Monkey Makes His/Her Presence Known

It's been a big week around here. First, on Monday, Karl finally got to feel Monkey's kicks from the outside. I've been feeling the rocking and rolling in there since mid January. Every time Karl would try to feel it, baby would stop. But Monday morning the baby put on quite the show.

Speaking of show...I am officially sporting a baby belly. The kind that strangers notice and smile at. The kind that allows me to park in the Expectant Mother parking spots at Wal-Mart.


Hard to believe that in 15 or 16 weeks we'll be meeting the little person who's currently making him/herself comfy in there!

Monkey says...

Happy Birthday Grandma!
Can't wait to meet you!
Love, Monkey

Away in a Manger No Crib for a Bed...

I know it's not Christmas time, but that song has been sung quite a bit around these parts lately. Why? Well because until this morning, Monkey didn't have a crib. Not only did he not have a crib, he had no hope of his parents deciding on a crib prior to his June arrival.

We are researchers. Sometimes to a fault. We also tend to have expensive taste, without the ability to actually afford the items we like. Combine these character traits with a trend towards disposable baby furniture and you see our problem.

The good news is after a few false starts, including a trip to Babies R Us where I scratched the cherry finish off a crib with my fingernail and a close call where we almost ordered a crib involved in a recall, we have decided and ordered Monkey's home base for when he decides the womb just isn't cutting it anymore. (Which better not happen any time soon, kid! I said we ordered the crib, I didn't say the furniture was assembled or anything! Stay put for another 18 weeks or so if you wouldn't mind.)

So without further ado, a peek at what Monkey's room will look like soon.

Behold, the crib. The finish is called Espresso, which I think translates into dark brown that sometimes passes for black. Not the cherry we initally planned on, but I think this will look really clean.

The dresser that we will also use as a changing table during the diaper stage. The room is not huge, so we opted not to go with a separate changer.

And our bedding. Just picture it with the dark furniture and minus that yellow rug. The walls will be Whisper Yellow, which I hope will look nice and pale on the walls and not too sunshiney.

Once we get these items set up, we'll be shopping for a book shelf and a rocker to finish the set. What a relief to finally have that part taken care of! I can now stop worrying that the kid will refuse to come out.

Baby Homburg at (almost) 22 weeks

Today we had what is fondly referred to as "the big ultrasound." Big, because for those that don't want to wait, the ultrasound tech can normally see if the baby is boy or girl flavored. But, we've already established that we won't be finding out early in the Homburg household, so no money shot for us.

What we did get picture wise from today's scan is....not much. You have to see the humor in the fact that the unborn child of two photographers is already refusing to pose for his/her close up. Much like our 14 week ultrasound, Monkey spent most of the scan curled up in a tight little ball, hands dramatically thrown in front of the face and legs tucked up so tight I think he/she could have sucked on toes if the thumbs got boring.

Here's the three shots we came home with:

Our curled up little monkey, showing of his/her spine and not much else.

Those two little blobs are the feet that have recently started poking me from behind my bellybutton.

And finally, our one attempt at a 3d image. What you should be seeing is a nice close up of Monkey's face. What you are actually seeing is the dramatic "I'm putting my hand and arm in front of my face so you can't see me. Now go away!" shot. Nice, huh?

So, a little disappointing on the picture front, but otherwise a great appointment. A few highlights:

• Everything measured just as it should. Kidneys and stomach functioning properly and all four chambers of the heart visible.
• We're currently measuring about 5 days ahead of the due date.
  
• Dr. K. is happy with my gestational diabetes management thus far. No changes to my diet or my medications.
• I'm cleared to start back up in my yoga class next month (the prenatal version anyway).

Because of the diabetes, we'll be seeing more of Monkey than we would if this was a "normal" pregnancy. I have another scan in 6 weeks, and a meeting with the perinatologist who works with my dr. I'll have at least one more scan to check on growth at around 36 weeks and my regular office visits will be more frequent. If Monkey keeps growing we may be meeting him/her earlier than our June 18th due date!

That about wraps it up on this front. I'll be back later this week to share the growing pile of cool stuff the baby has aquired from friends and family. And if we ever decide on furniture, I'll post pictures of our future nursery.