24wk ultrasound!

Our handsome boy!!! Thank God, Xavier is Healthy!

He had a heart scan today. It's amazing that the ultrasound can look at the blood flow in his veins. Amazing, they checked the flow of blood in and out of the heart, one vein thats in his stomach, his spine, etc. and everything looks great! We are very thankful that he is doing well and he looks great!!! I love him so much and I can't wait til he's here!!! I can't imagine what it's going to be like when he is in my arms for the first time. Marc and I were talking about that on our way home, I feel so much love now I just can't imagine when he is here. I told Marc that Xavier is gonna have us wrapped around his little finger.

Frog in ma belly!

This past monday when Marc and I were lounging in bed watching tv Xavier began to kick. It wasn't just any kick, these were BIG kicks! He was being very active, I think he was practicing some form of karate, I'm sure readi-ing himself to kick our butts come Sept. We were amazed about how much my stomach rose when he was kicking. I remember when he'd kick and I'd see my tummy jump just a little and think did I see that or is it just my eyes? But Monday, WoW! I think anyone who was looking could have seen him kick from across our bedroom.

Marc and I our having such a good time with our baby. I'm enjoying so much of him now just seeing and feeling how much he is growing and developing.

Yesterday Xavier was being very quiet, too quiet so about 1:30pm on my way to meet Marc for lunch I began to rub my belly and talk to him. And of course he responded very quickly with little kicks. I love this boy! I'm sure he was sleeping for a long time til he heard and felt his mommy talking to him. He is such a good boy already! He let me know that he is ok and he's listening. It's so nice to think that we can communicate and understand each other is wonderful.

I almost forgot to add.

Marc and I went to see Indiana Jones I think it was Sunday. Anyway, I usually don't like to see big blockbuster movies on the weekend it comes out because of the crazy crowds. But I didn't want to be a downer, so we went. Lo and behold the movie was absolutely packed!!!!! We sat in the second row far right. Wonderful!!! Yes, I told you so, and yes I did tell him that only after I asked for his permission. The movie was really loud, sitting close to the speakers, we may have sat underneath of them I don't know, but it felt like we did. Well the baby was jumping and kicking so much. I was worried, I was really worried. I envisioned the lil' tyke in agony and me causing him to have future hearing problems. It was awful thinking such thoughts, I covered my stomach to try to buffer the sound. I felt like calling the doctors office, I felt like leaving. Then I remembered reading in one of our books about a woman in a similar situation. This woman went to a concert which is much louder than sitting under a speaker at the movies. I didn't remember reading anything terrible about this pregnant lady so I stayed reluctantly watching. The movie wasn't loud all the time, just at some parts, it was mostly the coming attractions. I was mostly worried about the kind of loud that you can feel the vibrations, booming loud. Xavier was definitely reacting to the movie and I didn't feel like anything was wrong so I stayed. So it took me a little while but I relaxed and so did Xavier. :)

Today I was listening to "White lines" sung by I'm not sure who exactly. I had the music up loud and was having fun singing along and doing my crazy dances. Xavier was moving along with me, I'm sure enjoying my singing. I do not dance alone! :) I just like the thought that he is reacting to his environment. Both of us together experiencing the same thing, loving it. "White lines" I like to play over and over, I wonder if this song will be recognized by Xavier when he is born?? :)

Father 2 Son

So glad we could share time,
like the blood in your veins that came from mine.
Son, my love will last past forever.
But the time we have together, has to change like the weather
in seasons, just as God wills.
Like you were your mother and my dream fullfilled;
let your faith be as strong as the proof we provided
that God and your soul will not be divided.
Don't doubt or be afraid.
you'll never know how much your mother and I prayed, and
every last prayer was made for peace in your mind, love in your heart, and
strength in your body and soul.
Son, be the man that others fear to be.
And even when I'm not around you'll be near to me.
and much better you'll be near to your Lord,
and nothing, nobody, noone is better than that to be adored!
More precious than the finest gem. You are...
destined to be the best of men. You are...
Your mothers love and your fathers legacy
The best the world will ever see...

Xavier.

by Marc H.

"Givin me something I can feel...

... to let me knoooow this love is reaaal..." The weeks are going by fast! We're now goin' into week 23, and things are going well, thank God. Sonia's tummy is getting bigger and rounder every day. I painted the nursery last weekend, and Sonia stayed at her brother Franks' place (thanx Uncle Frank, Auntie Angie, and little cousin Roman!) to escape the fumes. When I went to pick her up,the first thing that I noticed after a day and a half, is how much bigger she had gotten. (and sorry Luv, the SECOND thing I noticed is that you're beginning to do that beautiful "mommy to be" waddle just a little when you're coming down stairs.) The baby is gaining weight fast, and apparently getting alot stronger too. Later, after we got home, as I lay my head on Sonia's belly, little Xavier finally gave his daddy a proper introduction in the form of quite a few jabs and movements that I could feel! WOW! It was priceless feeling him in there moving around and testing out his new limbs. I'm having fun imagining that he's feeling my face and getting a better idea of who big daddy is as I talk to him. He's getting more active in there, and now Sonia can tell when he's awake or not. I just can't wait to rough him up and make him laugh, but that's getting ahead. Right now, we're just enjoying ourselves; Father, Mother, and Baby: the key ingredients in Gods' most magnificent miracle of life.

My 21 week belly

These pictures I find to be more accurate of my belly.

lions, tigers and bears

We're doing a sort of safari theme with green accents

Yes, we have finally gotten our crib set from babiesRus!!! You have no idea the hoops we had to jump through to get this particular bedding and of(as I write Xavier is kicking me)course it was worth it. As Marc wrote earlier he picked out this bedding and I'm so happy he did, I've grown to absolutely love it!!! I never thought that I would agree to beige for crib bedding, but it works. We plan to add color to the walls, art work and cute stuffed animals. Right now I love to go into the nursery and just stare at the progression we've made so far. Every thing that we picked out to go into Xaviers' room are things that we absolutely love. He's loved so much already, I can't wait to experience how much our love will grow when he is here.

motivation

Here are a few pictures of the nursery in progress. It seems this whole affair has brought out the arteest in our mommy 2 be. Weeks ago I picked out bedding for the crib, and the paintings you see here were inspired by that pattern. I gotta give it to her, Sonia's got skills. Need more proof? check out the "Xavier" letters painted green with a bubbles effect. Magnifique! muy bien! Ay mami! It's all about inspiration, and what could be more inspiring than knowing our son will see all this and be amused?

enjoying Xavier

21 weeks!!!! I'm soo happy to start my sixth month this week. Wow, it feels like I've been breezing by all these weeks, which I'm very happy about. I can't wait to get closer and closer to SEPTEMBER, I'm hoping that the summer months will go by fast.

Xavier's been kicking me alot more, thank God, and I've been loving it, loving it, loving it. Last week when Marc and I went to sleep I felt Xavier kick me 14 times in a matter of, I'm guessing a minute and a half. I've never felt him so active before and I'm so happy he was. Every time that I feel him move it makes me think that he is saying "hello mommy, I'm here, I'm doing well, I love you too".

Marc and I are enjoying every single moment of Xavier and enjoying making the necessary preparations for his arrival. Besides buying clothes we've been emptying our second bedroom in our apartment to create a nursery. Marc took apart our dining room table and put most of the set in storage. We sat at the dining table only once all year for thanksgiving and that was it. Over the weekend my super hero Marc moved our computer desk where the dining room used to be. He also moved dining chairs, 2 table pedestals, 2 big pictures, an old computer and etc. It's just a couple of things left in the room now which is not bad at all considering what the room looked like a couple of months ago.

Yesterday we bought pictures frames for the paintings I made for the nursery(it matches the crib bedding we'd like to get), stand up wooden letters that spell XAVIER(ready to be painted), and a black shelf to hold them. I love to do crafts so I'm having alot of fun personalizing the nursery with some hand painted items.