Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Have you ever loved someone (and I mean reeeeeally loved someone) that you didn't think it was even remotely possible to love them even just a little bit more? 

This guy:

Just when I think I can't love this man any more than I already do, he gives me yet another reason to. What was so special this time? Oh, nothin'. He just became a dad ;).

Kevin celebrated his 25th birthday in style this year. I was determined to make it extra special. His birthday fell on the same day we were scheduled for our next doctor's appointment (April 3rd). And at this appointment, we found out the gender of our baby. Coincidence? I think not. 

Happy birthday, Daddy!

I rode into work with a friend Thursday morning so that Kev could pick me up afterwards. The anticipation was building all around me throughout the course of the day. My co-workers' and students' excitement for us was contagious. I couldn't help but count down the hours and minutes to getting to see our babe again. How had it changed since our "gummy bear" encounter 10 weeks ago? We could hardly wait to see.

When we got to the doctor's office, we didn't wait long before heading back to the ultrasound room. We told the lady that we didn't want to know the gender and asked her to keep it on the hush-hush when it came time to examine that part. She complied. What Kev didn't know is that I was peeking the entire time and knew well before he did whether or not we would try raising a little girl or a little man first. All a part of my b-day plan.

Our ultrasound technician is such a southern belle. Not a very personable type of gal, but her southern accent is adorable. She rubbed my swollen belly with warm jelly and began the examination process. Kev and I eagerly watched as our baby immediately flashed up onto the black and white, fuzzy screen. The technician began the intricate process of taking all of the vital measurements of our youngun'. The femur, the head, the heart, and so many other parts and areas I couldn't even begin to name. "It" was awfully squirmy and didn't make things easy on the sweet woman. I loved watching "it" kick and feeling it at the same time. So surreal. It eventually came time to check, well...you know, while the baby was in a good position, so Kev and I "looked away." Confession: I didn't look away at all. 

It was all I could do to hold back my smile as the ultrasound technician wrote 

IT'S A BOY!!!

across the top of the screen.

Meet...our SON!

Cutest little profile I ever did see.

We left praising the Lord for the health of our little one. Everything measured as "normal" and he is growing at a perfect rate. I kept staring at all of the pictures over and over the whole way home. Again...so in awe of my God and His faithfulness.

As soon as we got home, I bolted upstairs to wrap Kevin's birthday gift. The perfect gift to reveal the gender! I wrapped a pair of navy blue baby Toms I had ordered weeks prior along with the ultrasound picture declaring "IT'S A BOY!!!" plus a little card stating: 

"Happy Birthday, Daddy! Love, your son"

I videoed the whole thing. Kev's expression after opening that little box was priceless.

Within minutes, we had officially decided on his name and were eagerly anticipating sharing the news with family and friends that weekend. Until then, we celebrated. We met some friends for dinner at Kev's b-day dinner pick (the Schnitzel Shack) and relished in the fact that our son would grow and grow and one day join us. 

Until then...we wait.

p.s. Hooray for being halfway there!