I have made my official announcement to family, to friends, and, as of last Thursday, to co-workers, so now I make it here: We're having a baby! :) I am 17wks 2 days along, and our little one is due to join the family on October 31st (no comments about a little monster!). Here is the first picture we have, taken at 6wks 3 days:
Actually, this is the only picture we have so far. We won't get to see our little one again for four weeks or more, and I can't wait.To answer some commonly answered questions:
1) No, we don't know what we're having.
2) No, right now we leaning towards not finding out. I have been given copious advice on why this is the wrong decision (how will you buy for the baby? won't it be easier to become more attached if you know? what ever will people buying for showers buy? how can you possibly wait until October?), and my response to all of it is that no matter what this little one is, we love it, and we are thrilled to have him or her join the family. I think that's more important than a nursery color scheme, personally.
3) Yes, we're pretty sure it's only one. We've only heard one heartbeat (twice! Once at 156 bpm, once at 146), and during the first ultrasound, we only saw one flutter. It sure was a beautiful sight, though.
4) Yes, we have some names picked out, but for the most part we're keeping them to ourselves. But to be clear, we have two for a girl and two for a boy, so we're covered either way.
In the last week or so, I've felt the little one move more--more than a flutter, anyway. It's such an odd feeling, and each time Josh comes and puts his hand on my belly, hoping to feel something. It hasn't happened yet, but I think it will in the next few weeks. Feeling the baby move has made this seem more real than it had--since I've gotten over the morning (re: all day) sickness, and since my abdomen isn't expanding at an alarming rate (yet, though it's starting to become more noticeable), the only reminder we've had was the thump-thump-thump-thump on the fetal dopplar at my last appointment. But there is still something in there, and it's alive, and it's part of me and it's part of Josh, and it is wonderful and terrifying all at the same time.
The last few days I have just been struck by what a blessing this baby is, and I think I'm beginning to fall more and more in love with this new life. There are moments when it still seems so surreal--yesterday we went to look for cribs, and I couldn't hardly believe in a short amount of time we'll be using it. We have such an incredible opportunity to love. I get to love this life and nourish it these next few months and help it grow, and then I get to love it for the rest of its life. I get to see my husband love it, to put his hands on my belly and talk to it, to watch his eyes sparkle as he talks about helping it grow. I get to see my husband in this child, and now I find such joy in thinking of the parts of Josh he or she may have. I get to love this baby in my family, to love my parents as grandparents, my brother and sister as an uncle and aunt. I get to teach this little one about Jesus. I'm just so thankful.
