The secret is finally out.

After weeks of talking with everyone on the phone and seeing people around town, we can stop hiding. The shackles of secrecy have been lifted. We have proclaimed to the world...WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!!! Some of you find this to be exciting, some are afraid, some are still trying to comprehend what we have just told you. Yes, Roni, Steve, Chuck, Karen you are going to be grandparents!

We have just returned from our trip to Florida to tell all of Ira's parents and many friends that a new Blecker family member is in the works for July. Everyone is very excited. Mel has a completely new wardrobe to grow into over the next few months and thus far Ira has gained more weight than Mel has. From all of the stories (both good and bad) this is nothing out of the ordinary and we are on the right track.

Melissa has been feeling good and the baby has started to pooch out just a little and it is becoming harder and harder to not notice that Mel is pregnant.

We are very happy to have you all on board now and supporting us in your own ways. For those of you with the "just wait....(fill in the blank with any gross, nasty, or just plain unpleasant experience)" please refrain as we are having a blast on the road to parenthood.

12-week Doctor Visit

After celebrating our first wedding anniversary yesterday, today I went to my 12-week doctor visit. All is going great! Was able to hear Squirt's heartbeat...music to a future mom's ears. I had my list of questions to review with the doctor and some of my nerves of being a first time pregnant woman are starting to go away.

My clothes are getting tight around the belly and chest. Bought my first maternity sweater and shirt. It is getting hard to button pants. Will need to find some elastic band clothes to wear until I can fit into true maternity clothes. I did try on a few pairs of maternity pants over the weekend...what a good laugh I got in the dressing room. Think it will be a few more weeks until I can fit into those pants.

We are anxiously awaiting our trip to FL to tell the entire family the exciting news.

Grandparents Again

We have been anticipating the arrival of Mel's parents to join us for Thanksgiving weekend. Ever since we found out that Squirt was on the way it has been very difficult to be on the phone with friends and family and not tell them the wonderful news that we had to share. Finally the time has come to tell someone and let them share in person with us the joy that we have had for several weeks now all to ourselves.

Kathy and Ray drove in on Thursday afternoon for what they were expecting to be a routine Thanksgiving weekend. Ira had bet that it would take no more than 15 minutes for the news to come out but Melissa found enough restraint to wait an entire 30 minutes. Just as we sat down to lunch, Melissa started to ask strange questions of her parents and then dropped the big news to them that Squirt would be joining us next summer. After an expected pause to digest the pastrami and the news, the tears were flowing between mother and daughter.

For the rest of the weekend, Ray probably didn't know we noticed him whistling around the house with every step he took.

We finally have been able to talk about our excitement with the experienced grandparents. Just a few more weeks until Ira's parents find out that they are going to be grandparents whether they are ready or not. Since all qualify for their AARP discounts we are going to make them official members of the club. More to come soon!

Ultrasound appointment

Today we got to see "Squirt" for the first time. Seeing the baby and being able to hear the heartbeat was amazing. We will not get another ultrasound until week 20. Only at week 8 now. Nausea and I have been ok. Thanks to the "Prego drops", which are just like hard candy, the symptoms of morning sickness have not been too bad. An afternoon nap is always nice since I cannot seem to sleep for more than 2 hours before having to use the bathroom every night. Ira and I are caught up in the book "What to expect when you are expecting". I seem to be following everything the book says would be happening. Next Dr.'s appointment is set for December. We are anxious to get the big news out to the family. Will see everyone over the next month in person and will tell each then.

Confirmation Appointment

So today, Tuesday, October 30th, we went to the doctor to officially confirm the pregnancy. We got the "thumbs up" sign from the doctor that we are indeed pregnant with a due date of July 4th. Now I get to look forward to nausea, weight gain, big boobs, etc. Next appointment will include the ultrasound. Am looking forward to that.

Sure but not sure

Out shopping, feeling a little out-of-the ordinary, Mel purchased a home pregnancy test. On a beautiful and brisk Sunday morning the test was taken and the results were in. These were unofficial as they had not been audited by any independent accounting firm as of yet, but there appeared to be two lines. Reading these tests is similar to typing out those jumbled up words when you are trying to buy tickets for a concert on the internet. Since the test was not completely clear, the next step was what any couple who is actively wanting to grow their family would do...took two more tests. The results for these were in (and yes still unaudited)...

Yup, you guessed it, a baby is on the way!

We are so very excited to announce to the whole world that there is a Little Blecker on the way. From this point on, that Little Blecker will be known as "Squirt" until we reveal the official name in approximately 40 weeks. Stay tuned for all of the morning sickness, mood swings and obvious excitement as we start counting down to the arrival of our little bundle of joy!