Some news, but not all of it

Well, we had an ultrasound today.  We even got to talk to a doctor right away who told us that everything looks fine with the baby.  I will have to have a follow-up ultrasound in six weeks because the placenta is a little low and they need to be sure it moves up.  When the doctor said that I remembered that last time I didn't have the ultrasound until 26 weeks, which would have been an advantage this time.  But now we know the gender, which is fun and exciting.

I find that I'm not ready to make the big announcement today, though.  For one thing, I'm feeling particularly exhausted and wrung out.  For another I need some time to adjust to the idea before letting the news out.  I have been doing my best to keep an open mind for so many weeks now - thinking about the advantages of either gender.  So now that we have just one option to think about I feel a little sad that we won't have the advantages of the other.  But I those other advantages are still around.  It's all good.

We didn't take Liam along for this one.  He's been to a couple of regular doctor's appointments, but I was concerned that this trip might take a long time.  While we were at the hospital we went up to the delivery ward to take a tour.  We also talked to a nurse about some of my concerns/needs as far as avoiding fragrances and other chemicals.  I'm always a little nervous going into this type of discussion, but the two ladies we talked to really seemed to understand where we were coming from and I think we have the beginnings of a good plan.  I'm still a little sad that we have to go to a different hospital than we did last time.  At this one you change rooms after delivery, which would make creating a "safe" room for me more complicated.  But the nurse suggested that we might be able to stay in the same room the whole time.  This sounds good to me, so I hope it works out that way.

I know that having a sibling will be a big change for Liam, but I think he will be a great big brother. Here's a picture of him with his cousin Ruth when he was a "not quite three-year-old."  By the time this baby comes he will be an almost five-year-old.