That's right! We're having a baby!

Well, I told Brian that I was expecting over Thanksgiving week. He was in Kansas for CAS3, and I drove up and surprised him. We decided to wait and tell the family for Christmas. On December 18th, I had my first ultrasound, and found out I was further along then we thought, about 4 weeks further!

In January, we moved to Germany, and here is where the baby will be born.

I had another ultrasound in February, and we discovered that we are having a boy! I have thought all along it was a boy, I think Brian was hoping for a girl, and Huey was hoping for a puppy!

 The baby is goiwing more every day. Sometimes I swear that when I wake up that I am larger then went I went to bed! Lil'Antoine feels like he is all the way up into my chest now. He is such a kicker too. Obviously he knows we are in Europe and can't wait to start soccer!

At 34 weeks, as of May 8th, the little guy should be close to 5 lbs, and about 13 inches crown-to-rump length.

I have started to experience Braxton Hicks contractions, and I seem to always have a back ache! We started a Parents Education class at the hospital. Brian was able to come to the first class (lets cross our fingers he makes it to all of them!) On the tour of the Labor and Delivery room, the nurse choose Brian as her model mommie-to-be. He got to lay in the bed, with his feet in the stir-ups! And I left the camera in the car!

For anyone wondering about the meaning of "lil'Antoine" let me explain. At the office I worked at last year we had an imaginary employee that we, the marketing department, invented. His name was Antione Butts. He was a very active and integral part of our office. He was so involved that visitors to the office thought he was real. He had his own cubical, with his name on it, a computer, and a honored spot on our in and out board. His antics brought him to many major events, locally and globally. According to our board, Antoine, among the many others, testified for Kenneth Starr, and was Homecoming King at the local High School, to name a few of his activities. Well, eventually the bosses said Antoine had to go. About this time, I discovered I was pregnant. I didn't want to refer to the baby as "it"… Many of my friends who were pregnant had chosen a name to refer to their baby's until a final name was decided on. Names such as Orville, and Ben (as in Uncle Ben - since the baby wasn't much bigger than a grain of rice) we being used. Well, much to my husband's dismay, I choose Antoine. The lovely picture at the side is my favorite photo of our office's "Antoine Butts". Just remember, Antoine Loves You!