Popping the Questions

When we first got engaged, the first question everyone would ask was, "When's the date?" I suppose that all adult milestones must have an accompanying first question, because now when we tell people that we're pregnant, their first response is always, "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" And when informed that you can't tell until about 5 months, the next question usually is, "Do you think you'll find out?"

This one had always seemed like a no-brainer to me. Besides the fact that one can only take so much yellow and green, calling the baby "it" for 9 months just seems so...wrong. Referring to the bump in Monica's belly as "it" gives it too much of an eerie, alien-spawn quality. It'd be hard to fall asleep next to Monica each night knowing that the "it" growing inside her could bust out and eat me at any moment. Plus, it's hard to think up great baby names when you're using the same pronoun that you use for a spatula.

A few people have also asked me whether I'd prefer a boy or a girl. To me, that's like asking whether Achtung Baby or The Joshua Tree is the better album. Sure, there are pros and cons for each. Girls, in the long-run, bring the nerve-wracking worries of dating one-track-minded boys. In the short-term, though, boys can be much more dangerous when changing a diaper. In the end, I'll take whatever we get. Each will bring its own future of treasured moments, and I can teach a girl how to burn things with a magnifying glass just as well as I can teach a boy.

Some people might get irritated being asked the same questions over and over again, but I actually don't mind. Each time someone asks, it restarts the fun process of dreaming up different images of what life would be like with a little girl or a baby boy. And besides, I know that it won't be long before people start asking, "When are you having another?"


- Steve (and Monica)

Inaugural Post!

Hi everyone,

As you know, we are expecting our first child around November 7th. Since so many of our friends and family are spread throughout the U.S. and the world, we thought we would keep you updated with our little peanut's progress through the internet. We'll post pictures of our ultrasounds and give you updates of how things are going. And...when the little dude or dudette is born, we'll post the photos here!

We have felt so very loved and supported throughout this process and want to thank everyone for all the excitement you have expressed towards our news.

The photo you see to your right is the very first images of our little peanut! This was taken on March 29, 2007 when I was about 8 weeks along. You can click on the photo to see a larger version of it.

I also went in last Thursday April 26 for my 12 week appointment and all is going well. I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time! Soon-to-be Grandpa Laufer also sent us a doppler machine and so we can hear it any time we want to at home. Steve and I listened to it on Friday afternoon with huge grins on our faces.

Love,
Monica (and Steve)