We were standing in the bathroom the other night, flossing or what have you, when the Dork Lord took a long look at my belly.
“There’s an actual baby in there. It’s going to be born and then we have to take care of it.”
“That’s sorta how this works, yes.”
“I can barely take care of myself!”
I snickered. “Well, that’s why I’m here, yeah?”
It wasn’t the first minor freak out either of us has had. It’s sure not to be the last. We’re half-way through this pregnancy and it still doesn’t register all that often that it’s real. Our little guppy is a manchild. We’ve known this for weeks and weeks thanks to a relatively new blood test that identifies the baby’s genetic information floating around in my genetic information and BAM! reveals possible chromosomal abnormalities and the baby’s sex. Our 18-week check up was a while back (the Penis Unveiling, the Dork Lord calls it) and everything seems to be just as it should. Ten fingers, ten toes, four heart chambers and discernible stubbornness.
His name is Charlie. You can pretty much call him anything you want as long as that anything you want is not ‘Chuck.’
We’re at the point where I can sense the motion of him wiggling around in there quite a bit, though individual kicks and karate chops are just starting to catch my attention. It’s all very science fiction-y and very distracting. Then sometimes I don’t feel him and that’s even more distracting. So this weekend, I ordered one of those hand-held Doppler jobbies so I could listen to Charlie’s heartbeat at will. It arrived yesterday and is now my favorite battery operated device. It took a while, digging around on my belly, to find that heartbeat, but once I did, it was like getting a report card. A plus, plus, plus!
A few weeks ago, I had my very first full blown, I’m pregnant so I can’t take my meds migraine. It was 26 hours of unmitigated torture. I figure Charlie owes me. He’ll be pretty new to the job for the first Mother’s Day, so I’m gonna give him a year to figure out how best to say Thank You for Not Poisoning Me. I do love sapphires.
Thank you for all the well-wishing! We are so thrilled and terrified. But mostly thrilled.
I’ve been a bit busy and haven’t been reading blogs, so please forgive me:
SQUEEEEE!
Congratulations! I’m thrilled for you. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Ooh! Boys are great! (As I’m sure are girls but I only have a boy). Enjoy all the kicks and punches, it only gets better. Until you just want him out. So many good times ahead.
I’ve been waiting for an update… thank you for sharing your news with us! I am so thrilled for you and the DL. Congrats again.
Wonderful update, Heather!
Thanks for the update! Charles/Charlie/Chaz/The C Man is one lucky guppy. *Puts on crazy cat lady hat* How many cats do you have nowadays? My count says 4. If you want any advice about how to integrate human kitten into the mix, let me know
2 full time, inside, 2 feral, not-so-feral because they sleep inside at night when it’s cold, and 4 full time feral. I’m not so worried about the introductions. My nephew has stayed with us at all phases of his babyhood and they were very good with him.
Yay! I *knew* it was a boy (I actually have a scientific reason for my guess, if you’re ever interested in knowing how I figured out that Charlie wasn’t actually Charlene).
Okay, so I just read your last comment on your previous post: so if I send you my real name and stuff — and I’ve been reading forever and have no plans to stalk anyone, ever — can you send me your address so’s I can mail Charlie a little something? I mean, he needs some Welcome Home presents, after all, no? If you’re not comfortable, I totally understand, but at least maybe register somewhere with a “mail directly to home” option?? I’d like to pick out my own gift, but a registry will do if that’s all you’re comfortable with.
Oh, and YAY!!! Seriously could NOT be happier for y’all. <3
You bet
I figure, if you start stalking me, I’ll just make it REAL easy on you because I move pretty slow these days.
Feeling a bit stalkery myself…if you do post a wishlist of some sort w/non creepy way to take shipment, I’d also like to honor Master Charles’ upcoming arrival. Glad to hear you’re ready to bring human into the cattery
I would like to third the comment on needing a way to send a welcome home something. I know at least some of us might like to send something personal so would LOVE an option that would allow me to mail it that you are comfortable.
Please know I as well am not trying to stalk you I just am so happy for you I can’t help wanting to do something!
We do have a Target Registry set up (http://www.target.com/baby/registry/PRHdIKvsNnv1u8ViHAag8w). I don’t know if that feels too impersonal, it’s just the Dork Lord isn’t very comfortable with the idea of me giving our address out (which, I understand).
As the mother of an only child and wow that was the most amazing and freaky 9 months I ever spent doing anything…it’s ALL good! Don’t be freaked, don’t be scared, just be amazed! I’m so happy for you. And I love this post…it reminded me exactly how I felt when I was pregnant with my now 8 1/2 year old girl.
Woo hoo for a little boy guppy! This mom of two stinky, grubby, absolutely fantastic boys (11 and 13 – yikes) can’t wait to meet your new little fish!!
Woohoooo!!!! Just so, so, so excited for you. I’ve been in bed with a migraine all day today and my meds are just now *finally* starting to kick in, so after hours of darkness and boredom I turned on my computer and saw this and thought – oh dear lord, 26 hours – yup, sapphires sound about right! Congrats on your sweet Charlie – what a lucky little dude. Thrilled for you!
Congratulations!!! And pregnancy migraines totally and completely suck. My OB’s recommendation of tylenol and a coke really didn’t do much. I recently discovered that taking daily magnesium works really really well to pevent my migraines (like, better than my expensive, somewhat scary prescription meds ever did). Maybe something to ask your doctor about and try if it’s safe? Good luck!
Thanks for the registry link! <3 <3 <3
So happy for you. Much love.
EEEee!! I’m excited for ya! I’ll be finding out if we have a little girl or boy on the way in a few weeks. Wasn’t planning on having a baby this soon after marriage, but it is what it is. Have you had any symptoms or weird cravings?
Congrats on little Charlie!!
So excited for you both. I also love sapphires but then I’m not surprised by your exceptional taste. Treat yourself and the guppy well.
OMG Heather! This is awesome!
I haven’t been on-line/reading for a while and I’m just so thrilled for you. All of you! lol How exciting!
I wish you the very best.
Please keep us posted.
I haven’t checked since June, when your sad news brought a tear to my eye because I’ve been reading you since you lived in BOSTON! Weird, huh? This is wonderful news and I’m so happy for you. I hope the rest of the pregnancy progresses uneventfully. As a momma of two little boys, I can tell you that you are going to have a blast and fall madly, deeply in love.
sosososo happy for you!
I am SO thrilled for you both, and all the years you have ahead of love, sleeplessness, joy, laughing til you pee in your pants, diapers filled with poo that goes up the back, etc. It’s all beyond anything you can imagine right now, but it is the best thing ever. Each stage of these little peoples lives unveil new things to adore, and more things to worry about. (Did you register for a booger snatcher???!!) I can tell you will both be great parents. Remember to both give each other breaks, AND make time for just the two of you. I have been reading you for a very long time, and I can’t wait to read this next chapter! xoh
Can you tell me more about this blood test? Was it specifically a gender test or something else, and did insurance cover it? We just unlocked our own little achievement
Hope you’re feeling good still, you must be knocking at the 3rd trimester door by now!
Congratulations! I think it was called the Harmony test? Its primary purpose is to test for the trisomy disorders. I’m over 35 and thus higher risk for chromosomal abnormalities so it was *partially* covered by insurance. We had three tests run and our portion was over $700. So these tests? Not cheap.
So happy for you guys!!! So…do you feel like you were body snatched? Because that’s mainly what I remember. Someone took over my body and nothing was familiar anymore. Not to say that it wasn’t a time to be enjoyed: it was. Very much.