Baby Leonardo's Menu

In the first three months Baby Leonardo wanted nothing but nectarines and potatoes (and quite frankly, wouldn't allow much else to stay down in Mommy anyways!).
Now that the sick days are over for Mommy (YEAH!) Baby Leonardo is clearly growing in to its Italian heritage and has been creating its favorite menu.
Favorites for this week:
Green or Macintosh apples with slices of sharp cheddar cheese (Mom, do you recognize that??)
Grandma Messmer's REAL spaghetti! (mouth watering as typing!)
Grapes, blueberries, MORE potatoes :)
Beef and bean burritos (just for Uncle Mark :))
Spinach salad with mandarin oranges, dried cherries, and cherry tomatoes
PICKLES
Whole milk (which Mommy has always hated up until now) with Kix cereal
Oh, and canned Spaghettios with meatballs....I have no clue! Mommy hasn't eaten these in at least 15 years and holy moly there are some days where she can't open the can fast enough! :)

And.....Baby is now hungry. Off to make Baby happy... :)

First Sonogram July 7, 2008

Despite reading our books and seeing all the pictures of our developing little sweet pea and what size it would be, etc., nothing really prepared us for the amazement of seeing the first sonogram come up on the screen...there, where the last time we saw just a little bubble with a heartbeat, this time instead, looking at us is a BABY!

And the most amazing part of all was the DANCING! Getting jiggy with it like no one was watching! :) Rolling, turning, and stretching those beautiful legs. Mommy can NOT believe you are growing there inside of me...and in an instant, I want to reach through that screen and hold you to tell you that I love you more then anything in the whole world!

Through all the tears the nice tech lady shows us fluid in the stomach - you're already swallowing! And fluid in the bladder - kidney and liver are working great! And your heartbeat is going a mile a minute - sounds like a gorgeous symphony to Mommy and Daddy's ears! We are SO VERY proud of you!

Daddy and I are practicing up on our dancing sweet pea so we'll be ready for you when you arrive!

Telling the Family!

In my family it's impossible to NOT tell everyone about important news (especially a VERY anxious "I want to be a Grandma" Munchkin). And the awesome news about our little sweet pea was that much harder! But we did it and it was worth the wait just to be able to see their reactions in person (and to have lots of time to make fun crafts for all the new grandparents, aunts, and uncles-to-be)! The pictures don't do justice to the chair-throwing, screaming/crying Munchkin and my brothers asking why an ultrasound is in their menus but the pics will be the perfect story-telling device when Baby Leonardo arrives.

A BIG thank you to the brave hostess at Logan's who smartly seated us away from other patrons and who played out my secret surprise plans perfectly!

Here's what the family saw in their menus:

DESSERT MENU

Your First Grandbaby

Cooked-to-Perfection
by
January 2009

Can’t wait to meet you family!
Love, Baby Leonardo

And OOOOOOHHHH the surprise! :)

GLORIOUS! Had to be one of the best moments ever! I'm so glad we could be with our loved ones to share the great news!

We got to tell Sam's Mom a short time later using the same dessert menu at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We can't thank everyone enough for all of their EXCITEMENT, LOVE, AND SUPPORT!

Studious Stanford

Stanford probably knew before Mommy...no wonder he was always sniffing my belly those first four weeks! But he still wasn't sure what the hell was going on - why is Mommy writing on her belly and why is Daddy smiling so much?? Am I going to get a treat, or what?

But Stanford is a smart pup and he's been reading up on babies - he's going to be a great Big Brother! :)

First Picture of Baby Leonardo June 2 (almost 8 weeks)

Just a little bubble on my uterine wall but no words can describe what we felt seeing that little, amazing heartbeat working away! What a moment for mom and dad!!! We love you so much already!!