Week 23- "Maybe she'll look like you!"

(words by Meg. Gifs by Kate)

Yesterday we had our 3rd try at the anatomy scan ultrasound which is usually completed at week 18. Baby Girl was still not psyched about flipping over for the tech, but she finally did and we got nice clear pictures of her perfect heart! Phew. We also had the tech confirm that it's a girl because I had a friend tell me her ultrasound tech was WRONG! Surprise!

We are pretty sure this little lady is going to be a piece of work. So far she's refused twice (almost three times!) to comply with the ultrasound tech's wishes and she regularly keeps Kate awake in the middle of the night by kicking endlessly. I can hear my father's voice now: "just wait until you have a child to drive you crazy like you drove me crazy!" Dad, I think you will not have to wait very much longer.

We also had a check-in after the ultrasound with our NP Judy who is just the absolute best person ever. She gives hugs! I love it. And thank goodness for her because our doctor is leaving the practice in August and the other doctor at the practice is leaving in October so...Judy will be our only constant through this pregnancy. Anyway, everything looks good, but for a variety of reasons we will now be having monthly ultrasounds to check the baby's growth and bi-weekly check-ins through 32 weeks, at which point we'll have weekly check-ins. Scheduling all of those appointments was not for the faint of heart! What was most surprising was how soon we will be at 32 weeks! Yikes. (I'll just leave it at that.)

Pregnancy Movin' Right Along

Now for a Friday laugh...I was having a conversation about the ultrasound with a very lovely co-worker of mine, who surely meant well, but....

Co-worker: So did you find out if it's a girl or a boy?

Meg: It's a girl!
Co-worker: Ohhh I hope she's blonde! Blonde babies are so cute. (she leans closer to look at my eyes) Is your wife blonde? And are her eyes blue too?

Meg: No, Kate has brown hair and brown eyes.

Co-worker: Well then it's a toss up! She could be blonde like you or have brown hair like Kate!

Hmm. I'm thinking she might need a lesson about how babies are made. (Also possibly a lesson about hair dye because...(shhh, don't tell anyone)...I'm not really this blonde.)

Next up: The nursery "before" pictures and a plan.

Week 12: Guys, There's Really a Baby in There!

So here we are at week 12 y'all!

Sorry for not posting last week, but not a whole lotta new stuff was going down and I ran out of gifs to properly demonstrate my eternal struggle with nausea and my faithful relationship with dairy.  So let's talk week 12!  The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. The baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and the mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod my abdomen, the baby will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it (believe me, the ultrasound tech did it a lot). From crown to rump, the baby-to-be is just over two inches long (the size of a kiwi) and weighs half an ounce.

Today we went to have an early risk assessment test done.  It is a noninvasive test that combines blood work with an ultrasound of the baby to identify risk for specific chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome Trisomy-21 and Trisomy-18.  Another portion of the test (known as the nuchal translucency) can assist in identifying other significant fetal abnormalities, such as cardiac disorders. #googledit




We were able to see our baby!

On a big screen squirming, waving

and even giving the U-N-I-T-Y fist.

The baby looks good (all the limbs accounted for!), strong heartbeat (164) and both hemispheres of the brain even.  They were able to see a slight view of the nuchal translucency, but our little nugget wouldn't lay quite in the right position to get a clear picture  (thus the nurse pile driving my abdomen with the ultrasound wand) so they want to get a better pic, which means a return visit this Friday.  

Then we wait all the way until June 19th to find out the sex!

Checking your calendar for your next ultrasound

I opened some champagne for Meg and we celebrated our last Cinco de Mayo (Baby-o) sans-kiddo.

Pre-Pregnant Cinco de Mayos

Pregnant Cinco de Mayo

WE'RE HAVING A BABY Y'ALL!

Week 6: Boobs of Fury

What you feel like when you go up a cup size.

Saturday we entered week 6 of pregnancy and although it hasn't been a ton of time, a lot is happening!  First of all, my knockers are getting huge.  They are also very sore. If you hug me tighter than a slightly awkward bro hug, I will probably punch you in the pancreas. But I figure- flaunt it while you have it.  Second, by 2pm I am willing to nap anywhere.  Legit. If I yawn while I'm with you, it's not you, it's me... unless it's you. You know what?  Just bring me some sort of cheese related food and we'll all be fine.  Also, please excuse the hormonal induced prepubescent acne festival that is happening on my chin.  Much like the US with Justin Beiber, I'm doing what I can with it, but we're all just waiting for it to recede and it will probably leave an ugly scar.

By now our little kinder is the size of a pea!  Currently, it has a beating heart and blood is running through Sweet Pea's (new name for the week) body.  It is also starting to develop a nose, mouth and ears.  It's probably looking similar to a newborn puppy with fins. The intestines and the tissue that will become the lungs are also forming. And the brain and bones are soon to be completed.  Guys.  I can't even finish making a gym playlist in the time all this stuff is happening.

Next step: Ultrasound on March 31st.