Today Bill and I went in for our 22-week ultrasound and got the news we have been waiting for: We’re having a baby girl! We were both overjoyed and spent about 40 minutes with the ultrasound technician and doctor checking her out from head-to-toe on the 3D ultrasound. We saw the hippocampus, blood pumping through the four ventricles of the heart, the femur bone and everything in between. We even have a video of the whole thing! Our little girl was upside down and breech – she was all folded up and practically kicking herself in the face with her feet when we first saw her (we are already calling her Yoga Baby)!
Within the first few minutes of the ultrasound the technician told us we were looking at the legs and bottom of our baby. She then pointed to something that seemed to be sticking out from between the legs, asked us if we wanted to know the gender (yes!), and said calmly, “do you know what that is?” Bill and I both immediately thought penis and were surprised when she told us we were staring at the labia!
Today I am 22 weeks! I weigh 14 ounces and measure about 11 inches long. The ultrasound technician said that since I was all folded up I was about the size of a pound of butter (mantequilla). Mom and dad saw everything from my brain, nose, eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet – all the vital organs are there and I’m busy moving about, although I prefer to stay down low in mom’s belly.
The doctor said that I measure closer to 21 weeks than 22 weeks, which has been consistent with previous ultrasounds. He may decide to make my due date a few days later – we’ll just have to wait and see!
Tomorrow we find out if our little one is a boy or girl. We have been looking forward to this appointment for the last four weeks. In fact, our last two ‘weekly’ photos seemed rather inconsequential and served mainly to pass the time leading up to tomorrow’s milestone.
Kristy and both Moms are now guessing that Baby Gray will be a girl. The record shows that Kristy has flip-flopped on this issue like a good politician. I really have no idea and am withholding judgment accordingly.
My mom asked how we would communicate the gender of our little one. Just a couple years ago she probably wouldn’t have to ask. Now we must decide between broadcasting on facebook, twitter, this blog, email, and the countless other marginally impersonal communication channels that technology has brought us. I think my mom and dad will still get a call tomorrow afternoon.
Una Zanahoria
I weigh 3/4 of a pound and am about the length of a full-sized carrot (una zanahoria). I have been kicking and punching like crazy! Mom felt me moving at work this week for the first time (usually it was just in the evening). My eyebrows and lids are present and buds are forming for permanent teeth.
Mom noticed more weight gain than usual this week. She has lots of energy during the day and is sleeping well at night – for now (ha ha ha)!
This photo was taking on Christmas Day, 2008.
Baby has been kicking like crazy over the last couple days. Kristy is now in the habit of yelling across the house “come quick, baby’s kicking”. I’ve been pretty good at hustling along and arriving in time for the tail end of a good kick session.
Our friends recently found out that they were feeling punches rather than kicks. We shall find out ourselves in just over a week.
Kristy wanted me to add that she felt three especially strong kicks. Oh, and baby prefers reading to the Oscars.
Bill felt the baby kick last night for the first time!! This past week and a half I have been feeling the kicking regularly. Usually I feel it at night when I am lying in bed – sometimes in the morning as well. Last night we were watching the movie August Rush together when the baby started kicking. I put Bill’s hand on my belly and waited, but nothing happened. A minute later Bill felt something but I had to explain that it wasn’t the baby (there’s lots of stuff going on down there!). He was disappointed and pulled his hand away.
Later we were reading in bed when I felt the kicks again, and this time Bill could feel the baby right away! I’m not quite sure how I know when it’s the baby and when it’s not because the feeling is still quite faint, but I guess mom’s just know this kind of thing!
Last Sunday we had 30 friends over for a small celebration in honor of Kristy and Baby Gray. It was a great excuse to get our friends together to meet Todd, who was in town visiting during his mid-winter break from school. We held an open house from 2-5 and enjoyed chatting with friends over mimosas, carrot cake, brownies and lemon bars.
Our group of friends is growing quickly as three babies, all one year old or less, joined in on the celebration (and they certainly seemed to get a lot of attention from the ladies!). We have had several parties at our townhouse in Charlottesville and hope to continue similar festivities when we move back to Michigan in May – after the baby arrives, of course 🙂
Here is a link to photos from the party, taken by our friend Christof Meyer. Bill was busy pouring mimosas!
http://gallery.me.com/christof_meyer#100193&sel=50&view=carouseljs&bgcolor=white
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