It's...a....

Our ultrasound on Monday, April 26th, was such an incredible experience. Again, we had the lady who went into painstakingly amazing detail about every facet of our little one's body and development. My friend Bethany came along for the ride, and we laughed and watched as Lydia slept, woke up, kicked, stretched, sucked her thumb, sassed the camera, and fluttered around inside me.

That's right. I used female terms. We're having a girl! The lady waited for me to get Charlie on speakerphone so he could be there when she told us what we were having...she said, "Ready to see what your baby is? Well, here's the femurs, and the hips and thighs, and right in between there you can see her labial folds..." I cracked up, and Charlie and I were in complete disbelief as she confirmed (and reconfirmed) that we're having a little girl. We've had the name Lydia on deck just in case, and it feels so incredibly good to call our baby by name. Lydia. Not sure of the middle name yet, but it'll come.

She's so healthy. Amazing what little things you become so proud of when it's your little one a medical professional is talking about. Lori, the technician, commented several times on how healthy the internal organs are, and I felt so unbelievably proud that Charlie and I created a little human with functioning kidneys! AND gallbladder. AND liver. :) I can't believe that we're over halfway...almost every part of her body is formed, and now all she has to do is grow.

And grow she has! The top of my uterus is just above my navel now, and she's about 10 inches long, and weighs just about one pound. I felt her flutter for the first time on Monday night, which took my breath away. Just like a little poof of popcorn here and there, but I knew it was her. Now I'm much more conscious of her activity; she really likes wedging herself under my ribcage as I sit at the computer and type. :P

We are so lucky. I continue every day to be completely awestruck at how my love has grown exponentially for both Charlie and Lydia. I can't believe that I can hold such feeling in my heart. While I'm up here finishing school and readying to move, Charlie's been working 18 hour days painting, trimming, bartending, working at Sturdevant's...he hasn't rested much. :\ I picked out the nursery paint last night, and he was able to pick it up today. If you want to see it, it's Valspar.com, and try finding Sea Wave. It's a light teal, which'll be neat for the ocean theme I'm planning. I can't wait to come home to see the work he's been putting into our first place together.

With love and gratitude...now pictures! :)

my favorite. She's sleeping with her left arm under her head, right arm crossed over her chest and resting on her left shoulder. EXACTLY how I fall asleep. amazing!!

close up profile shot

another favorite. our drama queen! Her face is on the bottom, her arm bent over her head with her wrist touching her forehead. "Oh, please stop with the pictures!"

beautiful beating heart

the proving picture...here's the proof she's a girl! :)

just before we snapped this one she was sucking her thumb.

aren't her kidneys just breathtaking? Well? AREN'T THEY?!

well-developed spine

her little feets

our demure little lady with her legs crossed.

umbilical cord supplying life

and finally, her arm.

We're oh so proud. Baby, your parents are just crazy about you. :)