For those of you who may be curious, the baby is now approximately 7 1/2 inches long and weighs approximately 12 ounces. He is still very active. Over the past week his tongue finished growing, he has teeth (which will be hidden for a while, of course) and he has been refining his sense of touch. He enjoys to be active most at night when I am trying to sleep! We’ll have to work on modifying that habit.

The unexpected keeps on coming. On Wednesday our class found out that President Bush was so impressed with us at Negroponte’s swearing-in that he wanted to meet with just us. Yep, Pres. Bush wanted to make time during his day to meet with 68 other classmates, me, and Secretary Rice.

So on Monday, we all skipped our training (I’m in Consular learning about passports and documenting U.S.-citizen babies born abroad) and took a bus to the Old Executive Office Building, which is right next to the White House. It’s where the Vice President’s offices are. We went up to the 3rd floor in a special room used by the National Security Council and waited for about an hour. When the President wants to talk to you, you make sure to arrive early and work around his schedule.

He showed up around 2:30 and talked for about 20 minutes. We then were able to ask him questions for another 40 minutes. He never looked my way when asking for a question, so I didn’t get to ask anything. Sorry, but it was all off-the-record, so I can’t discuss what we talked about. I can say it was unbelievable! He was candid, blunt, loose, speaking off-the-cuff, and cracking jokes all the time. He joked with us and about himself. But he was also forceful and adamant about certain policy decisions. His next meeting was supposed to be at 3:15, but when that time came, he told his aide that he was bumping it back to 3:30 to spend the extra time with us. Regardless of what I thought about his policies and him as a person, I couldn’t help but walk away with much more respect for him and the Office. You also realize just how much responsibility the leader of the world’s only superpower has and how important it is to use it wisely (which I think is part of the reason President Clinton’s actions were so despicable).

I entitled this posting “Undeserved Favor” because all of my cool experiences have not been because of who I am (or my classmates are), but because someone far, far, far above me decided to spend time with us. Undeserved Favor. And whoever it has been making those decisions, I also realize that God has shown me Undeserved Favor in allowing me to have these experiences.

Now, back to ConGen training and reading immigration law.

Boy! Yep, it’s true. Last week we found out that we are having a baby boy. We are very excited! On the ultrasound we could see him kicking and punching and moving his lips like he was talking! He is quite the active little guy even at such an early age. We are bracing ourselves for a very energetic boy. His most active time is in the evenings. Last night Seth laid his head on my tummy and talked to the baby. The baby got all excited and kicked around in there for a good 10 minutes or so.  At least we know he’ll be able to kick and punch his way out of a kidnapping in Bogota!

Over the last week we have been adjusting to the thought of having a boy. Most of my baby experience has been with girls although I did speech therapy with many sweet little boys. Buying some blue clothes has helped make it all a little more real.  We were at a supper club last week and a friend informed us that there is now a product called a “pee pee tee pee”.  Needless to say the whole table went silent at dinner when she announced this. I never expected to be chatting about pee pee tee pees at a dinner party. We are buckling up for this new adventure! Seth has agreed to change all diapers and is strongly considering investing in tee pee company stocks! What a great husband!

For those following this blog, you know I’ve had some rare opportunities to have important government officials speak to our class. But the topper was this morning. The Deputy Secretary John Negroponte spoke to us last week and then did our swearing-in on Friday. For some reason, he has really taken to us. He said to us and others have told us he considers himself part of the 132nd A-100 (my orientation class), and on Friday he said he wants to be considered an honorary member our class. The reason we have been told is because he believes this will be his last major role in the State Department (after 46 years); so he is on his way out and we are on our way in. He seems to like the paradox.

Anyway, he has taken to us, like I said, and for that reason, he invited us to his official swearing-in ceremony this morning. The ceremony was in the Benjamin Franklin diplomatic reception room, which was beautiful. Important people (I’m assuming) from the State Department along with foreign ambassadors were in attendance. At 10:25, someone introduced the Deputy Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the President of the United States!! President Bush walked in and stood up on the stage right in front of me. Oh, I was on the 3rd row. Sec. Rice spoke for a couple of minutes and then the Commander in Chief spoke for about 5 minutes (including referencing and speaking directly to our class). Then the “D” was sworn-in, and he got up and spoke for about 10 minutes. At one point he talked about the 132nd and then he said, “Mr. President, I would like to present to you the 132nd A-100 class.” Wow!!!

The Secretary’s speech: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/feb/81123.htm

The video of the ceremony (I’m there, but you can’t really see me): http://tinyurl.com/2569pp

The President and D’s speech (Look for the references to 132nd): http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070227-2.html#

After it was all over, they walked off the stage and shook the hands of those on the 1st and 2nd rows (unfortunately I was on the 3rd), all the while “Hail to the Chief” was being played. The President and Sec. Rice left the room, and everyone else was invited to a reception for the D. There was a receiving line, so I was able to shake Negroponte and his wife’s hand. He asked where I was going, to which he replied, “That’s a great post.” (I had shaken his hand on Friday and he said “Good post” when I told him Bogota, so at least he’s consistent.) We then moved into a room that had Thomas Jefferson’s desk and a copy of the Treaty of Paris (which is what ended the Revolutionary War). Waiters walked around with duck, some sort of cheese, shrimp, champagne, etc.

Obviously, this was a rare and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime experience, since I’ll quickly be moving into more training and eventually adjudicating several hundred visas a day. But it has been absolutely incredible while it has lasted. God has been very gracious in giving me these opportunities over the last 8 weeks.

But none of these experiences will compare to tomorrow, when we find out whether we’re having a boy or a girl!!! Stay tuned!