Baby Chronicles: Bouncing Baby

The cat is out of the bag. Now that we've survived the "danger zone" of the first trimester, we're telling everyone our news. It was really fun to tell the folks at work today but most of all, it was fun to see our little leech bouncing around on the ultrasound this morning.

The little monkey would hardly be still long enough for us to get a good picture but we did get several and will post them here as soon as we get them scanned in. Leechie was waving arms and kicking legs and generally being rowdy. For this reason, Russ and I both sorta think it's a boy. But, both of my dreams have been of a little girl. So, who knows. The jury is still out for a few more weeks before we'll know. Of course, Russ is crossing his fingers for a little girl. I prefer a boy but I only want to do this one time and I'd rather him get what he wants. :)

The ultrasound today was the first round of the sequential screen genetic testing we're doing. They do a round of blood work and look for specific measurements in the baby that indicate Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida. In 4 more weeks, they'll do the second set of tests and compare the first tests with the second. For now, the ultrasound looked good and there was an appropriate amount of whatchamacallit fluid for the spine. The heartbeat was 145 bpm and everything seems to be on track. Amazingly, with all the food I've been eating, I even lost weight this trimester... 7 lbs. So weird.

Leechie obliged nicely in facing the camera several times so we could get a full on frontal view and we have decided this baby is DEFINITELY a Cook due to the huge melon head. Looks like he's gonna take after Popi! j/k