An overdue update

I've been asked (read: told) to update the blog because it's been so long and people need updates. Okay, here it is! :)

I didn't realize I never gave the details of our 2nd OB appointment, which was on Nov. 22 (I was 12.5 weeks). It was great. I was up about 5 lbs, blood pressure was great, doc said everything looks perfect.

But most importantly, I got to hear the baby's heartbeat!! The doctor said, "Now I will prove to you that you have a baby in there," and stuck the Doppler on me. We heard it right away - she didn't even have to move the stick around at all. What an amazing sound!

I had told the doc that I didn't really feel pregnant, and I guess when we first heard the "choo-choo-choo", I must have had a look of disbelief on my face. She said, "Okay, wait let me show you, here's yours...", and she moved it over so I could hear the slow regular-sounding beat. And then, "And here is your baby's," and back to the middle where it was going "choo-choo-choo" again. WOW. I seriously could have stayed there for hours just listening. I thought about stealing the Doppler but didn't want them to be too mad at me before we leave. Maybe next time ;) Anyway the heartbeat was 150 beats per minute (bpm). She said the old wives tale is a higher beat (closer to 160) is a girl, and lower (closer to 120) is a boy. Hmm!

Unfortunately, at the time of my appointment, Sean was madly trying to get things together to fax in the offer for the house we didn't get, so he was delayed getting to the hospital. By the time he got there, I was already walking out. He was really upset he'd missed the heartbeat so I said, let's go back in, she if she'll stick the Doppler on me again. We waited about 15 minutes for the doctor, and then she came in and said, "Okay folks, let's go...!" and we followed her to the ultrasound room. Yay!

This ultrasound was so cool compared to last time! We could see the baby, arms and legs a-flailin', doing somersaults and jumping around like a little gymnast. Wow!! It was really incredible. In fact the baby was moving so much (very weird to me because I of course couldn't feel any of it), that the doctor had a hard time getting any kind of picture. We were able to see lots though, including the head and body, face, spine, little arms and legs, the umbilical cord and placenta. The whole thing seems so insane to me, to think that this little being is hopping around inside me and yet I can't feel a thing, and to the outside world, nobody can even tell I am pregnant!

I will post a picture of the ultrasound but you will really need to use your imagination to see the baby. Blur your eyes a little and then cross them, and it will look 3-D. (just kidding)