Oh BOY! We're expecting baby #5!

We've known for quite a while now... but sort of just *announced* our exciting news. We're expecting another baby in April 2012... a BOY!

We couldn't be more thrilled to add another little boy to the family. And, we're so happy Rocco will get to have another brother, only this one to live through this wild roller coaster ride of life.

The pregnancy has been going well. I'm over 21 weeks pregnant, and definitely still have my moments of extreme exhaustion. Mostly because I am probably doing WAY TOO MUCH these days. Not only am I mom to three kids, a wife, a taxi-service for my kids and working part time... but lately, I've been trying to check so many things off my to-do list for the non-profit organization we started, Matteo's Dream Fund. And, in addition to that... all the Christmas and birthday shopping has been on my shoulders and Dan's been traveling a LOT these days. I feel like every day I wake up to a to-do list 10 miles long and that the entire day is a rat race. I think I will be excited once January hits... :))

At the beginning of the pregnancy, I was extremely tired, experiencing nausea and frequent black-outs (almost fainting) until about 15 weeks. I happen to have a low blood pressure when I'm not pregnant... so when I'm pregnant, the black-out spells seem to happen quite a bit in the mornings. Less frequently as the day goes on.

I am still exercising 3-5 times a week... but really only able to still run for 1 mile at a time. So, now I mix that in with a long walk. I think not running is just around the corner... as I carry my babies like there is a basketball attached to the front of me, so it just gets incredibly uncomfortable to actually run. Not to mention... it puts a lot of pressure on the goods!

The kids are SO EXCITED about the baby! We surprised them at the end of September with the news by having them open a present with ultrasound photos in it! Rocco immediately said he wanted a baby brother. And, Gabby immediately said she hoped for another baby sister.

I found out on December 12th that it was a boy. So, on my way home from the appointment, I picked up lots of blue balloons and a "It's a Boy!" balloon. That's how Dan learned the sex. And, when the kids got home from school, I brought out the balloons and they started jumping with joy. It was super cute.

Gabby then proceeded to go into great detail on what we should name the little guy... and she happened to say the name of pretty much every boy in our class. It was hilarious!

Also, at my last appointment, they did all the important anatomy scans... and everything is looking great. So far, it looks like we're having a very healthy little man.

Obviously, I couldn't help but think that Matteo had a part in all of this.... the pregnancy, the gender... everything. I hope the little guy comes out looking exactly like his angel brother... chubby cheeks, golden-brown curls and all.

Gabby also asked the other day if we could name the baby Matteo... I had to tell her no. She asked why. She wanted to know if Matteo would be mad. I told her he wouldn't be mad. But, I told her that there will always only be one Matteo in our family, and he is in Heaven. I told her the baby's middle name would be Matteo. And, someday.... if she had a little boy, she could name him Matteo. She seemed to like that.

Everything in life remains bittersweet. It sure is a wild ride, isn't it?