Two things

This past Friday we had our second ultrasound. According to our doctor we now know that the baby is healthy and she's right on schedule. The second thing we - or should I say "I" - learned is that looking at ultrasounds is not our doctor's favorite thing to do.

Now, we're totally okay with having a baby girl. We've got a pretty good name picked out and we've got a ton of pink things from clothes to the bumper for our crib, and probably even some pink diapers. My mother-in-law got her a cute little pink Jets outfit (which was pretty cool of her). So we're ready to have a girl.

But...

We have heard some "horror" stories about people who are told they're having a girl and "God put a stem on the apple" sometime between that ultrasound and the birth.

So we wanted to make sure.

When we really pressed our doctor, believe it or not I still have no clue exactly what her name is, she checked to the best of her abilities between our unborn child's legs.

What did she say? "It's for sure a girl!"

No.

To quote her exactly, "Well, I can't really see for sure. I will say that I can't see a penis."

Well, I'm not a world class detective like Sherlock Holmes, but I would think the lack of the male parts would mean it is a girl, right?

Not to our doctor who said, "I'm not saying it's a boy, I'm just saying I can't see if it's for sure a girl with this machine."

Our confidence did not grow that day, but we did go ahead and wash all the pink stuff we could at the laundromat.

Secondly, we were greatly blessed by our church family, New Beginnings, here in Indy.

They got us the crib we'd wanted since the day Jen found out she was pregnant. People went together and got us bouncers, swings, clothes, you name it. We got it.

We were greatly blessed.

Now we have to send out thank you notes, which I'm not really good at.

Not because I don't know how to say thank you, in fact, I like to think I'm a very grateful person. Especially grateful for what we received Sunday night from the church family.

But my handwriting is horrible.

I mean, it's like our little baby reached out and wrote stuff and she's not even born yet. That's how horrible my chicken scratch handwriting is.

Sadly, even I can't interpret it half the time.

Maybe Jen will just let me put the stamps on the envelopes.

Another Ultrasound

Thursday we went to see our doctor. Jen is measuring a week small around her tummy, well, the doctor measured a week small, the intern measured 3 weeks (I think) small. So I asked if that would be something we should be concerned about and the doctor said no, but they're going to do another ultrasound to make sure everything is going okay.

Earlier in the pregnancy, during our first ultrasound, we were told the baby was small and that, according to one doctor, it was likely she had down's syndrome.

Very scary, and even though we didn't want to, we subjected to the testing and things. Our doctor said that it wasn't even a remote possibility and couldn't understand why that doctor would say that. We couldn't either.

I didn't like that doctor, either. He was a jerk about it. His exact words were, "Either you're off on your due date, or your baby how's Down's Syndrome."

Thanks doc.

I can appreciate the bluntness, but a little bit of bedside manner would have went a long way in that situation. Especially since it's my baby, you know?

Anyway, we're going for a second ultrasound. I'm sure everything's fine, because last night she was kicking pretty good. And this morning it looked like she was trying to poke her head through Jennifer's belly-button.

It was funny. I told Jen, "Maybe she's trying to stand up?"

We had a good laugh. It was like a scene from one of the "Alien" movies.

We've prayed about this next ultrasound, and even though I'm sure nothing is wrong, there is still that small seed of doubt.

But even if there is something wrong, nothing is going to change the fact that this is my baby girl, and I'm going to be more than a proud father. No matter what.

Unless we find out the earlier ultrasound was off, and she's a he.

That would change things somewhat.

Looking Forward

Today I enjoyed a free Grand Slam from Denny's. It was good, but something prior to my meal occurred that made me laugh and look ahead to the possibilities of my own child's randomness... let me explain.

I stood in line next to two families, both with two little boys about the age of 4. One family decided to take a "rain check" voucher and leave, to return another time and enjoy their food. As this family walked out, the boy from the other family said, "Goodbye other kid!" to his new friend.

Maybe that just translates as a "had to have been there" story, but those of is standing there had a good chuckle. When I told Jen this story she simply replied, "Our kid is going to say random things."

I agreed. Especially if she's anything like either of her parents.

This is the First Post

I have decided to journal what I believe is about to become the greatest experience of my life:

Parenthood.

My wife and I are expecting our baby about two months from now. We've been told it will be a girl. We'd be happy if it was a boy or a girl, but this has certainly made the process of coming up with a name much easier.

It took us months to agree on a boy's name, then when we finally had decided on the one we liked, we got the news that the baby will be a girl. So, again, we toiled with our books of baby names and finally came to the decision. If the baby is born a girl, she will be named Evelyn Grace.

I'm very excited.

Of course, Jennifer is stressed and her body is doing all sorts of crazy things that I don't think she believed were possible. Like the trips to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. She's incredibly excited, though. I she's equally elated at the thought of no longer being pregnant.

Unfortunately, I didn't realize how much work went in to preparing for a baby. I am, of course, talking about the putting together of furniture like changing tables, bassinets, cribs, strollers, etc. Not to mention the new clothes my wife is going through or all the doctor visits. Definitely did not count on all the expenses being as high as it is.

Baby business must be good business. Thank God for our family and friends who have blessed us with the gifts we received at a recent baby shower. Our church family is having another baby shower for us, too. We really have been blessed in this entire pre-baby period.

Anyway, we're looking forward to this addition to our family, and I am looking forward journaling it all so that when our offspring are in our shoes, I can simply say, "Hey, check out this link." And they can laugh at their crazy old man's rantings.