A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...& Emotions

I am backtracking a little here, but as I anxiously await our 12 week appointment tomorrow, I realized I never wrote about our prenatal checkup! What is with me!? Its only just the most exciting and important doctors visit I have ever had. This memory thing is killin' me...I think my brain decided to take a 9 month vacation. Who knows if it will decide to return. Hopefully it's somewhere beautiful, fun and relaxing.
 
So, the BIG appointment!
 

The week after we found out, I called my OBGYN to schedule my prenatal appointment. They told me they have the first appt. at 8 weeks, because any earlier than that, it is difficult to see much, since its just a tiny little bean. So we scheduled it for August 14th. This would put us right at 8 weeks. Now, the 3 weeks that I had to wait for this appt seriously drove me nuts. Or maybe it was my hormones. Or both. But it's all I could think about! I even called at 6 weeks, trying to see if I could reschedule it earlier, called other OBGYNs trying to trick them into getting me in earlier than 8 weeks. I  was so close to telling them I thought I was 8 weeks along...when I was still 6 weeks. I would just claim it as an honest mistake when they told me I wasn't as 'far along' as I thought. But all in all, I just wanted to make sure lil Hop was growing and doing ok...is that too much to ask? Turns out, I wasn't foolin' anyone. I gave up and kept my August 14th appt. The wait was on.
 
Matt took off work that morning so he could come with me. I wouldn't have it any other way! It was so important to have him there. We arrived 2o minutes early, paperwork in hand and a stomach full of excited butterflies. Even thought I had read about questions to ask your OB on your first prenatal visit and what to expect, I don't think Matt had any idea what he was getting into! The nurse  finally calls us back and I am weighed and my blood pressure was taken. We then go to the first room, where the questions begin! Every personal and family health issue is discussed and then we wait...again. Our OB arrives 10 long minutes later and moves us to another room...with a sonogram machine :))) This immediately makes me smile. I want to run over to it and examine it, play with it, see what it was all about. I couldn't WAIT to see our lil one on the blank screen. I could NOT wait. I change into the robe and wait...again...for the doctor to return. When she does, she asks us more in depth questions about our health history. I immediately like her. After the questions, its onto the exam. Poor Matt did not know this would be a part of the appointment. Let's just say he better prepare himself for the birth if he could barely sit in a room holding my hand during that! He almost passed out. He's got alot of work ahead of him...:) Love him.
 
And the BIG, anticipated, dreamed about, would not stop talking about, imagined about moment arrives. The first sonogram. The first time we would see our lil bean and hopefully hear it's heartbeat. Nothing could prepare us for this moment.
 
Matt stands next to me, squeezing my hand as our OB excitedly says "There it is! You made a baby! Congratulations, it looks wonderful!" Those words put any nerves to rest. Lil Hop was doing just fine, growing and wiggling away. She then turned the sound on to let us hear the heartbeat. I will never forget it. I can't even explain the comfort, joy and complete overwhelming feeling of pure LOVE I felt.  Matt had tears in his eyes and we were just speechless.  Matt did say, "I finally have that feeling. I am going to be a Dad! It is so real now. I can not wait to be a Dad." I wanted to keep lil Hop up on the screen forever. I couldn't take my eyes off of our lil one. It was just perfect.
 
Well, the speechless didn't last long. Shocker if ya know me! Before our appt. ended, I pulled out my planner, with a list of 27 questions. Yep, call me paranoid, but I don't play around, especially when a baby is involved. Needless to say, we left on cloud 9, with 2 beautiful pics of our baby in hand, and a goody bag full of things we wont need for 7.5 months. Pure joy and so blessed.

So driving home, I got to thinking..."How am I going to wait 4 more weeks to hear the heartbeat again?" (Have you caught on that I hate waiting? I am working on my patience :) ) What's a worry wart like me to do? Order a doppler, thats what! It was the best purchase ever...it gives me so much peace of mind & reassurance. I would recommend it to any expecting mom.

Now we just have to wait for our 18 week check up to actually see you again, learn how much you've grown...and if you are a boy or girl!