Meeting Baby Taylor

Today might have been the most amazing day of my life so far.  Today Derrick and I saw our baby for the first time :)

Something I've found out is that there is an inordinate amount of information about pregnancy and babies on the internet, in books, from friends, family, etc... but no matter how much you read, there are still pieces you don't know.  Additionally, while doctors tell you a lot, they don't tell you everything - I don't know if this is because they assume you've probably read too much about it already or they see so many of us crazy pregnant women a day they just go through the basics.  Anyhow, I digress...

Warning, I won't get too graphic here but I'm going to cover some basics.  You've been warned.

So I follow the instructions for an ultrasound, which, who knew, include emptying, or "voiding", your bladder 1-1/2 hours before the appointment then drinking 3, 8oz glasses of water and holding it til your appointment.  If you've never been pregnant or around a pregnant woman frequently, this is absolute torture, fyi.

Anywho, Derrick and I get there and go in expecting a vaginal ultrasound.  Nope.  She just says fold down your pants some and lay down.  I'm still sick mind you and am trying to hide my god awful cough and stuffy nose by speaking as little as possible and just following directions. She explains what we're testing for (Downs and Trisomy), puts the gel on my slightly-more-pudgy-than-usual belly, and almost immediately we see it...her...him...BABY!  No joke right away.  My mouth hit the floor as I stared at the screen in disbelief and Derrick sort of stumbled through questions, "is that...", "I mean...", "Is..."  THAT'S OUR BABY!!!!!!

Well, turns out my bladder is TOO full.  So thank god I get to run out quick, use the bathroom and come back.  We go again and there he/she is, kicking his/her legs, moving his/her arms, and then she pointed out the heartbeat. There is was.  This little fluttering butterfly looking thing on the screen.  I will always remember what she said, "160 beats per minute.  It's perfect."  PERFECT!   All arms and legs, the right size for 11-1/2 weeks (yep, due date is still July 26, 2013), all the organs are there, and the heartbeat is...perfect.

I know this is getting a little long but indulge me.  I've been sick for days and didn't know what would happen today.  What if they look for the baby and it's not there and I was never pregnant?  Or something's wrong?  What if there wasn't a heartbeat or arm or something else weird?  Again, you're told you're pregnant by doctor's, tests, your ever-tightening jeans, but you never actually feel the baby. Today it became real.  WE SAW HIM/HER!

Anyway, turns out this baby really does have some Applen genes and is already showing his/her stubbron side.  After an external ultrasound they did a vaginal one to see if we could get the right angle/profile to complete the downs test, but nope.  Turns out baby wouldn't look away from the "camera".  Hamming it up already.  I like to think he/she was almost looking out at us :)  So, we go back this Friday to try again, but I'm no confident that this baby is happy, healthy, and REAL!  Oh yeah, he/she also has my nose :)  See the pics below.

EEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!  Yep, turns out I'm a girl and become more and more girly as we go through this process.  That was a girly scream of excitement.  Expect more.