These ultrasound pictures were taken at 8 weeks along on January 20, 2009. The baby's head is to the left, the yolk sac is the halo looking part of the picture, and the leg and arm buds can be made out if you look closely... :)
Our baby is due September 1, 2009! We can't wait!
We had the first ultrasound on January 20th and got to see the baby and listen to the heartbeat! It finally made the entire process very real for Brad which was hilarious to watch, especially when he saw the ultrasound technician come at me with the machine. Thank goodness my mom came to help steady the boy! :) Mom is amazing. We surprised my parents the Saturday before with a present that included a framed poem. I will add the framed poem later... She, of course, came back to Richmond with us and proceeded to immaculately clean my house and grocery shop for me and generally make me feel slightly better.
My morning (HAHA) sickness has been a doozy! Not only has it been an all day event, it has lasted from January 5th until the present, though the nausea seems to be waning these days... thank goodness! My students have been ultra supportive and hilarious throughout the process. I told them on Friday about the baby which in turn sent out requests for Brad and I to name the baby after them... a personal favorite: Sta'chea. Sta'chea Watkinson has quite the ring to it, yes? Though finding out I was pregnant sure helped the kiddos understand why I've been seated for the past three weeks with a Coleman cooler water jug attached to one hand and saltines in the other while making mad dashes to the restroom all the while not grading a single paper since Jan. 5th... They are indeed a patient bunch!
Brad has been venturing into the wild world of reading recently with the purchase of What Every Father to-be NEEDS to know... I am personally fond of the fact that last night he read that my morning sickness has felt like a constant extreme hangover for the last 3 weeks. Only then did I conjure up some empathy from him... :) He has been a rock and a blessing truly from God in this whole experience so far! The surprise of it all, plus the added bonus of my sickness really threw us for a loop, yet Brad seems to be embracing and enjoying this impending role of fatherhood. We've watched more TV than I care to divulge, eaten more saltines, suffered through my lack of cooking (a first time in 4 years!), and survived Friday and Saturday nights at home rather than out and about with out friends living it up! Fortunately we'll be able to join the ranks of reality again once I get back to feeling like myself! He has been a real trooper and I am thankful for his sacrifices thus far!
As this journey progresses, we will keep you all updated and posted on the wonderful joys and challenging trials of pregnancy and impending parenthood!
