Chris Finally Got to Feel Baby Move

Monday morning we were laying in bed, and I know Chris was mostly awake, though he refused to open his eyes. I was laying on my back, a position in which I am generally unable to feel baby's kicks, but he must have been playing soccer in there or something, cause they were really strong. I took Chris' hand and put it on my belly, which sort of woke him up. Anyway, we laid there together, being very still and quiet, when I got a great big kick. I looked over and Chris' eyes were suddenly wide open! He finally got to feel his son!! I was so happy! He got a few more little kicks, before we gave up. All this time, I feel like he's been left out and so it was great to finally share something together that he was able to experience with me and not just through me talking about it.

Mourning The Loss . . . . .

. . . . of my ankles! Oh my goodness, yesterday, my right foot looked like something from the Flintstones! It was really quite icky!! I pointed to it and said "look at my ankle" and, being the smart ass that my wonderful husband is, Chris' response was "I just see leg". Well, thank you! It's been a pretty rough week around the office and I've been running from floor to floor and office to office and my ankles are paying the price.

I also realized the other day that I'm a week shy of 6 months. How the heck did that happen?!?!

Aside from being puffy, we're all doing well. I have finally officially gained 1 pound more than what I started this pregnancy at. I cheated and weighed myself today, thinking for sure I'd gained 5 or more, so I was relieved to only see 1 pound gain. Baby is growing perfectly which is great news. He's moving all the time! Right now when he moves it's exciting and new and always puts a smile on my face. I am betting in a few weeks, it won't be nearly as much fun. And when it's 2am and he's trying to tell me something by kicking my kidneys, well, I won't be amused at all.

Better Make That Team BLUE!!

I had my doctor appointment on Friday, and the ultrasound tech slipped me for a quick peak. I wasn't on the table 2 minutes when she said "Oh, wow, Traci, you are going to hate me!" I knew immediately what she meant, and I just laughed. I mean, what can you do? My doctor came into the room as well for another reason, and they both said, without a doubt, that we are having a BOY!! My doctor was there because in the ultrasound a week ago, she had not seen some developments with the heart that they like to see, so she'd come to watch. Good news is we still have a health baby. Different news is we can no longer use my grandmother's middle name of Elizabeth!

Breaking the news to Chris was hard. He really, really, really wanted a girl. I kept telling him that I promised I wasn't lying. I think once the initial shock wears off, he'll be really excited and looking forward to playing catch in the yard and having someone who likes to go fishing with him and watching football on Sundays.

I go back in a month, and will take the gestational diabetes test, and have 1 more doctor ordered ultrasound. They have some concerns about the stomach, and the heart, so they just want to take one more look. After that, I start going every two weeks, and my parents will be here for my last appointment in June. I am excited to share an appointment with them.

My blood pressure was still up, but the good news is it hasn't climbed any higher than the 133 over 88 that it was last time. My weight is still down, but Dr. Logan says that baby is measuring perfectly at 1 pound 1 ounce. If she's not going to worry, then neither am I.

A Few Ultrasound Photos

The first is our best "money shot" of baby's junk

The second is baby's heart, with all 4 chambers, and her heartbeat - which we could hear at the appointment, but that you can only see

The third is baby with her hand in her mouth

Team Pink . . . . For Now

I got a call early Friday morning from the doctor's office, telling me that our ultrasound tech had a very sick son, and may, or may not be in all day. Our appointment was at 3. So, I begged and explained that we had skipped all of the genetic testing, and had waited until the ultrasound, so we really, really needed to get in. They finally called me at 11:20 and asked if we could get there by noon, and of course I said yes. So, we raced to the office, which was a great trial run to see how long it takes to get from my office downtown to the hospital!

Anyway, the tech skipped her lunch and spent an hour with us, trying to get baby to cooperate. She was able to take all of the necessary photos and measurements and assured us that we had a clean bill of heatlh. But, baby was a little uncooperative. I tried a cold glass of water, a bottle of juice, rolling from side to side, standing up, and Chris even pushed on my belly. The tech got 3 shots that made her 80% confident that she could get the sex right. She was clearly frustrated and said she'd never had so much trouble getting a good "money shot". She was so sweet to stay and try so hard.

We went to dinner at Mortons. Everyone knew that we had "news" and kept asking us if we'd opened the envelope. Dinner was great and the service was amazing. Over dessert, we finally opened it. When we both saw the check mark on "girl" it was such a great feeling. Of course, we'd be happy with whatever God gave us, but both Chris and I wanted a girl.

My doctor was not available, and so I have to go back on Friday at 11am. The tech was great, and said to come see her either right before or right after my appointment and she'd try it one more time. As much as it is killing Chris, we aren't buying anything pink just yet. Maybe I'll get a 4 shot latte on my way to the appointment?!?! That'll really get the kid moving, huh?!?

So, for now, we happily sit on TEAM PINK!!

To Be Continued

And yes, I really do have this much free time somedays! Stay tuned, less than 24 hours and we'll have a check mark in one of these boxes. Lots of good vibes that baby cooperates and shows us the goods!

Twenty Weeks = 5 Months

Here is a 20 week belly shot. Actually, it's 20 weeks and 3 days, but who's counting?!? Well, truth be told, we are!! I know that I say this a lot, but it's really hard to believe how fast time is going by. We are at the half way point, with less than 20 weeks to go. Before we know it, our little one will be here.

Friday is the big ultrasound, and we couldn't be more excited! Our dinner reservations are made, and we're just waiting for Friday to get here. It's a little unnerving, in that we chose not to do any of the testing that could have shown us possible issues or birth defects. But, with such high false positive ratings, it just didn't seem like the best choice for us. Friday will really be the first, and only, chance for them to catch any issues the doctor might see. We'll for sure mention to the ultrasound tech that we didn't have the tests, and ask her to go slow and be thorough. Cross your fingers that we get a clean bill of health, and that our kid cooperates and shows us whether we are buying pink or blue.

I can tell you that Saturday, when Chris knows for sure, there will be no stopping him, no denying him, he will be buying something that isn't gender neutral. And, god help our checkbook if it is a girl, cause he's ordering Dallas Cowboy cheerleader outfits in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, etc. Oh yes, the kid will be a Dallas Cowboys fan, boy or girl, like it or not!

My book says this week the baby is the size of a small cantelope. Chris says you can tell it's my baby, because every size comparison is fruit! A raspberry, a plum, a mango, a cantelope. It's always fruit! I suppose he's got something there.