Updated Belly Picture

Here's a picture of my belly at 21 weeks. That's a little more than 5 months for those trying to do the math in your head. I always wondered why, when I asked pregnant women how far along they were, they answered in weeks and not months, but now I get it--because all milestones and appointments are referred to in weeks, so now that that's how I think, too.

There's all sorts of weird math in pregnancy. Everyone knows a woman is pregnant for about 9 months, right? Um...try 40 weeks....do the math...WAY more than 9 months. Isn't there even a movie called 9-months? They should really do something about the misnomer.

The fun new thing is that I've started to feel her move inside of me! At first I thought it was just gas, but the flutters and thumps I felt were not the same familiar feelings of gas I have felt for the last 28 years and when I described those feelings to other mothers they confirmed...yep, that's the little peanut saying hello or "give me some ice cream, dammit" (yeeeeah, that's what those kicks were...let's go to Ben and Jerry's, Steve and give baby what she needs).

Thanks for the continuous well wishes, everyone!
Monica (and Steve)

Aaaaaaaaaaand it's a..........................

GIRL!!!!!

Looks like the Peanut Gallery was right. We had our 20-week ultrasound today, and little girl bits were what we saw! We also saw her arms, legs, heart, hands, feet and toes--little tiny toes. =) Of course, of all the cute pictures the ultrasound tech could've given us, she decided to print out the Skeletor View that you see above (she's horizontal & looking at us straight on, with her head on the left, eyes, and open mouth....we're assuming she's a little cuter in person...).

So, now the name search is made a little easier. We're taking suggestions---especially since all of Steve's favorite names (Captain, Earl, The Edge) are now out of the question. Something pretty enough for a supermodel princess, but also cool enough for a tomboy. "Earl"----yeah, it doesn't quite do the trick.

Steve is already shopping for the shotgun he's going to need in 16 years when our little girl goes on her first date...

Who will the little peanut look like more?

Yet another week of stalling before next week's big ultrasound. So, here are some baby pictures to keep you satisfied in the meantime!

Will the little peanut look like



Daddy Steve?


Or Momma Monica?

This week's ultrasound

Just kidding, folks. You have to wait two more weeks until we have the appointment where we are hoping to find out if the little peanut is a boy or a girl. Please take our poll and let us know what you predict!

Results of previous poll: What should Steve's dad's "Grandfather Name" be?

27 votes came in and and the winner is.... THE DUDE. G-pops came in a close second. Maybe we'll let The Dude decide for himself, but we'll surely provide the input from the "peanut gallery."

First picture of the baby belly (17 weeks)

The obligatory belly shot. Nowadays, every pregnant couple takes pictures of the expanding belly just because it's fun to see it slowly balloon as the weeks go by. We're making a flip book out of ours. And since the general public seems to have taken an interest in Monica's abdominal adventure, we thought we'd put it on here so that all our global friends could track the progress, too. We'll be selling the flip books in a few months to help fund "Its" college education--check back for details!

The Partridge Family Silvestro

**Monica had her 4-month appointment this week. Not much happened, so here are some other baby thoughts below***

Mons and I went home last weekend to the Great State of New Jersey (yes, I hear you scoffing over there...) to see the fam. It was the first time we've seen my side of the crew since we told everyone the news, so we were showered with belly-kisses and comments about whether Monica looks like she has or hasn't gained weight (the correct answer, by the way, is something like "Oh, you're starting to show and you look amazing!").

While we were there, my dad took me down to the basement where he has his drum kit set up. As he hammered away at perfect renditions of various U2 songs (very impressive!), it got me thinking: How cool would it be if the little dude or dudette, and future sibling(s), grew up playing instruments--and then we could have a family band?? I could sing, Mons could...play tambourine...and at least one of the kids would have to play bass, because a good bass player can be hard to find. We'd tour the world, release multi-platinum albums, and show that not every family band needs to be as dysfunctional as the Jacksons, nor as weird as the Hansons. We'd live in musical harmony.

That is, until the kids start asking for more money, arguments erupt over writing credits, everyone stops doing their chores, and we split up over "creative differences." We'd perform one final, farewell concert on the roof of our condo building and then everyone would go off to start solo careers, even the goofy one who can't sing.

Yeah. Maybe we should think this through a little more...

I guess there are other things to do as a family. You know that Monica will have the kids in the kitchen learning to cook. Maybe we could be one of those families that cooks on TV--like butter-filled Paula Deen and sons, or like that Italian family that's always on the Today Show. A baseball team is out of the question--I have a feeling Monica could do without having first trimester nausea every other year for two decades, plus there's no way we're putting 9 kids through college unless they all get jobs in pre-school (which would be nice even if we only have two or three!).

I suppose that the best thing to do would be to just take things as they come and enjoy each step of the way, wherever we end up. And if we don't turn into some famous family unit, I guess that'd be alright.

In the meantime, I've got my headphones propped up against Monica's belly, playing "Where the Streets Have No Name" for some little ears--just in case...

Baby's first clothes

My cousin Stephanie was the provider of the very first baby clothes for the little peanut!

Very much a DC sports fan, Steph is adamant that the little Silvestro follow suit. Therefore, baby's first onesies are of the Washington Redskins (American football) and the Washington Nationals (Baseball. Oh, and the national's onesie also has matching shorts...all together now...awwwwwwww). Thanks, Steph!

This brings me to wonder what the little peanut will be like...will he or she be a natural athlete, like Steve or will they belong to the drama club, like me? We're sure Uncle Dan will help make this little one a tennis fanatic at least, I can just picture the first lessons on the court at Belle View. Who is this little person inside of me--what will be his or her talents, dreams, delights? But most importantly of all, will he/she like tofu???

Monica (and Steve)