In the Favor of the Gods

Sneak peak, 3/04/2011

Its A boy!!!

 We are half way there! Melanie has entered the 20th week of pregnancy. It feels like it has been a long journey thus far, but baby and Melanie are doing great. After doing battle with her fill-in OB/GYN for her first few prenatal visits, Melanie finally met with her preferred OB, and this guy is awesome! I was worried that I would have to stop going to her prenatal visits, but I think we are in the clear now.
  After seeing a few of our other friends, post ultra sound pics and gender on Facebook, we decided to go to a 3D ultra sound place early in March for a sneak peak to find the babies gender. No doubt about it, boy number four is on the way. Our Kaiser Permanente, "No frills" Diagnostic ultrasound confirmed the gender, a couple weeks later. I know Mel is a little sad that she wont ever have her baby girl, but is happy none the less, to add a new little man to our family.

3/17/2011 

I will enlighten you all on the additional "coincidences" that bring even more irony (or is it eeriness) to our pregnancy predicament; information that I with held in my previous announcement blog on January 11th, 2011 entitled "New Year, New life".  Here is a brief rundown of some of coincidences from that blog to get you up to speed incase you missed it; our good friends Aaron and Michelle are expecting. We found out within 24 hours of each other. Due date for our baby is August 7th, Mel's Grandpas Birthday. Aaron and Michelle's Due date is a couple days before us. 

Now I will add to the list of coincidences. Aaron's other BFF, Kevin, and his wife Amy are expecting. All three of our due dates are in the same week! As if this isn't weird enough, two of our other mutual friends which happen to be fraternal twins, are both expecting as well and I believe their due dates are the end of august, beginning of september. Aaron's brother Adam, and his wife Heather are expecting twin boys in May, and another close friend we know from Bend is expecting in mid July. All the mothers are in there 30's! We also have a few more friends expecting through out the spring and summer, however, the connection and commonality between the parties listed above, is pretty bizarre. 

By the way, Aaron and Michelle are expecting a boy, and Kevin and Amy are expecting a girl....$5 says Aaron and Kevin end up as in-laws someday! ;)  

  We have begun the search for a name for this little guy. It is a hard task in and of itself, but try to follow a name like Apollo, and it is even harder. We cant just give him a normal name like....Steve, or Jim. That just doesn't mix well. Needless to say, we will find our inspiration and a name will come.

  Apollo seems to understand, more or less, that there is a baby on the way. We took him to the ultrasound with us, and we talk to him about his baby brother, and we even sing songs together to his moms belly. Apollo likes to press his face to to Melanie's belly and talk to his baby brother. "Hi baby brother!", "Good night baby brother, see you" It is very sweet of him and we get a laugh out of it every time. "Mama has a baby in her belly" he often announces when he notices that his mama's belly is starting to stick out. I have to say, Apollo is very observant and notices so many things. He recognizes subtle differences. Melly recently got her hair cut. She left Apollo at the house with his uncle Gooch while she went and had this done. Upon returning home and walking through the door, Apollo greeted her with, "You cut your hair mama." Aden noticed two days later when he saw me taking a picture of his mom so she could post it on Facebook so her sisters could see her new cut. Actually, Aden didn't notice at all, he just inquired about why I was taking pictures of his mom, at which point, he was told about the haircut; "Oh, I didn't notice" he replied. Four days later, at dinner, we were discussing Mel's hair cut, and Ian chimed in, "You cut your hair?"....Did I mention that she had 7 inches of hair cut off?  Yes, Mel was a little appalled.

  I must admit that I am excited about having another little boy. It will be so much fun for Apollo when his little brother starts walking. I know there will be a huge adjustment period for him when he realizes that he has to share the spot light, but I am confident that Apollo will manage just fine. 

  Prior to to the first ultrasound, my brother Gooch expressed his take on the gender issue via instant messaging, "Tell Mel that if it is a boy, she is in the favor of the gods." I have to agree with Gooch. Notice how he did not say that I would be the one in favor. He knows what karma I have due, had I been gifted a daughter. I have had many a sleepless nights these past few months thinking about that very thing. Alas, we are having a boy, and Mel is truly in the Favor of the Gods!