It's a

BABY!! (Sorry couldn't resist teasing, especially since everyone around us asks if it's a boy or girl). This picture was taken at almost 20 weeks. For those who can't make out the picture, it's a profile of the baby and he/she is about to suck his/her thumb (you can see the three fingertips and then the thumb near the mouth). We got to keep four pictures in all, but this was the clearest. One pic is labeled "face" which is good because it's the one picture where the baby looks more alien than human. We told the technician we didn't want to know the gender, but of course we asked afterwards if she knew what it was. She said she usually doesn't search it out if the parents don't want to know but that she did happen to notice. So of course David still thinks it's a boy. We also got to see some organs - the kidneys (okay we "saw" them but don't ask me to ever point them out again, the stomach, and the heart. She was taking pics for the doctor and measuring everything. We're going back for another ultrasound next week because the tech didn't get a good enough picture of the heart and my doc is quite thorough (which is a good thing). So he's sending us to a different office for better equipment. Hopefully I'll have clearer pictures next week. Heartbeat was still consistant, 157 bpm, which is just one over the last two heart rates.

The other good news is that I finally feel the baby moving around. Everyone says it's like fish swimming in your belly or butterflies. Not our kid. I was getting this pushing feeling up by my belly button, so I wasn't really quite sure that it was the baby I was feeling. Luckily I had the ultrasound appt the next day and asked the tech about it. Turns out it was the baby's foot pushing on me. Apparently the kid already takes after me and likes to stretch out. I figured he/she would be curled in a ball but after seeing the ultrasound, he/she is just stretching out making himself/herself comfortable. Too bad he/she is going to get a little cramped the bigger he/she gets.

Nursery has been painted. Now we just need to make it look more like a nursery and not an empty room. Still working on that project, but hey, at least I got it painted (left picture is the "before", right is the "after.")

17 weeks

We're back from our summer vacation. Had a very relaxing time down at the beach. Got a little sun, a little sand, and plenty of pictures.

I had another doctor's appointment today. Finally put on a little weight, so everyone was happy. By little, I mean 1 1/2 pounds, but you've got to start somewhere. The baby's heartbeat was 156 bpm, same as last time. I added a link to the left for those who'd like to listen to it. I used my digital camera to record, so please ignore the picture (and my ever stretching belly button) and just listen to the clip. You'll hear a few heartbeats in the beginning, but you'll have to wait until the last 20 seconds to really hear how fast the baby's heart is beating. The nurse said I had an active little one which is why she had trouble locating the heartbeat at first.

I also added a link to guess the gender. You'll have to register in order to make a guess. You get to guess the gender, actual birth date and time, weight, and length. Good luck!

My next appointment is at the end of the month, July 31. However, I do get to have an ultrasound in two weeks, July 18th. Normally, this is the time most couples find out the gender, but as most of you know, we're in it for the surprise. I'll be sure to post the new picture.