More details on our bun in the oven.

Whew, what a whirlwind weekend! We just got back from a weekend in Charleston, celebrating the wedding of an old family friend. More on that later.

We scheduled the big ultrasound for the Friday before we went away so that my mom could be here, too. That meant not a lot of time to post many details about how things went, so here's the 411.

So, we had a good idea the baby was going to be a girl. At the 12 week ultrasound, I asked the tech and the perinatologist to make a guess based on the nub theory. He was very hesitant to do so, as this is very new technology and the baby has to be in EXACTLY the right position to make a good guess. Based on how she was laying then, he guessed girl. We promised not to buy a bunch of pink, as I don't really buy into this theory anyway. We decided to keep the information to ourselves, though, as not to get anyone too excited in case he was wrong. Also, I have been SOOO much sicker this go 'round than I was with Theo, so that gave me a clue. And, with Theo everyone said I was cute and glowy and this time I feel pretty ugly and dull, so I thought of the old wives tale that girls take their mother's beauty. So, we weren't that surprised by finding out, but it is still such a fun day in pregnancy. And there was NO question when we got the money shot. Three little lines just as clear as day.

The ultrasound looked great and she is very healthy. We clearly saw all 4 chambers of the heart, fluid around the brain, amniotic fluid and could even count her fingers. She has big feet and very long legs! She is an active girl and had one hand over her heart, which made it a little difficult for the tech to see what he needed, but she eventually moved it. We thought she was just adorable! Unfortunately, I have the same cord issue that I had with Theo. It's called marginal cord insertion and it means the cord is attached at the edge of the placenta instead of the center where it should be. This usually does not cause any issues, but may mean she will be a little small. They will do another ultrasound around 30 weeks to check her size. Fine by us, we love ultrasounds! This did not cause any issues at all with Theo and he was a perfect size at birth, so we aren't worried at all.

And, lastly - name details. Most of you should know by now that our girl will be named Lucinda Katherine and we will call her Lucy. We have also tossed around "Lucy Kate" as a nickname, but I doubt that will stick - unless we are feeling very southern on the day she is born! Susan gave me naming rights since the pregnancy has been so horrible. I was excited, but wouldn't have picked a name I knew she hated even if it was one I really liked. Lucy has been on our list since I was pregnant with Theo, so I knew she liked it. We wanted a longer version because our last name is so short and to give her more options when she is grown. Lucinda Williams is a folk singer we really liked, so that gave us a little inspiration. The middle name was totally my call. I have always loved the name Katherine, particularly with a nickname of Kate. I thought it went well with Lucinda and opened up a few nickname options as well. So, there you have it - a name was born!

We are thrilled that Lucy looked so healthy and that everything is moving along like it should. It was fun to be able to tell old friends this weekend while out of town and to start calling her by her name. Now I just have to find something to order with her monogram. Nothing I love more than a good monogram!

Thanks for all the congratulations we received on Friday. It will take me time to get back to everyone, but we loved reading everything. We can't wait for you all to meet Lucy in October!

Theo is getting a baby ....

Tomorrow's the day!

Tomorrow at 2:30, Mickey shall reveal him/herself to us. I can't wait to find out, but I mostly can't wait to see the baby again. This is our last ultrasound, so after tomorrow, our next chance at some face time is delivery day!

Many people have asked me what I am hoping for. I'm sure Susan gets asked this too. I know "a healthy baby" sounds trite, but really, we both work at a major hospital and have seen kids that are sicker than many can imagine. We've seen families destroyed by having a chronically ill child and have held families' hands when these children die. So, our perception is probably skewed, but we really, really, really just want a baby as healthy as Theo.

That aside, I'd love another boy. I really want Theo to have a brother since he won't have a dad and I have really loved having a son. I've loved it more than I ever thought I could. And, I'd also enjoy a daughter. There may be a few stray girl outfits around the house "just in case." I do have visions of ballet classes and hairbows and smocked dresses, like many mothers do. So, I guess you can say that I will be just tickled pink (or blue!) no matter what we find out tomorrow.

With Theo, I really wanted a girl. It took me a little while to come around to the idea of a boy. And roughly 4 seconds after he was born, I wouldn't have traded him for a million girls. As I learned by becoming a parent to my amazing son, you don't always get what you want, but you ALWAYS get what you need.

We'll report back tomorrow - oh yes, we have names and we will share!

Virginia visiting.

Theo and I took a little trip up to Virginia this weekend to visit with friends (and Gramma and Papa, too). It was a short trip, but so much fun. Saturday we saw Maddie play soccer ... well, mostly I chased Theo around and tried to keep him off the field. Theo played with Maddie's siblings and had fun running his little legs off. Then we went to the Baker's Crust for dinner, since I had been dreaming of their food for months, but we don't have one here.

Sunday we hung out with Gramma and Papa in the morning before we headed up to Charlottesville after lunch. Theo was brave enough to hang out with Gramma alone while I took a shower and even fell asleep on her lap in the rockers on the front porch, very cute. We had such a good time in Charlottesville! Jenny and I hung out with our little guys for a couple of hours before the rest showed up for dinner. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed spending time with people I miss so much and wish I lived closer to. Our fun is different now that we all have kids (well, almost all) but it's fun to see the kids play together. I was struck by how some of us parent similar and some different but no one ever gets judge-y about it. Just a room full of good parents, doing their best and a room full of great kids.

Jenny, Thistle and I are all pregnant and all due within 3 weeks of each other. It has been SO fun sharing this with them and comparing notes and war stories. I'm anxious to see if any of the babies will get to share a birthday since they are all due so close. Also, we all have boys now, so I can't wait to see the final tally of the new additions! Thistle is a hold out, Jenny knows but I don't want to say because I don't know if she has shared and we find out Friday. I only wish we lived closer so that we could see each other more and get the new babies together.

Theo did really well on the drive up and back. Napped, ate a snack and chattered to himself the whole way. Sleep was another issue, but we didn't have our usual day of transition when we got back. Went right in the crib tonight with not one issue. SO nice to get back to our routine. Oh, Theo learned to say "Papa" which he has said over and over today with a smile. I know that makes someone very happy!

18 months old.

Doesn't that sound OLD? It does to me! Our boy is halfway to 2 years old - gulp. I'm not sure of his height and weight since we had to reschedule his check up for swim lessons (priorities, people). He is pretty small, though. All his summer clothes are 18-24 months, but he's still really fitting in 12-18 months the best. This probably has something to do with the fact that he is in perpetual motion. He's also really starting talk! Well, he's ALWAYS talking, but I mean words that others could understand. Here's a list (hopefully one day this will make it into the baby book):

on

heiney

down

dog

cheese

up and down

Otis

done

water "wa-wa"

I think that's it. He's starting to pick words up at a rapid pace, so hopefully the list will grow!

He and Susan started swimming lessons today at the Y. He loved it, of course, since the boy really should have been a fish. He was the bravest one there and the ONLY one willing to float on his back like he was just waiting on someone to bring him a margarita. He will go on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks. I'm happy they have something to do together and even happier that I don't have to wear a bathing suit.

We've been trying to find a babysitter to start going out now and then (what a novel idea!) but it's not going well. Late, no shows, arriving with butts hanging out of shorts - ugh. And this was just for the interview! We will keep trying because we'd love to get out now and then and we have tickets for Lilith Fair (SO excited) in August and we definitely can't bring him with us. Keep your fingers crossed.

We are heading into a busy few weeks with traveling. Theo and I are going up to Virginia this weekend to visit with Gramma and the Charlottesville girls. I can't WAIT to see my friends. It's been 5 years since I moved, but I miss my friends there and always having someone to do something with. We don't seem to have found that sense of community here quite yet. Gramma wants to take Theo strawberry picking and I know he will love the hayride. Then next weekend we are off to Charleston with my mom and sister for a family friend's wedding. We have always wanted to visit Charleston, so this seemed like a perfect chance! And finally, in June, Theo and I are flying down to Florida to see Elena and Mima. Yes, flying. Yes, alone. I know - it's crazy. I'm just trying to think positive and hope for the best.

And in super big news - in 10 DAYS we find out if we are having a Mickey or a Minnie! I'm basically losing my mind with impatience and can't wait to find out. My mom will be here for the ultrasound, which will be fun since Susan's mom was with us when we found out with Theo. I want a boy, but think it's a girl. I hope the next 10 days fly by! Susan gave me naming rights since this has been the pregnancy from hell. We have a girl name, but don't have a boy name. I don't think we'll talk about it again until we know if we need it. So, wager your guesses now on a brother or sister for Theo.

No pictures with this update, but click on the Flickr widget above for new stuff.

Happy almost June!

Trip to Suffolk.

Theo and Susan went on a trip to Suffolk for her birthday and to visit with Aunt Gin from California (and of course, Aunt Kathy and the boys!). They also got a chance to see Great Grandad for a little visit. I stayed home, cleaned the house, had a massage, dinner with a friend and missed my baby boy like crazy.

I may not have been there, but based on the pictures, I am sure of two things:

1. Theo had a blast playing with his cousins.

2. There were probably few quiet moments.