Jack. God is gracious. Alexander. Helper and defender of mankind. "I see a head ... We have a baby boy!" our doctor exclaimed. Jack Alexander Canterbury was born July 2nd at 9:26 pm in Tampa. Maria and I felt both excited and nervous about delivering our new baby boy. Jack weighed a whopping 4lbs 2 ozs. We were very relieved, as days before doctors were concerned his birth weight could be as little as 3lbs. Maria's pregnancy was blissful, she glowed beautifully, and rarely experienced the side effects most women complain about. Eighteen weeks into the process, we received a phone call from the doctor advising our risk of carrying a child with Down syndrome jumped from 1:185 to 1:5. We were concerned, but this also meant the odds were in our favor. Our doctor recommended further testing and provided two options: level 2 ultrasound, or an invasive procedure called amniocentesis. Maria and I opposed the amniocentesis, as it introduced a risk of miscarriage, and we scheduled the ultrasound. On a sunny February Friday, we strolled into the specialist for our level 2 ultrasound. The technician remained mostly silent and impersonal as she moved the Star Trek wand over Maria's belly. We were totally enamored with the images of our baby growing inside, gooing and gawing over all of his tiny features. After an hour and half, the ultrasound abruptly concluded. The specialist entered our room with his findings: a few areas of concern, inconclusive evidence to form a definite opinion, and recommended the amniocentesis. My wife, the "planner" of our household, hesitantly agreed to the invasive procedure. The specialist returned with a long needle, gently inserted it into the womb, and drew a sample of amniotic fluid for testing. Let the waiting begin. The following Monday, I joined Maria poolside. The doctor's phone call was long overdue. It finally rang, "Hello" Maria asked. The voice replied "Hello Mrs. Canterbury, this is Doctor..." My heart immediately sank. I knew his results were not the results we sought; results we wanted would come from the nurse, not the doctor. On March 1, 2010, our specialist broke the news -- Maria and I are parents of a child with Down syndrome. After much worry, crying, and extensive research, we felt more and more comfortable each day with our situation. We know this child is a gift from God, and this was part of his divine plan. Jack is now 5 months old, weighs 14lbs, and meets all of his milestones. Every day there are new learning experiences to be enjoyed. He is truly an amazing child; bringing us love and joy to levels we never thought possible. Jack is my world, and I am so grateful to be part of his. We love you, son!