I got another peek today at your sibling. I had an appointment for some minor discomfort things and went in to visit the doctor to get checked. Because it was routine to check on the baby, they tried to locate the heartbeat, but could not. I must admit this made my heart almost stop because it never occurred to me that something could happen. Let me take the suspense out of this moment and ASSURE you that nothing was wrong.
It just so happens that I have a uterus that likes to lie down. Just recline backwards like it's the laziest friggin uterus in the world and, because of this, they couldn't find the heartbeat. No other reason.
So an ultrasound machine was brought in just to be sure all was well and probably to wipe that horrified look off my face. I think the nurse was more intent on me not having a heart attack between that moment and the next time I came in for an appointment and therefore was motivated to take it to the next level.
At about this time, VLB seemed to become aware of us probing at him/her and talking in his/her direction and got still and kind of just looked at us. That was when she snapped the picture above.
I told her maybe VLB was pissed at me for not feeding him/her. She asked if you, Jack, were an active child and I said you definitely were. She then smiled at me in a knowing way and said "You are going to be a very busy lady."
I'm sure she said it with a certain amount of pity intended, but the relief I felt in seeing that baby bouncing around was so intense, I completely forgot about the other items I had come in for and left without any results. Just clutching this picture of VLB and thinking what it will be like to watch you two together.
Love,
Mommy
We played games like guessing the date and weight of Baby Wassell-ina when she comes along, celebrity baby name games, etc.
Grandma Mary converted her living room into a "Mess Hall" for the occassion and has decided to keep it this way. So much for the Living Room! :)
Actually, I remember the Living Room being pretty, but rarely used growing up, so the change seems very sensible.
Plus, the old Dining Room has been converted into a downstairs playroom for the grandchildren, so PLUS PLUS PLUS!! :)
Kelly's due date is in late January and mine is in late May, so these two little ones will be pretty close in age.
By tremendously good chance, all grandkids have been coming in close pairs, so whenever we have family events, each child has a companion that is close in age to them that they kind of pair up with for play.
This makes for very fun family gatherings!
Growing up, we were close in age to our cousins and spent a lot of time with our cousins, Jason and Ryan, and Janie and Anneliese when the would frequently visit from Kansas City. I was closest in age to Jason, but because of the sex difference, he would normally pair up with Matt. I did my damn-dest to be included, though. :)
We are going to find out the sex of the baby that we are expecting but right now can only imagine what that might be. Either way, I already know the baby names I would pick and I plan to share them with you and the family as soon as we know in order to help you get ready for the change that will be coming with the new baby.
Not that I think just knowing a name is going to make it all cake and candles, but I think it may be a start in the right direction....
I would certainly be happy with a baby boy or a baby girl, but seeing all the cute little clothes and girly things that I automatically love being a girl myself, I think it would be fun to have a little girl.
I'm sure that if I do end up finding out that the new baby is a girl, I may just need to declare Chapter 10 right then because I'll be wanting to put her in every cute little frilly dress and tutu that I see.
But that strong will you display could only have come from me, so she may match you step for step and word for word. Or it may be a little boy who is either so similar or completely different from you. There's just no telling. It's fun to wonder about, though.
I am both excited and nervous to be there already. I'm sure to be watching your Aunt Kelly as she pioneers the way and anticipate the same experiences in a short time to follow.
(I mean, just LOOK at these little cuties! Don't you want to eat them up?)
It's true that there will be lots of challenges but the best thing is never to lose sight of the gift of this new life that you have been blessed with because - through all the challenges - I have learned more about myself and what I want in my life and what is valuable and worthy. Lessons I would never have learned in quite this fantastic of a way without you to demonstrate how wonderful things can be.
