Week 21

Tomaaaahto, Tomhato, Potaaaahto, Pohtato, Amelia Clare, Emilia Clare.  I have to get my pronunciation down before June as Earhart is what keeps ringing out.   Rough weekend form Mama and the babe.  Luciana fell ill on Thursday, bedridden until today.  I don’t know anyone who’s escaped the flu or plague may it be destroying the best of weekends.  Luckily Moonstruck and Fried Green Tomatoes salvaged the nights challenging cold sweats and nausea.  Luciana was hot like summer asphalt in João Pessoa and that bun definitely feeling the oven heating up.   The fever finally broke this morning as they both prepare to head back to school tomorrow.   

This week Emilia Clare is the size of a banana just monekying around.  I decided to start reading to her and resonate my voice so she won’t only listen to mommy. That’s how it works, they listen I assume.  Since no Mother Goose yet she’s becoming a Zepplin fan as we dive into When Giants Walked the Earth.  She flutters every time I say Bonham so perhaps we’ll have us a musician or simply a noisemaker.    She starts to taste food this week and her digestive track is forming, hopefully she’ll have my iron gut and not be finicky.  We should get back on track this week eating healthy ridding the sickness form the house.

Not all bad new this weekend as the first images of Emilia Clare arrived Thursday- simply amazed.  She’s growing fast and before we know it she’ll be turning our world upside down, can’t think of a better way to spend the summer. (Remind me I said this mid-July)  Goodnight from the Sanders home we are happy to share this time with you all.

20 weeks

Ay caramba that beautiful belly is growing like pumpkin straight out the patch!!  Luciana glowing like a firefly, feeling like a million bucks (most of the time), and not going completely mad like the tall tales of pregnant women.  It is time to purchase the almighty Snoogle-thank you Aunt Amanda for the tip- just wondering if they come in his and hers?? The house masseuse receives no breaks but I suppose that the real work isn’t being done by my hands.

Emilia Clare looks about like a mango, in size, sweetness and most surely color.  Growing in stature and flair she hasn’t quite started her samba steps but sure to come soon.  19, 20, 21 weeks- I have some catching up to do on this blog!   If I say I'm busy now what will it look like in early June?  We’ve started to accumulate gifts from her sweet cousin Kennedy, little Ella Burgess and when recently asked what color we’ll paint her room (Aunt Amanda again) I realized my office may soon be pretty in pink.  Too small to fit a family, we're looking for a new home to make our stand, build our fortress and make Nashville our own.  My heart still resides in Knoxville Tennessee but we are warming up a bit further west.  Wherever will we land next, perhaps it will be Emilia Clare who lead us.

Life is too good to look beyond these days, the curiosity, the anticipation, the bonding and family growing stronger as we soon become three.   Three has been said to be the noblest of all digits, the triad, the trinity, Larry, Moe, Curly.  A special time of togetherness for Luciana and I as she prepares to bring this tiny life into the world.    The sacrifice is hers as I contently write how wonderful it feels becoming a father without the tiniest bit of bodily change aside from the IPAs.  She is gracious, proud already a wonderful mother.

18 weeks

18 weeks almost 19 and I don't know where to start.  Thanks to my co-worker, friend and MSP confidant Kristen Addington who inspired this with her own blog chronicling the days leading up to the birth of her second child Declan.  Luciana and I as well honor Irish roots (and Brazilian!) with our precious daughter Emilia Clare-Emilia from her dear mother and Clare from County Clare Ireland, soils of the O'Mara's and the family's ancestry.  Luciana returns from Brazil this week after over four weeks away.  So many friends shaking their heads when told less than a week after our wedding we'd separate for over a month.  Time drug on like hangover...not that I was drinking heavily causing a muck.  Well darlin I've saved enough for the delivery as long as it is natural without anesthesia and we leave the hospital within 3 hours after the birth halleluiah!   Vamos a ver estimados.  Emilia Clare is about the size of a bell pepper, or as Luciana mentioned a chicken breast.  I prefer the veghead imagery..our little bell pepper!.. and the next appointment is on Jan 12.  Luciana is feeling great after a difficult first trimester.  Not accustomed to being sick or uneasy, survival hinged on ice cream and popsicles.  I believe the Brazilian Sun helped bring the good life back, although we both anticipate her return in just a few short days.  The original wedding plan included beach wedding in June, Paris in August and Emilia Clare in 2016 and somewhere along the way our paths got crossed.  Oh well as one may say, I don't think it could be any more perfect.  Luciana however continues to remind me I owe her Paris so please post if you're available to babysit for 2+ weeks in exchange for some extravagant souvenirs summer 2017.  It's an amazing feeling being married, making a promise to someone and living that promise each moment of each day.  I feel like the luckiest man, my beautiful wife Luciana and coming soon....Emilia Clare Sanders. or Emilia Clare Prestes Sanders. or perhaps just little E.  Happy New Year all!