Second Ultrasound

This past week I had my second ultrasound.  The first time they were unable to get photos of Jonah's heart.  His position and the fact that he kept flopping around prevented them from getting the information that they needed.  So, they rescheduled me for a month later.  This ultrasound was a lot less exciting, but I was still really excited to get to see him again!

This time, they were able to get the photos of his heart (although, it took awhile and I was getting nervous!) but, unfortunately, we didn't get a good look at his face.  No yawns this time, but we did get to see him put up his 1st finger like he was saying "I'm number 1!"   That was pretty neat.  We did get a photo of that.

I feel like there are a lot of things I need to do now! I really can't wait to get the nursery together.  Jesse and I are planning a trip to Ikea to get some things. I'm thinking about getting some bookcases and a Poang chair.  The crib I want is from Amazon and they are currently out of stock.  I can't wait to order it!

Soon I'm going to start sewing a valance for his window.  I bought some fabric (some of the same fabrics from his quilt) the other day! His wrestling shoes arrived... monogrammed with his initials...and they are adorable!

My sister-in-law, Alyson, is throwing me a baby shower...and it is so fun to look at cute baby things! I have been working on getting my registries set up.  I have one that I have been using at Amazon.com mostly just to help me organize the things that I want to buy, but if anyone out there wants to help me on this endeavor...by all means, feel free! I also have a baby registry at Target.  I prefer Amazon, but I know a lot of people won't want to shop online.  Here is a link to my Amazon registry...and here is a link to my registry at Target.

Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!

On Tuesday December 13th, Jesse and I had to get off work a little early so we could go to Dr. Chaffin's office in Teays Valley for our first ultrasound.  We were very excited and I was a little nervous.  They make you drink a ton of water beforehand....then they make you sit and wait forever in a waiting room before they push around on your belly!   It turned out to not be as bad as I imagined, so I was very grateful.  They took awhile to get to us and THEN, it took almost an hour to get all of the photos that they needed.

The technician was a nice, young lady and she walked us through the process.  First, she put about a pound of clear goo on my stomach (which may or may not have soaked through my jeans).  Then, she told us about all the photos that she was taking.  She had to make sure that our little one had all ten fingers and toes.  She had to measure all of the bones and then, at the end, with all the combined measurements, they can get an estimate of the baby's weight.  We later learned that it weighed about 13.5 oz, which was right on track with my due date.  She also had to make sure the heart was pumping normally.  It was pumping well at 151 beats per minute, which she declared as "perfect."

At first, the little "stinker," as she called it, wouldn't sit still. So, she couldn't get some of the heart photos that she needed.  Then, we were lucky enough to get to see three REALLY cute yawns...and the baby fell asleep on it's belly.

Now....for the good part.  The technician says, "So, do you want to know the sex?" and I say "YES"...and Jesse reluctantly says, "Do you already know?"  The technician responds, "uuhh...YEAH"  (kind of like it was obvious to her) So, Jesse says, "That must mean it's a boy?" and she says, "uuhh..NO."  So, Jesse says, "ok, tell us" or something like that. And she says, "It IS a boy."  And I was so excited!!!  I didn't realize how much I had wanted a boy until that moment.  I was also so happy for Jesse.  I said, "I told you it was a boy!"  and he immediately pulled out his cell phone and texted his friend, Ty...then his whole family...to tell them the news.  And on the ultrasound photos, there is no mistakening it....he is for sure a boy.  I cried a bit and then do to a combination of the fact that my head was tilted sideways to look at the screen, and just staring at that blurry screen for almost an hour, I couldn't get my eyes to stop watering!  I looked like a blubbering mess. 

 Since the little guy fell asleep on his belly, the position made it impossible for the technician to get the heart photos that she needed.  She wiggled my belly around, but still couldn't get the "stinker" to roll over.  So, we actually have to come back in a month and do it all over again!  I'm secretly very happy that we get to go back just so I can have another chance to see him!

I called my dad from the parking lot.  First thing I said was, "Just wanted to let you know that you are having a Grandson!"  His response: "Oh My God!"  haha.   It was fun telling the family, especially since it's a boy!  With 9 neices and only 2 nephews and NONE of the Crouch boys born first, we weren't sure it was possible! 

Getting Close to the Gender Reveal!

On Saturday I will be 20 weeks pregnant...and then on Tuesday I get to find out if I'm having a boy or a girl! I can't wait!

Jesse would prefer to wait to find out the sex: He says he doesn't want to be disappointed (if it's a girl). He knows that he won't be disappointed on the day of the birth, since he'll get to see her and fall in love with her, of course.

Sorry, Jesse! I can't wait! I want to decorate the nursery and buy stuff that doesn't look to plain for a girl and too girly for a boy!  So, anyway...we'll be finding out the sex on Tuesday and I. Can't. Wait.

Jesse mentioned that we should have the ultrasound technician write down the gender on a sheet of paper and put it in an envelope.  Then, we can find out if it's a boy or a girl while we are alone.  So, we might do that.

I saw some photos on Pinterest where a family had the technician write down the results and put it in an envelope.  They took the envelope to a party store and had them fill up a box with helium balloons...pink for a girl and blue for a boy.  Then....they brought the box home and hired a photographer to photograph them opening the box!  The photos were super cute!   I've also heard of people having gender reveal parties.  That could be fun!  However, I doubt that I'll be able to wait that long.  If we put it in an envelope...I'm pretty sure I'll be checking it in the car!...maybe the parking lot!

I had my hopes up.

I'm feeling very disappointed.

Yesterday afternoon I went to my 4th month OB appointment at the birthing center.  Everything went really well.  As the midwife was just tuning into the baby's heartbeat with the doppler, we heard a loud WHOOOSH noise....and I felt it move!   She said, "That could be movement!"  and I told her how I thought I'd been feeling movement for a little while.   She said it could also be my intestines having spasms.  She said sometimes the spasms feel and sound like movement.  So, there is no way to be sure, but it was still really cool!

Anyway, she said that they would set up an appointment for my ultrasound during my 18th week.  She said it would be around November 30th....which is my birthday, so I was pumped!  I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl!!

Today, I got a phone call from them and I was informed that my appointment would be on December 13th!! I can't wait that long! That is almost a whole month away!  I feel really sad and disappointed...even to the point of tears! (Yes, I know I'm an emotional-hormonal wreck right now and I wouldn't normally cry about this) But, I did cry...just for a second.

So, I'm going to try and see if I can get the appointment moved up to be sooner.  I wanted to go for the ultrasound here close by, but I'll drive to Women's and Children's Hospital in Charleston if I can get it sooner!