Baby Daniel's First Ultrasound!

Early this morning, during bath time with Baby Daniel, I told the baby that we were going to get a picture taken today and that "it would be really cool if you moved so that mommy could see you in action."

I was really nervous as we arrived at the doctor's office and

I began crying the instant I sat down in the chair (I don't know - hormones).

The technician put the "mouse" on my belly and began pointing out the placenta and zooming in on Baby Daniel. She pointed out the baby's head and

just as she pointed out the baby's hiney, Baby Daniel danced the happy tushy dance.

The whole time she took measurements, the baby moved about and

we were even able to hear the baby's heartbeat and see the heart valves
fluttering.

According to the measurements,

I'm seven weeks and five days along, not seven weeks and three days like I thought

from our PCP's diagnosis. There goes another two days - lost!

Enjoy the slideshow of the ultrasound pictures – we think Baby Daniel looks like a shrimp. :) I do love shrimp!

Do You See what I See? Merry Christmas!

After going through much inner turmoil and self debate, I decided to "spread the news" to all our family and friends via this year's Christmas card. I truly didn't know if I should or not because it's safer to announce your pregnancy after the first trimester (the most critical time for the baby), but I couldn't pass up the creative opportunity.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our Baby Doctor

After discussing options and preferences with many family members and friends over the past few days, we decided to go with an OB/GYN as our "baby doctor."

I'm thrilled, and relieved, that we were able to get in with Dr. Jennifer Owen!

She met all my stipulations of: being a woman, being board certified, having children of her own and accepting our insurance and new patients - of course. She was our pediatrician friend's highest recommendation and she came highly recommended by a couple friend of ours who utilized her services for their first child a year ago. Our pediatrican friend said it was

divine intervention we were able to get in with her
as she's at the top of the list in Lubbock.

I feel good about this decision!

Oh What a Day...and a Shock!

Even though we'd had our suspicions that I was pregnant (hmmm...let me see - I had "all day," not just "morning," sickness, I was exhausted while doing nothing out of the ordinary, I could sleep from 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. and the two home pregnancy tests were positive),

receiving confirmation from our PCP was a...shocking experience.

Not because Baby Daniel wasn't planned; no, on the contrary - we'd been trying for six months. And not because we weren't happy; no, on the contrary - when we read the first EPT we both filled with excitement and laughed in our silly happiness.

The shock factor was that I was already a month-and-a-half along! The problem is, you go in knowing you're going to get professional testing to indeed prove you're parents and you go in also knowing that you'll have nine whole months to prepare. No sweat.

Then, out of nowhere, that surefire, reassuring knowledge is
succinctly, and rather jarringly, blown out of the water.

You've just been told that, officially, you're parents and oh by the way, you're now down to almost seven months. Like its no big deal.

So, we were shellshocked. I guess we'd better get used to this kind of thing though - so many other well planned notions and well thought-out ideas will also be blown out of the water as we learn and grow as parents.

Admittedly, I'm scared...and all of a sudden very worried about what I am doing and not doing to help the baby grow and develop. Not to mention battling the constant state of nausea. But all-in-all, we're stoked that Baby Daniel is on the way.

So what a day!

If the wedding is the first day of the rest of your lives, the day you find out
your pregnant is the second day of the rest of your lives...and the first day of
the rest of your family life.