Oh Boy...or Girl?

We've had a very eventful past couple of weeks, so we have to catch up a bit on all that's been going on.  Most notably, we learned on March 12th what the sex of our little munchkin is! 

Finding out the gender was the icing on the cake, or rather, the icing IN the cake!  March 12th also happened to be my birthday--what a wonderful gift to see Baby M via ultrasound again and find out if we were having a little bambino or bambina.  To avoid the somewhat impersonal experience of having the gender revealed to us in the hospital with a random technician and also to do something fun to tie to my bday, we decided to call upon a bakery to help us out with the reveal.  Anthony arranged for two cakes to be made by a local bakery.  Both cakes were to be identical on the outside, but have differentiating pink or blue icing inside.  The plan was to hand a concealed envelope provided by the hospital to the baker that would reveal the gender and in turn, the baker was then to hand us the right cake.  The bakery happily agreed to play along!  We just had to make sure that we didn't tear into the envelope before it made it to them!  Lol!

The plan went off without a hitch and it was so nice for Anthony and I to learn what we were having in the privacy and comfort of our home.

So are you dying for me to just tell you already?!  Alright, drumroll please...

Outside the hospital with two concealed envelopes in hand...one for the baker and one for us (just in case). 
The suspense was killing us!



Can't say I fully trusted the envelopes with uber anxious Anthony!



A seemlingly normal looking bday cake with a very special surprise inside!

Making a wish (or several in this case)!

Here we go!

I had a feeling that was the icing I would see!

Beaming, proud Papa-to-be getting a taste of the extra yummy cake!

IT'S A BOY!!!

We are so excited to continue bonding with our baby, and knowing now that we have a special little baby boy growing inside me makes that bonding experience all that more special.  It will be so nice to start referring to him by name, once we finally decide on what that name will be (assuming we don't end up changing it at first sight after delivery!).  We have some names in mind, but will be keeping that a secret until he arrives.  We have to keep you in suspense about something!  One thing we can tell you for sure about our future heartbreaker is...

After our special surprise, Anthony and I spent the afternoon in Manayunk, celebrating my bday and reveling in our new discovery.


Lunch at our 1st date spot...Derek's! 

 

And beautiful flowers from my sweetie...



 

That night, we had some friends over to celebrate our reveal with us.  Surprisingly, the guesses of the gender were pretty much 50:50 boy to girl! 

Meagan, Kelly (w/ Meagan's little Greyson), me and Flagg

I also had some fun with the reveal at work by bringing in gender-revealing cupcakes.  Not only was that my first attempt at making red velvet cupcakes, but it was my first time making cupcakes...period!  It's about time, right?!  I figured I have to start practicing now for many cupcake-making experiences in the future, I'm sure.

That prior weekend, we ventured home to Frackville to spend time with family.  Also, I admit, I'm never going to be too old for my Mom's special bday dinner and bday cake!

My amazing parents.  I hope I can be as good of a parent as they have been to me.

My wonderful Godparents,Tommy and Linda.

Anthony and his buddy, Adam.  Something good was on the tube apparently!

I am 21 weeks now as of this past Saturday, March 17th.  The baby weighs about a pound and is about the size of a cantaloupe (i.e. just shy of 10").  I have been loving the "fluttering" in my belly I've been feeling, mostly after dinner at nights when I'm relaxing on the couch or in bed.  I'm feeling them right now actually...what an awesome feeling!  I can't for sure pinpoint the very first time I felt them, because I couldn't be sure, but now there is no mistaking it!  I really "popped" at 20 weeks and now feel like a full-blown pregger.  Here is the profile shot as well as some of the ultrasound pics we got of our growing boy at 20 weeks.

Profile shot @ ~20 wks

hmmm, is that a Chabon or a Malizia nose in the making?

My Mom, my sisters, and I went to see Motherhood the Musical at the Society Hill Playhouse in Center City Philadelphia this past weekend.  What a fun show that depicted all the various phases of being a mother.  We laughed, we cried (ok some of us more profusely than others)! 

I was so lucky to share that experience with them and very blessed to have their love and support through this exciting and, admittedly, sometimes scary time!     

Love,

Ulana & Anthony

P.S. As predicted, the nursery bedding has been ordered and on its way!  Mama can't wait to start decorating!!