20 weeks

Interesting fact: SM is about the size of a cantaloupe this week.  hmmm

The office is door is done so we can start on the nursery soon!

Do we find out the sex?

We are scheduled for the 20 week ultrasound on Monday and assuming the sea monkey is willing to spread 'em, we can probably find out the sex of the baby.   The question is do we?

ALISON:
I'm leaning towards yes, just to simplify planning and naming options.  I think we will have a hard enough time coming to an agreement on one name.  If we don't find out we will need to pick 2.  We can't even come to an agreement on furniture.  I think a name will be a little more difficult as it is permanent and all.

The planning argument doesn't really hold much water.  The nursery colors are picked out and I lean towards brights or white for babies as a general rule.  Not to mention blue is one of my least favorite colors, so that will feature minimally in the wardrobe regardless of gender.

I guess I just want to know to know.  To pick the name.  To be able to refer to the kiddo with an appropriate pronoun.  Calling your unborn child "it" makes you sound like horrible parents regardless of context.

So my vote is yes.

CHRIS:
I'm on the fence.  I'm hoping he or she is bashful so it's not even an issue.  OK so turn that from "on the fence" to no I guess.
Personally it feels like a reflection of me.  I enjoy the anticipation.  I like surprises and can't think of a better one.
Then again it's gonna (probably) be one or the other, so what's the big deal?
I've done a little homework.  Someone who delivers every day has stated that whichever the choice, the parents who choose to learn beforehand are no less surprised and delighted when the thing pops out, whatever it's bits.  I like this.  I'm back on the fence...

18 Weeks

Boy have I let myself go.

I'm finally beginning to show, but people who didn't know still wouldn't know.  I'm in that funky between stage where it looks like I've eaten an entire pizza.

Week 8. Oops Week 14

We had our first pre-natal appointment scheduled for week 8.  The midwife took one look at my belly and said (in her German accent) "Week 8?  No.  Week 13.  Week 14 maybe.  but not 8, not unless there are 2 in there."

Only one strong heartbeat, which you can't hear at 8 weeks very well anyway.  Twins scare avoided.

An ultrasound a few days later confirmed our little sea monkey was 14 weeks old.

Look at that hand! You can see little fingers and a thumb!  Have you ever seen anything more adorable?  Ok, you probably have, but I haven't.  I was amazed at those fingers and toes.  and s/he totally has my profile.

The sonographer was even able to tell us the gender but Chris blurted out "No" before I could even process a sentence.  The picture on the screen was enough for one day.

Beginnings

Here we are.  Happy, blissfully unaware and enjoying a lovely European vacation.  Little did we know that I was harboring a parasite that would change our lives forever.  No judgement on the for good or bad part - just change.  On the day this picture was taken it turns out I was 8 weeks pregnant and didn't even know.

During my first trimester I did all of the following:  drank (a little), ate brie, ran a 1/2 marathon, finished that 1/2 marathon with a personal best, had a great 2 week vacation in Europe, drank a little more and ate deli meat. All without knowing that  I was pregnant.

People ask if I had any symptoms of my pregnancy or if I suffered from morning sickness.  My answer is I guess not, since I didn't even know.  As far as I am concerned, I think this is how every pregnancy should start.  Maybe it isn't the ideal situation for the health of the little bundle of joy, but luckily I have fairly healthy habits and it cut my waiting time by a third.  I am very impatient.

My first challenge (after shutting my mouth at the shock of 2 lines on the pregnancy test) was to find a doctor.    I usually go to a local multi-disciplinary  clinic, which while perfectly adequate for my minimal health care needs, is kind of what I imagine health care in a developing country to be like.   I'm sure they could have handled my needs and caught a baby with the best of them, but this may very well be one time deal.  It seemed like I should have care that was a little more specific and "special", whatever that means.  The options were overwhelming.

We toured the women's center at a local hospital.  While it was new and shiny, something about it didn't seem right.   I didn't like that I would automatically be given an IV, be hooked up to monitors for me and the baby, be forced to give birth lying on my back.  They said I would have the freedom to move around as I needed, to use a birthing ball, get in the shower, but somehow I didn't believe them.  The monitors have to come off to do all of those things.  And blank monitors make the nurses down the hall very nervous.  Then there was my concern about c-sections.  They certainly have their purpose, but I feel that they are way overdone.  This is a natural process after all.  My body has been designed to do this.  If not, then why have I been dealing with wide hips and belly fat my entire post-pubescent life?  Not only that, but I'd still have to pick a doctor and every OB-GYN in the city has privileges there.  How do I find one who agrees with my philosophy?  I was frozen by my unlimited choices.

I looked at midwives, but with them you are usually looking at a home birth, which Chris (and probably me) was definitely not into.  And again, how do you pick the right one?

Finally I toured the birthing center down the street.  Location: not at home, check; Ability to move around and do whatever I want while in labor including eat and drink, check; Selecting a caregiver: They have 4 midwives and I would see them all during my pre-natal visits, check.  I made my first appointment before I even left.

We were firmly on our way.  Surprised, nervous, and in case I forgot to mention it, happy.