It's a...

BOY!

Paul and I couldn't be happier!

At our last appointment, six weeks ago, we were informed that today would be the big day.

However, when we came in for our ultrasound, the nurse seemed confused.

She looked through the appointments and then told us that we weren't signed up for an ultrasound!

She asked us if we had taken a certain paper to the front desk when we scheduled our appointment...

Unfortunately, no one ever gave us said paper.

Even more unfortunate was the fact that they were booked until Dec 29th!

The nurse was very supportive and ensured us that we would at least try to determine the gender today.

Paul and I sat in our little room waiting for the doctor and I thought I was going to burst into tears.

It was so frustrating that no one gave us the paper we needed for the ultrasound.

There was nothing we could have done.

So we sat and waited.

The doctor came in and told us he wasn't very good with ultrasounds but he could try.

... this scared me.

I would rather wait to know the gender than to be told the wrong gender.

He reassured us and gave it a shot.

But Baby Hannibal was stubborn and would not show his parts.

I was so sad.

We finished up our appointment and went to the front desk to schedule another appointment.

When the secretary told us the next opening was over a week away, I began crying.

I was extremely embarrassed, but I was so bummed out that I couldn't hold it in!

She immediately hopped up and spoke with the technician.

When she came back to the desk she asked if we could wait an extra thirty minutes.

I couldn't believe my ears!!

We later found out that the "big screen" they use to display the ultrasound images was broken.

Instead of getting the big screen fixed, the tech cancelled the repair man and squeezed us in.

I have never been so grateful and happy in my life.

So, after a long, stressful morning we finally got to see our baby boy.

He was moving all around in there, sucking his thumb, wiggling his toes and kicking my bladder. 

Once we got back to our apartment, we opened up a gift from Paul's parents.

They left for Ukraine before they knew the gender, so they gave us two gifts: one in case it was a boy and one in case it was a girl. 

We stowed away the pink gift and pulled out the blue gift.

Inside we were surprised with the cutest little boy things:

Blankets, a blue teddy bear, a bib, two pairs of knitted shoes and baby toys.

I can't wait to stock up on more things for our little BOY!