Over the past week, we have started to feel the baby kick! It’s week 22, so a bit later than expected. However, it’s been worth the wait! So thrilled that our little bun is happy and active in the oven. Bump.com tells me that sleep cycles have set in, so the baby is really active at certain times and then completely still at other times. That’s bad news for those hoping for wiggle-on-demand, but for Eric and me, we can enjoy the little movements that remind us that pretty soon we will be chasing this little one on two feet!

Also, the baby has recently been introduced to Skokiaan…

I’m back from São Paulo! So happy to be home and to see my hubby!

Flights were tougher than anticipated, and my days of lifting heavy bags overhead are over. All together, it was a good trip. Great for business, and amazing to be in 80 degree weather. I love it down South. 😉

Pics of São Paulo and Uberlandia from the plane.

At week 19, this baby is the size of a mango!!  Unreal, isn’t it?!  Eric and I have now told our little secret: we know the baby’s gender!  No, we’re not telling, though.  The decision seems to be humorous and perplexing, depending on who we tell.  Of course, my dad just thought it was a terrible idea.  Predictable. 🙂

Before we were pregnant, Eric leaned towards not finding out and I thought the idea of surprise was silly.  My theory was that a baby is plenty of surprise and excitement.  I don’t know anyone who says: You know, the birth would have been better if only we had the surprise gender element.  I mean, it’s a baby!!  What more do you need?!

Fast forward several months until we are pregnant.  Eric suddenly decides he wants to know.  He wants to mentally prepare, and he and I both agree that we want the name decided before the hospital. I suddenly decide I want to wait.  I don’t have a nursery to decorate, and based on friendly advice from new moms, I thought the “wait” argument beat the “find out” argument in the following ways:

1. When people don’t know gender, gifts tend to be more practical.  We need practical.

2. When people don’t know gender, gifts and personal purchases are gender neutral, which saves money if you have a second child, especially if the second baby comes in the not-too-distant future.  If we have baby two, it will likely not be too distant from baby one.

3. Pink.  If it’s a girl, you can expect lots of pink.  If you’re into pink, great.  If you don’t want lots of pink and bows and “it’s a girls” stuff, then don’t tell.  I like pink, but not too much of it.

3. Blue.  If it’s a boy, you can expect lots of blue.  If you’re into blue, great.  If you don’t want lots of blue and cars and trains and “it’s a boy” stuff, then don’t tell. I really like blue, but not too much of it.

4. It’s fun to hear people’s theories on what it will be.  You can even start a pool!  I like the excitement around the gender discussion.  What I don’t particularly look forward to is all the comments from strangers.   I ALREADY have had a complete stranger on the subway stop me and predict boy because “how I carried the baby.”  Really?!  I’m 4 months and 5 pounds along…This is going to be an adventure.

So…we decided to find out but not to tell.  We’ll see if we can keep it a secret the whole time… 🙂