Itty's big photo shoot

Today we went in for the big 19 week anatomy scan where they checked out every little organ and bone in Itty's wee body. I can't believe how thorough they are; it was a very goopy hour and a half. The good news is that everything appeared to be normal. The not so good news is that Itty was obviously not loving the experience (I think modelling may not be in the cards).

Itty was really active, dancing and boxing and stretching out his/her legs and rolling around which was cute. But mostly he/she seemed to be a little camera shy and kept rolling away from the probe thingie and covering her/his face with her/his little hands and doing whatever he/she could to foil the radiology tech's plans of getting good measurements and nice pictures. With patience we finally got to see Itty's brain and kidneys and heart and bladder and all the little bones in her/his legs and arms and back. And even though we were trying really hard not to notice, Paul and I think that we might have glimpsed a little dangly bit between Itty's legs. But we’re not experts; maybe we're wrong . . .

The only slightly concerning bit of news is that my placenta is hanging out pretty low at the moment and covering part of my cervix. After doing some research, I've read that this occurs in about 5% of women at this stage, and in the vast majority of cases the placenta shifts up as the uterus grows in the third trimester. It's not so great if it doesn't though so I'm keeping my fingers crossed (could mean premature birth, hemorhaging, or a caesarean--none of which sounds like much fun).

Anyhow, we pick up the photos after work tomorrow and we’ll post them to the web pronto. Hopefully there’ll be a couple of good ones.

Girls' names are hard!

Paul and I have settled on a fabulous boy's name, but we're having the darndest time with girls' names. I know that we have several months left, but still we need help. Please send us your suggestions and hopefully we'll be inspired.

Biking around the river has never been so hard . . .

So maybe 27 kilometers is a bit much for me and Itty Bitty these days. Not only did I get really really tired toward the end of the ride, but Itty and I just couldn't get comfortable. I had to keep stopping to adjust my underwear, my waistband and to just give my aching ass a break. (I think hours each day spent on my butt might already be causing some inflammation--oh no!)

It's strange how things have changed so much in the three weeks or so since we did a similar ride and my biggest complaint was not having the energy to ride as fast as I'd like.

Thanks Sue and Rich!

This week we got the first of our baby gear, thanks to Paul's sister Sue and her hubby Rich (and to Vinnie and Dommie who are now big boys and don't need baby stuff). Now Paul and I get to start practicing how to use it all. I've already failed miserably at folding/unfolding the stroller (pram) and playpen (portacot). Paul fared better, but we both have a long way to go.

Some of you have already heard me rant about the vipers who call themselves baby store salespeople. I hate them! We made a decision right from the get-go that we are going to do our best to buy all of our baby gear secondhand since we don't use it for long and there's enough plastic stuff in landfills. Fingers crossed we'll make it through baby preparations without caving into the crazies who insist we need one of every silly little thing you could think of to throw at a baby (well not literally, of course).

The littlest foot

Today I felt the littlest foot give me a tiny but undisputable kick. It's never been so much fun to be kicked in my life. All day, I keep daydreaming about Itty's tiny foot. How little bitty is it? What do the five teensy weensy little toes look like?

Being pregnant is really no good for being productive or solving the world's problems. I'm too busy pondering things like little feet.

Week Sweet 16

What an exciting week! I've finally found some clothes that fit my expanding body and that I actually like and feel good in. Fingers crossed that they'll make it all the way to the end with me.

I've also been feeling Itty Bitty move around a little more without having to poke at him/her. I'm sure Itty's grateful to not be jabbed any more (I just couldn't help myself--I love feeling the flutters). Sometimes I wonder what s/he is thinking/feeling in there . . . especially after I empty my bladder when it's been extra full. Does s/he stretch out and say "aah!"? Or is s/he wondering what's happening with his/her cuddle buddy?

And Paul even felt Itty for the first time this week which I think he thought was pretty awesome. It just makes it all so much more real. Even Nacho got into the baby love action the other day. He and I were cuddling on the couch when out of the blue he nudged my sweatshirt up with his nose and gave me a big lick on my tummy. It was so cute!

Itty's First Starring Role

We love ultrasound days. I wish we had a little window into my belly so we could take a peak in at Itty whenever we want.