Monday, November 20, 2006

Everything is coming up (pink) roses

Today was like Christmas because it was "Second Ultrasound Day" and we got to see the baby! I'm managing to restrain myself from typing in all caps because I'm like a 6 year old on a sugar high. I'm sooo excited. I don't guess it was any secret that my first trimester was not that great for me (mentally and physically) and I've been slowly recovering from that. Once I stopped seeing Doctor Doom I was pretty happy with the medical care I've been receiving...very thorough and my doctor is very, very nice and has been taking the trouble to reassure me. Today's ultrasound guy was great -- a perfect mix of professional skill and reassurance and he even did a 4-d ultrasound. I didn't know that was coming up so it was a joy and surprise to see the baby in 3-D like that. Don't get me wrong, I've sure enjoyed all the ultrasounds where I could see the baby, but now it looks less like E.T. and more like a real, authentic baby. I was enamoured; there's no other word for it. There is nothing in the world like looking at the hands, feet, mouth, nose etc of your first baby.

I really had thought I would like to wait to find out the sex, but certain members of my family (ahem) have been putting pressure on us to know, so we had decided to go ahead and ask. When doctor dude finally did ask if we wanted to know, it became quite clear that even if I had decided to wait I would have immediately cracked. Oh, yes, I wanted to know. And guess what?! I am joining what seems like the absolute rest of the American expats and am having A GIRL!! I think by now we have enough to start our own girl band or soccer team or something of the sort. Now, I know that with girls there's always the chance that the zizi was hidden, but the ultrasound apparently was clear enough that we can be relatively sure. I wouldn't know, because by that point I had burst into tears and didn't see a damn thing. I hope I won't spend the rest of my life crying like this on a regular basis; normally I'm not such a cry baby. But Simon assured me that you could see stuff.

Anyway, today was definitely one of the life-changing moments of my life. It was difficult for me to really believe I had a baby before today. Early pregnancy was spent worrying about her being okay and now I do feel more relaxed and reassured. Just being able to see and feel her makes so much difference. There's so much stuff going on down there with respect to digestive tract action that I was never quite sure what was the baby and what was digestion. Now I know what's her and what's the kebab sandwich I had for lunch. It's a strange feeling because now I know I'm not alone.

10 comments:

Pam said...

THAT IS AWESOME!!!

How very very exciting...I can hear your heart singing!

Doc said...

Hurray for the cheeseburgers! (if you didn't get to see it through your tears, that's what little girls' parts usually look like)
now sit back and enjoy your second trimester--the best of the three! None of the sickness of the first bit, none of the fatigue of the last bit.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how blessed we are. A precious little girl and maybe next time the precious little boy, but I'm so excited for you may you be truly blessed with all the joys of motherhood. I'm so excited. Shopping and sewing for one of God's precious little angels. Just cannot stop singing. And I can't carry a tune. The folks down our way are just jumping up and down.
Happy happy happy

Unknown said...

Congrats. I am glad it was such a red letter day for you! I am sure it made up for all the bad days you've had.

Just me said...

Welcome to the pink team!;o) Congrats to you and your husband!

I know that this is a happy and exciting time for you, and it's only going to get better.

Riana Lagarde said...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!! We have to start an American Girls Club for our little ones! It would be so fun if we all met up next year....

SO happy for you and the new doc sounds great!! The second trimester is glorious, enjoy it!!!

Ksam said...

Wow, another girl, it really must be something in the water!! :-) Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!

PutYourFlareOn said...

Oh, it's such an awesome feeling isn't it?? I felt our baby move just a couple weeks ago and it sent me over the moon again! I'm so happy that things are so exciting for you! Yaya! There does seem to be a lot of baby girls in the expat mix, am I the only one having a baby boy?

I've just entered my second trimester too and it's such smooth sailing now... enjoy it, from what I hear from my other friends who have kids the third is tiring.

Look forward to reading more of your pregnancy adventures...

a bientot,
Aimee

christina said...

Awww, that's so sweet - a little girl! Isn't modern technology great? Wishing you an easy "rest of pregnancy" and delivery.

Pardon My French said...

Pam -- Thanks! I'm still giggly about it.

Doc -- okay, cheeseburger...now I know what I missed! McDonalds will never be the same. You always crack me up.

"Anonymous"(like there's anyone who doesn't know you're my mother)-- I'm counting on you to call and sing the birthday song on birthdays!

Angela -- Thanks! It does help make up for the others.

Deb & Riana -- Wooo hooo! I know you guys understand. Thanks for the well wishes. It would be cool to get together sometime with the kids if possible.

Sam -- thank you, and watch what you drink!

Aimee -- Oh, you are going to have a Momma's Boy!!! (Although I am soooo happy with a little girl and think I was unconcsiously hoping for one, I do think a Momma's Boy sounds pretty good, too). I'm so excited for you...if we ever get together I know we'll all fight over who gets to hold The Boy!

Christina -- Thanks! I do have to admit that the technology is pretty great, although apparently it freaked out my MIL and SIL a little. Not me, though, because I think that baby is BEAUTIFUL. MIL and SIL don't feel 'it's' quite "alive" yet but for me she's 100% a person. But that's motherly love for you, I guess.