34 Weeks

I had a growth ultrasound yesterday, and it's left me more confused than ever. According to the ultrasound, Lucy's clocking in at 5 lbs 11 oz, which is higher than average. Also, the amniotic fluid is higher than average as well. I have to have another ultrasound at my 36 week appointment and following I'll meet with the OB (I have been seen strictly by the midwives to this point.) I made the mistake of researching excessive fluid online, and the possible results have me terrified. I'm afraid I'll have to have a C-section. I'm afraid my water will break/gush so fast I'll have cord prolapse. I'm afraid even if she comes on her own time that she'll be so giant labor will be awful. I'm afraid that the fluid level is indicative of a birth defect -- that's my major concern. It's possible I'm completely blowing this out of proportion, but I don't need another unknown, another anxious thought in my head. I just want her to saunter out on her own time (before my due date) and be a perfectly healthy baby.

Also on the negative side of today's appointment, I'm up 9 lbs from the past 2 weeks, even though I have been consistently gaining 1 lb a week the past 4 weeks. I'm pretty sure most of that has to be water weight (my lower extremities are just now tree trunks), but still -- ugh. That's a total weight gain to date of 42 lbs. :(

On the PLUS side of the appointment -- we got to see her again via ultrasound! We saw her hiccup even! And this floored me -- she has HAIR. I was convinced she'd be a baldy like I was. I can't wait to see what color it is! From the u/s it just looks like little spiky fuzz.

I'm pretty confident she'll be here early, possibly in October. Time is ticking away so fast now. And I don't feel ready at all. A part of me wants to stay pregnant forever as crazy as that sounds! But so much of me just wants to be able to hold her in my arms and kiss her head and her chubby cheeks and breathe in the smell of her. I want to be her mommy in every way. But we'll need to have a chat about how she plans to make her entrance...

Baby Girl in 4D!

I'll admit it: I used to majorly side-eye 3D/4D sonogram pics. I thought they were pretty creepy with their sometimes alien-like distorted features. And then I majorly side-eyed parents who used them as their FB profile pics, etc.

But when it's YOUR baby up on that screen -- ohmygod, completely changed my tune. It was the best $125 I could have spent. I'm just in awe. My baby is beautiful and perfect! Watching her contort around, arms holding up legs, fists on her head, mouth moving to suck in amniotic fluid -- there are just no words.

One of my favorites even though the arms by her head make for some distortion

I stare at her pics (and the DVD of it) and just start tearing up every time. She's MINE! Well, mine and W's. But, we MADE her! And she's amazing. I still can't figure out who she looks like -- I see both parts of our noses; lips could be mine.

Somehow it's made my pregnancy annoyances seem a lot more tolerable, and now when I feel her tumble around in my belly I can put a face to it.

We also learned she is head down now (hopefully stays that way!) and got confirmation she's still a girl. :)

Baby's 2nd Photoshoot

In my excitement to announce the girl news, it escaped me to post a couple recent pics!

Profile shot with her waving. "Hi, mom and dad!"

I know she didn't get those long legs from me!

It's a ....

I nervously woke up the morning of June 20th thinking "This day will change my life." The timing couldn't be better -- after all it was our three year wedding anniversary, and instead of giving each other presents, our present was seeing our baby! 


But there was an obstacle in the course. At 9:30 am, my OB left me a voicemail: "Hi Amy, we're going to have to cancel your ultrasound today because the tech is sick and is going home with the flu." Commence epic meltdown. I begged the secretary and a patronizing office nurse, asking through sobs if there  ANY way I could just get a quick boy/girl check today. I literally couldn't wait one more minute, let alone another 5 days.


After seeing me cry, my work bestie emailed the office coordinator in OB about me (remember I work for the same health system).  Long story short, I was able to get my husband to come in 45 minutes later before the tech left. And without further ado...

I admit I was floored! Ever since conception I felt I was carrying a boy. I'm having a hard time mentally adjusting to the siwtch, but I'm still really happy. Best of all, she checked out healthy!


I feel like I can relate/handle a little girl better, plus the shallow part of me is thrilled to have a little lady to dress up in lace, ribbon, and bows and share my love of dresses. We're also close to a name. We had a top contender before we found out she was a girl, but we're not 100%. We are still using it, letting it roll of our tongues rather easily, so I'm pretty sure it will stick at this rate. 

Now we can really begin preparing!

Baby's First Photo!

Today was the big day -- our first ultrasound and first time we got to see our little peanut! From what I could tell, it looks like everything is on schedule and going well. The heartbeat was 176 bpm. He/she was bouncing around waving arms and legs  -- so crazy! I had half convinced myself there was no baby there but I was thankfully proven wrong. How is it possible it can have all its little body parts and organs and be an inch big?! 

Best of all -- there was only one little baby in there. I would have fallen off the table if it had been twins! Seeing the little bean has reduced about half of my pregnancy anxiety, and I'll feel a little more safe in telling people, buying maternity clothes and maybe even picking up some baby items! Now here's hoping the next 10 weeks until I have my next ultrasound don't creep by too slowly!