The details....

I thought it would be a good idea to catch everyone up to speed in one post, so here goes:

I'm Karoline (age 35)...my baby daddy (be sure to say this term in your BEST ebonics slang voice or else you'll miss my humor *lol*) is Al (age 39). The use of the term "baby daddy" means we're not married *GASP!!* At least not yet. Will we marry? Yes. When? Soon. It won't be a big production and it may not happen until after our baby is born but definitely in 2009. We are completely committed and in love with each other but we have bigger fish to fry right now.

We are expecting our baby girl to arrive July 16. The original date was 7/18, but my last ultrasound pushed the date up two whole days to 7/16. That makes me 24 weeks pregnant right now. We get a lot of questions about names and yes, we have a name picked out but we're not sharing. Two reasons: it could change at anytime and we want to keep her name a surprise and introduce her to the world when she's born. HOWEVER -- I know it's easier to bond when you have a name so we're sharing her likely middle name: Rae. We settled on this name due to my dear friend Stella. We've always called her "StellaRae" even though Rae isn't her real middle name. Al got wind of that and said he really liked "Rae" so we decided that would be our baby's middle name ('cuz well...she'll be our "rae" of sunshine!). I can also reveal that her first name will likely begin with a "K". Her Daddy picked her first name as well. I think the end result is beautiful and it beat out a really pretty first runner up name: Laila Rae. Of course she will have Al's last name: Whitaker.

Although we're a little up in age to be having babies, little KRae won't grow up an only child...she has 2 older sisters from Al's previous marriage (ages 9 & 15). They live about 3 hours away from us but I'm pretty sure they will bond quickly. My original furbabies, Rudy and Graham, will also be on hand to play with her if she gets lonely. In addition....we want to try for another one (and hope for a boy) right away!

UPDATE: My "baby daddy" is now my husband! :)