a blip and a belly

Here we go folks! The obligatory blob-on-a-screen image, about which everyone feels they need to say, "oooohhhhh cute!" even though they're really thinking, "ummm, am I supposed to find this appealing? Do the parents REALLY think that blip is CUTE??" Don't worry; we agree with you 100%. We found it much more intimidating and bizarre than we did endearing.
Although it WAS kind of funny to see it kicking around its legs.

On a more detailed note, this sonogram was from our first appointment at the Austin Area Birthing Center-- the place we're aiming to give birth. It's convenient to our house (and a couple hospitals, should I need more advanced medical attention or drugs). While lacking such modern technology such as a sonogram machine that can track the proper date (apparently... since I'm pretty sure I wasn't there on a nonexistent day in July of 2007), they do have cool amenities like enormous tubs for a water births, huge rooms that feel much more homey than clinical, and midwives that facilitate intervention-free births.

We had this appointment at 10 weeks, and typically at that appointment the midwives just listen for the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler device. It turns out, though, that my womb was still tilted far enough back for them to not be able to hear anything but my pulse, so after we were all well convinced that I was definitely alive, they did a sonogram to check on the baby's growth (which turned out to be right on target).

Anyway, this meant that Sean and I found ourselves looking at grainy footage of our offspring, which appeared shockingly human-like. Good news, right? But my heart grew heavy, and all I could feel was this "ohhhh crap" sensation. A HUMAN?? I mean, not that it's Baby Center's fault, but previously my mental imagery was limited to their cartoon drawings and weekly produce update ("Congratulations! Your baby is the size of a kumquat now!"). But THIS kumquat had a defined head and moving appendages, and therefore, my brain deciphered, was NOT A KUMQUAT but human. And that's a lot scarier than a piece of fruit. It all felt a lot more real that day.

There have been a couple other moments and dreams that have hammered bits of reality home-- these moments definitely represent the nervous/anxious side of pregnancy, and thanks to the hormones, usually result in me being kind of irritated with the little booger (I know, I know-- doesn't seem fair to the poor baby, does it?? But pointing that out just makes me more annoyed, so don't!!). The rest of the time, though, it's just kind of surreal... not much more than ecstatic future-grandmothers, outgrown pants, and a wholehearted denial that we are going to have to find somewhere to put a crib.

Speaking of a growing waistline, I'm going to imitate my friend Christi and her lovely black and white profile shots that never ceased to astound me. Here's the belly at 11 weeks (I was already SO thankful for that little rubber band trick that lets me bypass buttoning my pants!):

I'm 8 weeks along in the picture below. (Funny how I felt like I was already "showing" a lot at 8 weeks, even though I knew it was just water retention and an indescribably SLOW digestive system. I felt so bulky. Doesn't seem like much now! It'll be even funnier in a couple months when I look back and say the same thing about the 11 week photo.)

Sean was too shy to show his belly in his first pregnancy picture. However, he feels it is important for husbands to be included in this little journey, so here's Sean at 8 weeks (how about that hair!!):

And that concludes our first baby post.

Scroll down for pictures of Wilbur, who is much cuter and far more interesting.