Oh, Baby!

Coffee's on!

I am actually quite ready for a 2 PM cup of coffee, since I haven't had a cuppa in several days. I will even make it half regular, just to spice things up! I also have a variety of Christmas cookies (complements of the friends who participated in the 1st Annual Great Cookie Bake on Monday). This sounds like a perfect coffee break.

First Peek!

Yesterday afternoon we got to see our first sneak peek at our little one! I was relieved to find that there is only one, even though we have joked about how it would be sort of a great deal to get two for one. The severity of my morning sickness made me think I was dealing with twice the hormones, so it must be more than one. But just one. Everything looks right, too.

We found out that my due date is May 31. I'm actually a week farther along than I'd thought, at 15-1/2 weeks.

Sam got to come with me for the appointment, so he got to see the ultrasound, too! He was almost as much fun to watch in the process as the baby, because he was so awestruck by the reality of this little person! Sam couldn't believe how much the baby moved - he or she was waving little arms, and we saw a little bit of a sucking motion while watching its little face, and even got to see it hiccough! A few times in a row it sort of jumped, like a hiccough or a sneeze. It was unbelievable! The technician even got a shot of its little left foot, clear as day, with all its little toes!

All the way home, Sam couldn't stop marveling at how real it seems now. It's not just in our imaginations anymore - this is a real little person, whom we will meet in about 6 months! We promptly scanned the pictures they gave us and sent them to our parents, so they could see their first pictures of their first grandbaby, too.

We were very happy with our impression of the office we went to for our care. It was very peaceful and cheerful, and everyone that we interacted with was very friendly and kind - except for the people who worked for the lab - they don't work for the practice, though, so I can't hold it against them. (The lady who drew blood for a couple tests hardly cracked a smile the whole time I was in there. I think she resented having to work at 4:50 PM while we were there. Heaven forbid....) There were pictures on the walls that had scriptures, and a lot of the nurses had taped verses and notes and encouragements in their personal areas. It is clearly an office full of believers.

Anyways, it's a group practice of a few doctors and five midwives, plus a handful of nurses, too. The midwife we will see primarily, June, was very professional, kind, and practical, plus has a good sense of humor, too. I really like her. I was grateful to have had such a good first impression and experience with the people there. We'll meet the other midwives at every other appointment, so that we'll know everyone by the time we actual go in to deliver.

And Next...
http://www.boywithaball.com/next

We have to register for Next soon. Now that we have money in the bank again, we can do that. It has been a relief to finally see money come in from unemployment!

We will also head to Houston around Christmas to spend several days with Sam's family. It will be good - we haven't seen them in quite a while. We just have to make our plans and then get in touch with people we can stay with on the way to and from, and who we just want to make time to see as well.

We're looking forward to going out there. It is always good to be in San Antonio, too. Especially around Christmas, it's beautiful - they decorate the Riverwalk and it looks so festive and beautiful. The conference will be great, too. I hope we are able to get out of it all that we can, and that what we bring adds something that lasts, too.