Firsts

This blog will undoubtedly be full of firsts though admittedly this is not even the first entry about firsts. On Tuesday this week I felt you kick for the first time (your mum had obviously felt that before) and today we received your first clothes, which Aunty Bao bought for you.
Meanwhile, your mum, despite being sceptical at first, has started to call you "Rock", her favourite of my suggestions so far.

You're a boy

Today (Tuesday 8th March in Auckland, these first few posts may be misdated because we are so far ahead of the US) we went for our third scan and were asked whether we'd like to know your sex. Within seconds of our affirmation, proof of your masculinity was on the screen for us to see.

Both your mother and I had a preference for a boy and have not been afraid to state it. Many prospective parents would rather say they are merely hoping for a healthy baby. We were not shy in that regard. So now the name decision can be narrowed down. "Katherine", which was a shoo-in for a girl (your mum suggested it and I like it and its derivatives Kate, Katie and Kat) is retired.
I had already looked up  boys names on the net.  The few I wrote down included "Neil", "Curtis", "Nate", "Gavin", "Rhett" and "Ryker". My early favourite is "Kurt" but your mum thinks "Kurt Yu" is too short (though "Kurt Goodchild" is fine by her). With the knowledge we have obtained today, the processes of thinking about and researching the decision will be stepped up, son.

Second sight

We returned to the clinic today to see you at thirteen weeks and six days. They are telling us that the 31st of July could be your birthday.
There were clear images of your hands and feet and then we saw your face, although it looked a little like an alien rather than you. At this stage you are the same as every fetus, the nurse said. Sex and ethnicity come later.

Love at first sight

I first saw you today. You are eight weeks and five days old, they say, but neither your mother nor I can reconcile that age with what we believe, which is that you were conceived closer to seven weeks ago. My right hand was holding your mum's left as we watched your heart beating on the screen. What could a prospective father do but smile?
It is ten months since we decided we would try to have a baby. We sat on a hill overlooking the Peruvian city of Huaraz and I asked your mother what she thought of the idea. We decided that the end of the year would be a good time to try. We left South America in May and after four months away from each other in the summer (she went to see your grandparents and cousin Tiantian in Xian, I worked in London) she returned to London in early October and the day after my birthday, we flew to Bali via Singapore.
Now we are in New Zealand and seeing you on Xmas Eve was a wonderful gift. We are looking forward to you, baby.