Cappuccino with Raspberry or Mint???

The BIG sonogram was today!!!

(Began this post soon after scan on Wed, 11/25 . . . )

We got to see the arms, hands, and fingers; the legs, feet, and toes; the heart and all its chambers; the amazing spine; the sweet head with cute little nose; and (almost!) everything else! Technology is absolutely incredible...

We weren't sure we wanted to find out the gender right there in the room with the technician and decided we'd try our best to have her not tell us. I was surprised we didn't completely give in, but it was easier than I thought to look away for the few quick minutes she "checked" given that I could hardly tell what I was looking at for so much of the scan anyway!

So sitting next to me as I type is a little note card with either "boy" or "girl" written on it (although our little banana/mango was being modest so the technician is only about 80% sure...) along with a bag full of chocolate sticks.

What- chocolate sticks?

We wanted to do something fun, so we took our little card to a local bakery/chocolate shop, and while they didn't have strawberry or blueberry filled truffles (the initial idea) they did have these cute "chocolate sticks" flavored with either raspberry, cappuccino, or mint.

Soooo.... we told them our idea and had them load a bag with the cappuccino filled sticks and either the raspberry ones if "girl" was written on the card, or "mint" ones if boy was written. Later tonight, once we arrive at my parents', we'll all dig in and see what we find!

Can't wait!!!!

Believe it or not, I'm more excited to find out in advance just to have that extra time to start bonding with my little "daughter" or little "son" than to simply start picking out the right colors for clothing and decor. I just can't wait to call this sweet little one by their name!!!

Ok, that's all for now. I'll finish up this post with the big announcement after we've enjoyed our cappuccino with raspberry or mint... :)



And, now that it is almost 1am, we have each bitten into a chocolate stick, and (drum roll, please!) ...

Maelee Marguerite
(explanation of name will be in future post)

I absolutely can not believe it- I was pretty convinced it was a boy! We're thrilled though. We thought it was hysterical that both of my parents happened to grab two cappucino (neutral) sticks and both Steve and I grabbed the raspberry ones! Much to my surprise when I bit in, I could tell it was raspberry right away; it took Steve a while- for some reason, we were all expecting to taste mint:)

We can not wait to meet our little girl and will keep you posted with updates. Here's the most recent belly pics- there has been a major growth spurt w/i the past couple of weeks!!!

Check out that belly!!! Just about at 20 wks...

So thankful for our little blessing. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Beginnings of a Baby Bump

Before I get to the fun stuff, let me now just say (write) that I think this seriously has been the most insane month yet of my existence. Here's a little update on what has transpired in the last four weeks:

* Found a new apartment and signed a lease within a 24hr period (pics and more details on that to come, all happened the day before leaving the country)
* Took a fabulous nine day trip to France (again, pics and more details to come)
* Moved over a 15 day period (still unpacking and trying to get settled)
* Steve gave two talks as part of a conference and seminar
* Finally stopped working at Lincoln Center (Yay! Any questions about timing- keep reading)
* Had about 25 hrs worth of rehearsals for an orchestra concert, two CCP concerts (contemporary chamber players) and my own solo recital within two weeks time
* Traveled about 35 hrs to and from above said rehearsals
* Gave all four above said concerts/recitals within five days time
* Taught about 16 hrs worth of lessons in a week and half time
* Pulled a back muscle which made above said rehearsing/traveling/performing/teaching/packing/moving/unpacking/being pregnant quite painful in addition to stressful
* Entered 2nd trimester of pregnancy
* And in case I didn't mention before- MOVED!!!

Oh sorry, hope this doesn't sound like I'm complaining. Mainly just stating the facts and vulnerably admitting that this month just about did me in. This was all in addition of course to our life's normal obligations of work, church, practicing, tending to a cat who decided to pee in random places while we were gone, etc, etc...

I had many a sleepless nights, teary breakdowns, and moments of feeling completely overwhelmed that I just couldn't handle it all. Luckily though, it all melted away at our Dr.'s appointment yesterday when we got to hear the sweet heartbeat of our "little mango." Thankfully, God has sustained this precious little life, despite mommy's lack of good nutrition, sleep, and peaceful state of mind over these past several weeks. Praise the Lord!

I should be sighing huge, blissful exhales of relief right now, taking a much needed break from fluting, and enjoying putting together our new home, but unfortunately, not a day went by after the above madness ended before another bomb got dropped. The 30-page paper I worked very hard on this past summer was apparently much too "wordy" (ME, wordy???) and "exhausting for the reader" (according to my advisor who has to approve this final paper, in an email I received the day after my recital, while cleaning our old apartment...) so I pretty much have to rewrite it. And pretty much in just a week or so time since it has to get approved through all the necessary channels before the end of the semester.

Fun times.

Who needs relaxation anyway???

I'm trying to not let myself get too overwhelmed over this paper yet, and just let hubby help me with the massive load of editing set out before me. It will get done. It has to. But I will hate every second of it...

(Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely detest writing papers???)

But alas, onto the fun stuff, the GOOD news- the recent belly pics. There is definitely a belly there that I can thankfully say is a result of baby and not just pudge :)

At ~15 wks, overlooking hotel window in Paris




At ~17 weeks in our empty bedroom of our dear, old apartment at 71st and 2nd

And next week- the results! As long as our "little cantaloupe" (the size he/she should be around that point) is not being modest, we should know whether we are having a he or a she!

Bets, guesses anyone? :)

We're looking forward to calling our little one by their name rather than their fruitsize name and I think it will continue to make this whole pregnancy thing more real.

Have I mentioned I still can't believe all this?

Keep checking for updates:)

Oh, and here are a couple teasers from our trip...