Today is the Day

Well, littlest one...in about 2 hours we'll know if you are a boy or a girl and if you are a healthy one of those. Last night you suddenly got a lot more real, because I said to your dad, wow tomorrow we'll have a son or a daughter.....which sounds like it takes a lot more responsibility than I'm pregnant with an 'it'. I don't know why, but it had me freaked out a little bit.

Our appointment is at 8am, and I know you don't love to be awake in the morning, so if you can make sure that your important parts are facing the right way so that we can see what you are that would be great. Also if you could give you mom a little dance that also would be appreciated. While I don't think you are a weeble wobble anymore...I would still like to see those arms and legs moving. Yes...you read that right, when I wasn't feeling you move I thought you were a weeble wobble, that might be mean, but your dad responded to that bit of crazy with well that's not going to be fun to play catch with. You'll see. He's really funny.

Alright, well I am off to give you some honey nut cheerios, and start drinking some water as apparently they need a full bladder for this deal. Can't wait to see you!

12 Week Visit

Baby-

You are going to be shocked when you get here and realize that your mother is a complete maniac and your father is a nice calm perfect man. Ok perfect might be stretching it...but not too far, you'll see.

Today at our 12 week doctors appointment they took my blood pressure and it was a bit high. And it was high because the nurse was terrifying and completely unfriendly and I want to ask her how she expects my blood pressure to be when she's just a terrifying robot in a nurses uniform. So that had me a little freaked out and the the doctor came in and gave me some tips about dealing with these fantastic headaches I've been getting lately. Turns out I need to drink more fluids. Apparently my blood volume is going to double (!) during the duration of your life in me and I just need to drink more fluids. I guess it's true that my headaches are a lot worse when I drink less, so there is probably something to that.

Then she used this little doppler machine to try and find your heart beat. The first thing she did was let me hear what my heartbeat sounded like and she was surprised because it was racing (I wasn't surprised) then she started looking for your little heartbeat. And she looked and looked....and I started to panic, and I might have cried a tear or two. She said it was totally normal and went to get the ultrasound machine. Your dad tried to calm me down which didn't work because I couldn't believe that I couldn't hear what you sounded like and yes....you'll find I tend to panic for no real good reason.

So she came back in with the machine and we got to see your very strong and beautiful heart beating and I had an easier time seeing it this time around. You currently have a *huge cranium* which is expected as I guess right now you are 50% head and 50% body. Then I was sad because you were sleeping in there and you wouldn't wake up....until I started laughing. I laugh a lot, so maybe you like when I laugh....I have a good loud laugh, I think you'll like it.

So everything looks great with you in there, and your mom is just manic and your dad is going to be your calm stable go to guy. You'll see, he's really the best.

Hey there, you are now somewhat less tiny!

Hey baby -

Today you Mom (or uteral-exterior-mass as you know her) and I had a twelve week visit with the doctor in the hope of hearing your heart beat. Turns out, no dice. We couldn't hear anything.

But don't worry! You have a heart beat! Geez, I bet I scared you there. You were all, whoa, are things not working, I bet. Actually, that's not true. You actually were probably thinking "what's a heart beat? I'm only 12 weeks old." Or maybe you were thinking "hey, I can't read. How did I know you said anything about a heart beat?" I will accept any of these as valid answers. But anyway, let's get back on topic. We didn't hear a heart beat because you were hiding your heartbeat from the nice doctor lady and her sonar machine. She tried for a bit to get a signal, but no go, and finally she gave up and went to get the real ultrasound machine. I probably don't have to tell you that your mom got a little upset and panicky when the doctor couldn't find the heartbeat. You know how she is.

Wait, you don't? Well, you will soon enough.

But with the ultrasound, we were able to see your itty bitty heart flutter and see you hanging around in there. Turns out you were actually sleeping and wouldn't move. The doctor kept pushing at your uterin home, but you wouldn't wake up. Perhaps a good sign for you future sleep-deprived parents? But finally a couple laughs from your mom woke you up and you started to move around all crazy like. Actually, it looked kind of like me dancing at a wedding.

Sleeping and a bad dancer? Maybe you really are my child.

See you in 28 weeks,
-Dad

There you are

Hey little blob thing -

So yesterday your mommy (you know her. She's the one you're slowly trying to kill by sucking out all her energy. But don't worry. It's totally different than being a parasite...in some way) and I got to see you through the magic of sound and some sort of wand thingy (don't ask). And you know what? You look like a gummy bear! I'm not sure if that means you look like your mother or father, but either way I think it's a good sign.

But regardless, no matter what anyone else says, I think you're cute. All curled up in your little bag of waters, probably desperately trying to suck your thumb except that you don't have a thumb...or the ability to suck. It's terribly adorable.

So anyway, it was really nice to meet you. We're really excited to see you at the next ultrasound when we'll be able to hear your heartbeat and see some arms and legs and stuff. We're also looking forward to when you stop stealing all your mom's energy. We've forgotten what prime time TV looks like.

Have fun swimming in the amniotic fluid!
-Dad

I See You!

Hey Baby!

We had our first ultrasound yesterday morning and your Daddy and I got to see you in there. You have a very tiny flickering in the center of your body, which is apparently your heart beating. I had to stay laying back on the table and I kept wanting to lean forward to stick my face right in front of the screen to see it but the Doctor kept telling me I had to stay relaxed. But I saw it, and your Daddy really got a good look at it. Right now ... well yesterday morning you were 1.87 cm long. I wonder how much you grow in just one day....

You Daddy and I think that you look like a gummy bear, and don't worry that's not an insult to you because as you'll learn in your life we *love* candy and gummy bears are right at the top of the list...well maybe after sour patch kids and lemonheads, and we are glad you don't look like a lemonhead. We also think you're kinda cute, and look like you're sleeping and when we look at your picture it makes us smile.

You are still making Mommy *very* tired. Yesterday we walked to the doctors office and then all the way to work and I felt like I was dead for most of the day. I could barely keep my eyes open when we got home which made me sad because we were going to go for a run. Well maybe we'll get a run in tonight. I hope I'm get back my full "LET'S DO EVERYTHING" attitude when you get here, or at least in a couple of weeks!

The weather in Chicago is changing for the better. Two days ago it was 30 degrees, and today it will be in the 70s and 80s tomorrow. You'll grow to love Chicago as much as your parents, although I suspect you'll hate March and April as much as we do....well April starts the baseball season and so it's a step above March.....In my opinion March could just be deleted from the calendar. Although....I suppose you were conceived in March and so I take it back, it's my favorite month!

Alright, well it's time for your mommy to go to work.