who is coming in three and a half months. Well at least here is one thing I could decided on for the baby. I am certain he/she will like it.

Sea Legs

We spent the past week on a cruise in the eastern Carribean to celebrate Lynn's parents' 40th anniversary. The seas were pretty rough for the first few days. So too was the baby. It did a lot of kicking. I got to feel the baby use its sea legs as it prodded Lynn from within. It was an amazing experience for me. With each passing day I can't believe how much my love grows for someone I haven't met and don't know yet. And if it receives 10% of the love Lynn showers on the dogs, then it will be the most loved baby in the world!

Alive and Kicking

We were doing yoga in the media room tonight, practicing breathing exercises, when Lynn annouces that she finally felt the baby kick. The quickening happened at last. Lynn's initial response was, "it feels like someone is doing gymnastics in there, or I've got really bad gas." One of Lynn's strong suits is that she rarely gets bad gas.

Anyway, keep those name suggestions coming in. Thus far, the submissions have been most interesting.

I've been corrected...

If we pick the name you submit, you will get bragging rights. So far the name Holly has been suggested. We are however, selling godparent rights. Bidding starts at $100. ;)

What's in a name?

Everything, a former boss once told me. Finding a suitable name is hard work when your spouse is busy counting the number of syllables, determining the initials, and thinking of possible names with which the kid maybe teased, etc. However, this task must be completed before April 9, 2008, otherwise our kid will have the name TBD. So, I am reaching out to you. Send us a name, and if we pick it, we will let you choose the middle name, so long as it meets with Lynn's approval. Check back for future contests such as win a chance to paint baby's room, and spend a week with baby during spring break.

Say cheese

We had another ultrasound today and here is another picture. The person conducting the ultrasound told us several times to look away from the monitor so the sex would not be revealed. He/she appears to be flexing its muscle. The baby was quite cooperative during the ultrasound, rolling over when the ultrasound tech needed to get a different perspective. Let's hope this cooperative nature continues for at least the next 20 years.

Finally

So we are out walking the dogs - the original children - and Lynn finally admits she is getting a belly due to her pregnancy. Lynn returned home from a weekend in Dallas visiting the Rich's. She came back with an extra suitcase so large it came out on the oversized baggage claim. It was full of maternity clothes that Kim had lent her. The clothes are really nice and should help me pay for at least another season of hockey.

Compromises

I appreciate that I will not have the same amount of free time after the baby is born. I am willing to compromise on things. I am fortunate to have a very understanding and supportive wife, who said I don't have to give up hockey. And in return I will give up doing the laundry.

And speaking of hockey, here is a photo from last night when we won the AAHL Upper A championship.

Worth a 1,000 Words

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this is the picture. Here is a photo of Dely and Paul when we told them our news. We had a webcam on our end and one on theirs. I think my mom is still in shock. She nearly fell off her chair. I know my brother will be a terrific uncle and role model.

No time for kids

We are too busy and we travel too much. Children don't fit our current lifestyle. Which country are we visiting this month? We can barely find someone to look after our dogs. We can barely get up before 9am. We have no time for kids.

So here we are. Week 16 of our pregnancy. For those of you who are math challenged, that's April 9, 2008 as a due date. We are so excited. All those things we didn't want to give up seem quite meaningless now. Of course our joy is tempered with the reality that we really don't know how to be parents or know what we are truly getting into. Nevertheless, billions of babies have been born and their parents figured it out - or at least most of them. So I am sure we will be fine - I'll just keep telling myself that.

Anyway, I want to introduce you to our baby. Here is one of her/his first pictures. He/she bares a striking resemblance to a TV with poor reception. Actually, at the last ultrasound we got to see its head and it waved its hand at us and kicked its legs in the air. Its heart was racing along at 150 bpm. As we read about its development each week, we are utterly amazed and humbled by this tiny baby growing inside Lynn's belly.

I am sure you noted that we have not divulged the sex of the baby. We will tell you after it is born, because that is when we will find out. Of course, people have asked us what we prefer. I like Lynn's response the best, "A healthy baby that travels well".


Anyway, I hope you will check back every so often and follow us on a road to parenthood.

L&M