It's a Boy!

It was more than clearly determinable. This baby is not shy, or calm for that matter. I have been thinking that I don't remember either of the other kids moving and kicking nearly as much as this one. So all suspicions confirmed! It's a BOY!
Marina struggled a little with the news, but with some time recovered better than I thought she would with promises of buying the first outfit for her new little brother, and her idea...she thinks she gets to help name the baby. She has agreed that "Flower" (the original pick) is not a good name for a boy.
Isaac loved watching the ultrasound live; trying to follow along as every body part was named and identified. Marina who is not good with unfamiliar situations kept covering her eyes and telling me on the way to the doctor's that she was "freaked out." I had explained exactly what to expect with as much detail as possible to help the anxiety. However, she sat very still and quiet and her disappointment held silent, when the lady revealed the "boy parts."
All in all, I hope that it was a positive memorable experience for my children to have done this as a family. And that it helps to rest their own fears and concerns about this process. We had a conversation this morning about how fragile life is, but that we don't all sit around waiting to die. We live and and hope to live a long full life. We assessed together that this pregnancy was much the same. We have to move forward and practice some faith. They both admitted that this was hard sometimes. Wow! What amazing insight from the mouths of babes!

NAME: We have been saving this post until we finalized the name. Only a few days...that's pretty good for us. I have to name the baby before it is born. It helps to make it real for me. I guess I really have needed that this time around. My sister makes me crazy never deciding on a name, sometimes till after the baby is born. I don't know how anyone leaves it till then. I suppose for some that's part of the fun. For me all things that I have control over have to be decided. So with all that said...are some of you hoping I'll get to telling you the name already??? Okay, but before I do, I have to let you all know that a big reason Danny and I don't reveal a name to everyone until it has been determined is; before Isaac was born, we threw out a couple ideas and got rejected. We quickly learned to decide and then officially tell everyone, making them all have to hold their opinions to themselves. We told the kids last night, and I believe they're the only ones that truly have to approve on some level. SO...

Esaias Paul Sandoval (pronounced ee-si-us, ryhming with Elias).
I (Vycci) loved Elias, but we already have a little Eli in our ward, and Danny just wouldn't consent. So, we compromised. You know Danny, never the conformist. Also, we formed a pattern that we were unaware of with our other 2 kids names, and when we found this and liked it... it stuck! All kids first names have 2 a's and an i. Silly but true. Marina a beginning reader and speller thought this was very cool. We did most all of our baby name hunting in the scriptures, so you can find this name in the New Testamant, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Esaias was a prophet during Abraham's time that received the priesthood directly from God. Esaias is also recorded as another translation for the name Isaiah, meaning God is Salvation. We love it!

And don't forget to read on...our Christmas letter below.