Welcome to the Second Trimester

As of today I am 14 weeks and a few days along.  We had our second appointment this morning, and everything checks out.  The midwife explained to us about some screening options they offer, as well as workplace hazards (i.e. going to the slaughterhouse to collect tissues) and how not to get a headache.  We heard the baby's heartbeat again, and it is going strong about 150 bpm. 

12 weeks along

13.5 weeks along

Thank you to those of you who have offered me maternity clothes, baby toys and supplies, and your hand-crafted gifts.  It was quite the shock packing for my conference a couple of weeks ago and finding that only a few things still fit!  Consignment shops and friends to the rescue, and I have some very cute things to wear with an expanding midsection. 

Nick and I recently took a trip up to Atlanta and then to Nashville for a variety of reasons which included these: an engineering conference, a Peace Corps awards ceremony, seeing friends, and a conference presented by Bishop N.T. Wright.  Quite the busy week!  We made it back and have been sleeping ever since. 

Dinner in Nashville at Hog Heaven, home of white barbecue sauce.

I've had a few baby dreams so far.  Mostly I'm just going somewhere with a baby or doing something mundane, but one dream gave me the opportunity to find out the sex of the baby at just 13 weeks.  I was about to discover it using the special procedure when I awoke to find myself in an Atlanta hotel with a full day of technical presentations lined up.  Maybe in my upcoming dreams ...

Fetal Heart Sounds and our Fake Baby Name

Today we had our unofficial second appointment just to be able to hear the fetal heartbeat.  After a few minutes of poking and prodding, we heard it!  The heartbeat was very clear, and about 150 beats per minute (typical of this stage).  We are now 12 weeks along, and finishing the first trimester.  That means the queasy stomach and fatigue should ease soon! We won't have the ultrasound to find out the sex for a couple more months, probably early July. 

Lots of people want to know what names we are considering, if any.  To be honest, we haven't even thought about it yet!  While playing trivial pursuit a few weeks ago, Nick asked me a question about a duo of brothers (probably the ominous pink category, which is always most difficult).  I had no idea what the answer was, so I made up some names: Rickshaw and Henry Snow.  We both laughed quite a bit at the name 'Rickshaw,' and how funny it would be to give that name to a baby.  After that we started to refer to the baby as Rickshaw, and so far it has stuck.  Remember, it's just a fake name!  Coincidentally, while talking to Jill, she mentioned that a restaurant just opened up near her office: Rickshaw Dumplings.  Fate?

Thoughts and First Appointment

Dear friends -- after some time of trying to get pregnant, we have finally arrived! Thank you to all those who have expressed their enthusiasm and encouragement.

Our first appointment was April 25th at the Birth Center of Gainesville. We met with midwife Sarah and nurse Helen to complete bloodwork, other diagnostics, and the physical exam. Everything looks good! We'll be able to go back in 2 weeks just to hear the fetal heartbeat.

At this point, we don't have the answers to much: names? sex? birth plan? registry? So stay posted.