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!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
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...
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...
Monday, May 14, 2007
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)
Monday, May 7, 2007
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)
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)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
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)
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