Ultrasounds.

Great news - my husband and I are expecting a boy! My husband was pretty adorable, filming the ultrasound while we were informed of the good news.

But, as is to be expected of this somewhat rocky pregnancy, there was a concerning finding on the ultrasound which led to an appointment with a high-risk OB for further assessment. While we waited a week for this appointment, we wondered what we would be told. Would an amniocentesis be in my future, with its 1:200 risk of miscarriage?

Fortunately, the appointment went very well. We had a nice long ultrasound where we watched our baby kick and elbow me, and the visit with the perinatologist was very reassuring. The finding that had been suspected on the first ultrasound was negated, and the risk of the genetic disorder that is "incompatible with life" decreased from a possible 1% risk to a 1:10,000 risk.

Whew!!

That said, others in the waiting room were not so lucky. It is sobering to recognize that we may have needed to make some of the same decisions those couples were struggling with.

So now...my husband and I have happier decisions ahead. Will we be able to agree on a boy name? What decision should we make about circumcision? How should we decorate the nursery? Much happier dilemmas.

Emotional lability.

One of the things that annoys me about being pregnant - every now and then, I do not have full control of my moods.  I'm pretty good if I can keep myself distracted, but at other times, I get all emotional.  I know it's stupid, and I know it's related to hormones.  And I find that even more annoying.

We're still working on the nursery (read: rearranging the house and engaging in spring cleaning).  We've made a lot of progress, to the point where only piddly little things and big massive things await.  I hate that stage.  To be honest, if it were up to me, I would jump to the huge things.  But that is not methodical, and the little things would still be waiting, taunting us.  *sighs*

I think I want a milkshake.  A nice, thick, creamy milkshake.  It would be great if we had a Sonic nearby, but alas, New England has not embraced the awesomeness that is the Sonic franchise.  Where can I get a milkshake...

And when I begin talking about milkshakes, it's time to end the blog post.

Changes in the air.

On Tuesday, my husband and I will know the gender of our child. Kinda crazy. It's nice to finally have an answer. If it's a girl, we can breathe a sigh of relief and continue to get ready. If it's a boy, though, we have more discussions ahead. We will need to continue to search for a mutually agreed-upon name and research circumcision, as our first impulses on the issue are currently in opposition. Either way, we'll be pleased, but a girl would be more immediately easier. Though when our daughter hits the Tweens, we may not agree.

This week has been pretty cool, because I've been confidently able to say I'm feeling the baby move around. That's a bit weird though, to be honest. It makes it a little more real. I don't have to worry as much that something has gone wrong if I can feel the baby moving, though, so that's nice. My husband and I are having the kind of conversations you would expect at this stage. What do we want in the nursery? What are our opinions on childcare? Those kind of things. Soon we will need to decide if we want to take birth an childcare classes and things. Lots of decisions ahead. And I want to spend some time enjoying being alone with my husband, too. As I mentioned before, I really enjoy being married. I wonder how our life will change with a child at home. I'm sure it'll be great.

A Moment in Time

Today is a quiet day.

Many changes are in the air, and for the moment, reflection sounded peaceful.  A few quiet moments could lead to an epiphany.  Though it could just as easily lead nowhere.  It doesn't really matter - it's the travel itself, rather than the destination, that has meaning.

I'm expecting a child.  One of those very ordinary things in life we take for granted, despite its potential to change the entire fabric of my being.  What will life be like, I wonder?  It's daunting, to be honest - I like the life I have.  But to be honest, I have always found enjoyment in the life I live - I'm adaptable.  Moments are lost in the sea of eternity, just as they are lost in the finite lives of mortals.  But I enjoy this moment, and it will be sad to see it end.

Lazy days are rare in my life.  In many ways, that is a blessing.  I have a world to explore, and I embrace the exploration, even when it is, as is most frequent, an exploration of familiarity.  But it's nice to sit and enjoy favorite TV shows and the company of my spouse and our kittens.  It is my own lack of imagination which invites a label.  So I will disregard the thought, "boring".

My cat is requesting my attention.  I have books to read.  TV shows are begging to be watched and re-watched.  And I hear a knock on the door.  The lazy day is likely at an end.  So I am off to enjoy the exploration of the familiar, enjoying my quiet moments.