When I started this blog, I pictured myself writing on it everyday, or at least, every time we had an update. As many know, I am, to a fault, a perfectionist, when it comes to writing anything meaningful, or scrap booking, or any type of crafty project. I have been staring at a blank blog screen for months now trying to find the "perfect" words to describe our journey thus far. As you can tell, I have not been struck with any poetic wording or Pulitzer Price writing. So while Joe is out searching for something for the baby's room, I figured while I had some alone time I would get my thoughts down. Where to start. . .?

I guess I will just start from May 29. It seems so long ago, but at the same time, like it was yesterday. We are now 27 weeks 3 days. Only 12, plus change, weeks to go! Everything has been going very well for both the baby and C. We had a nuchal scan, which is early detection for different types of disorders including downs, spina bifida, as well as several others I believe. He was measuring perfectly. The blood work came back normal. So we were able to breath a sigh of relief. C and her mom were at that appointment. I was, sadly, in Hilton Head, SC so I missed the appointment. They got a sneak peak of chub chub's (who is measuring now on a smaller side, so not so chub chubs anymore) gender. It was so exciting receiving the picture messages! And hearing the excitement in C's voice telling me we were having a son! I couldn't wait to call Joe, who was back at home. Although he was at work, he seemed overjoyed! He secretly really was rooting for a boy. He he. Although the u/s tech cautiously advised us that his gender was not 100% just yet, my mom, aunt, cousins and I wasted no time and bought some of baby cross' outfits! We had to celebrate somehow. :-)  

Fast forward a couple months, 20 weeks. Our next *big* appointment, our final ultra sound and Joe's first one! The crummy weather was not going to dampen the day for the three of us. We arrived at the doctor's office with some nerves. In the back of our minds, we kept wondering 'what if.' What if baby cross is a girl? Of course, we'd be excited, just disappointed that we'd already gotten our hopes up. Oh, and I must add, we spent at least 6 hours painting his room. Blue paint is a difficult one to paint with. It took Joe (I gave up after the 2nd coat) 7 or 8  coats, not including priming the wall to paint 2 walls. Ridiculous, but totally worth it! The walls look awesome. Okay, back to the ultra sound appointment. Even though we did not have the greatest, friendliest tech, it was still a memorable u/s. We were able to see the four chambers of his heart. His brain. All 10 fingers and toes. His long legs. Oh, and his penis. Enter sigh of relief here. Ha ha. We were given some great pictures. He looks amazing. It's hard to grasp how 10 weeks earlier he barely looked like a little human being, and now we saw his face and little nose. It's funny.. In one side view shot, he looks totally like a Manzi. Nose, eyes, everything. Makes me giggle when I'm having a bad day. And then he looks totally like Joe in the rest of the pictures. His nose changes and looks like a little button nose, trademark to Joe and his sister and mom. So I cannot wait to see him for real! He'll be perfect no matter who's nose he has ;-) 

C started to be able to feel him kick and move around July 9, to be exact. I can't wait until we can feel him. I hear he is a little stinker already. He moves mostly when C is laying down or "sleeping", so she often is unable to sleep. He is measuring on the smaller side, in the 25-50 percentile with measurement. So I'm hoping he starts to put on some weight and moves higher in C so we can feel him easier and more often. 

On another note, we are almost finished with his room. We just got the bedding, his bumper, quilt, rug, curtains, and curtain rods. We are setting up the dresser next weekend with Aunt Jenn, as she has proven to be pretty handy with putting things together. We set up the crib a couple months ago; we, meaning Joe and Jenn. I handed them the pieces they needed and the tools as well. Otherwise, I just looked pretty with the cats. :-P We will probably be getting the mattress within the month. Then we will be all set with his room. His mommy and daddy have been hard at work decorating his room with assembled lego figures. We enjoy working on them and displaying them in his room. Don't worry, they are on shelves out of his reach. We have also taken a liking to Mighty Muggs, which are "action" figures of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Spiderman, boys' types of interests. And when baby cross is old enough, they will be his to play with. So the room is looking awesome; it is everything and more of what we imagined it to look like. I can't wait to bring him home to his special room. 

In case you were wondering, we did pick out his name. We are keeping it to ourselves until he arrives. We figured we already all know his gender, might as well keep something a surprise :-) 

I want to post the pictures from the last two ultra sounds (the 13 week, and the 20 week). I need Joe's help scanning them onto the computer, so when he gets home I will make sure he scans them in so I can then post them here. See if you can tell which picture I'm taking about that he looks like a true Manzi. Hopefully I'm not imagining it ha ha.  

  ... So check back for more updates. :-)