Hidden Post Series: Amazing. The only word to describe it.

Wednesday, August 7, 2012:

So, yesterday was the big day! We had a 3:00 appointment at the doctor's office that included a "nurse talk" and ultrasound. I took off at lunch - and I totally had the jitters. I had lunch with Ashley & Caroline at Harris Teeter and then went to Lee Spa Nails to get a pedicure. After my pedicure I walked myself out to the car in the flimsy flip flops they provided me with (I had on closed toe flats) and then waited in the parking deck for G to arrive. He called at 2:40 and said he was at the door to the office. So, I throw on my flats and walk up. After checking in we sat in the lobby and waited. I noticed I had totally ruined my pedicure. All $26 of it. Bummer.

They finally called us back. We met with the nurse in an office - not a "doctor's room". She took my pulse and bp (everything looked great). Then we spent the next 45 minutes talking about family history (for the both of us), what to avoid, what to do if you go into labor, important phone numbers, how the practice works, etc. Then we went back to the lobby to wait for the ultrasound - which is the important part here. They called us back. Whew. Here goes nothing...

Warning: the following may include TMI - read at your own risk.

You have to empty your bladder before this ultrasound because it's vaginal. Yes - that's right. I had this ultrasound before - but not with G in the room. I think he was a little taken back at the machine with the "large wand" that goes in. But, I undressed from the waist down, put the sheet on and sat on the table while G had the chair to my left. This ultrasound room is fancy, y'all. It's got a giant TV up on the wall so that you can see everything comfortably without having to look at the small monitor on the machine. So, she says "you'll feel a little pressure" and there was my uterus in all it's glory up on the big screen. Maybe we should have asked for popcorn? Anyway - she took a few measurements and then cranked the sound up...and then we heard it. The sweet heart beat of this baby. Our baby. G and I looked at each other and we were both in tears. The nurse smiled and said "everything sounds great - I'll finish up, get you a few photos and you'll be off to do blood work".

It was the most amazing sound and picture we've seen/heard. I can't begin to describe how real everything got in that moment. The nurse finished and said, "go ahead and get dressed and meet me at the desk outside". As she walked out, G stood up and there we were, embracing with white sheet around my waist. We couldn't stop smiling. I dressed and we stepped outside and she handed us two photos. It doesn't look like much. Maybe an edamame? But, we are in love.

We had to sit in the lobby and wait about 10 minutes for me to get called back to do blood work - which I hate needles. But the nurse was quick and only had to do one stick. We were finally out of there. It wasn't even 5:00 yet but we decided to go to Crabtree and celebrate with dinner. But first we walked into Baby Gap and totally made our first baby purchase. We decided to just browse and pick up something small. So, we found a cute onesie and hat. It was perfect. Of course we know that we're not out of the woods yet - so we said we wouldn't purchase anything else for a while.

We had dinner at McCormick & Schmick's - they have an awesome happy hour menu! And then we decided to get dessert at the Cheesecake Factory. It was awesome. It was the first time we've discussed being pregnant without following it up with, "well, if everything is okay...". I think now we've can focus on actually being pregnant and this all turning out just totally fine.  And on the way home, a perfect rainbow in the sky.
So, here's to next week - when we meet with the OB and go over a lot more "stuff".