We let the cat out...

The cat is officially out of the bag. Baby Shaw's name is....drum roll...HENRY W. SHAW. We aren't sure if the "W." will be for Wade or Ward (my maiden name) yet, but at least we've narrowed it down to an initial. Wade and I have been calling him "Henry" for weeks now and it was getting harder and harder to continue calling him "Buster" in public. After letting his name slip several times we knew we couldn't wait until D-day. So, Henry it is!

Buster's Nursery

Below are pictures from Buster's nursery. Clearly I need to learn to use the flash on my camera...will try to take better pictures and post those. We still have some decorating to do, pictures and a mobile to hang, toys and swings to assemble...but we're getting closer. The colors are red, cream and brown...and the theme is Cowboy/Western...we're still working on turning the room into the Wild West.

Get Ready!

Buster is 31 weeks old today. We went for our last four week appointment (we'll begin seeing Dr. Goldsworthy every two weeks now) this morning and heard Buster's heart beating a solid 156 beats per minute. My tummy measured 30.5 cm, which is just .5 cm less than the target/average. Everything looked perfect. And then we got some exciting news - we might get to welcome Buster into the world as early as March 26! Because I'm "in the gray" for gestational diabetes, and because Wade and I were both big babies, we're going to do an ultrasound at 36 - 37 weeks to monitor Buster's size. If he's getting too big (over 9 pounds) then it's delivery time!

For those of you who haven't heard, my test last month for gestational diabetes came back positive. This meant I had to go in the following week for a four hour more extensive blood test. I had to fast, drink some EXTRA yummy glucose goo and have my blood taken on the hour for four hours straight. If two of the four tests came back positive, I would be officially diagnosed with gestational diabetes. But hallelujah! Only the last of the four tests came back positive. So, I'm not diagnosed, but still need to make some changes in my diet for the duration of pregnancy...to ensure Buster's health and my safety during delivery. So this, coupled with genetics, could result in an early D-day.

P.S. Buster finally has a name! But I'm sworn to secrecy until his birthday...and we've been working hard on the nursery. I'll try to post pictures this weekend.

A Game of Tag

Today Buster gave me the scare of my life. Today was a big appointment for us - it was time for the gestational diabetes and anemia test. To prep for the test, I was instructed to eat a hearty protein-packed breakfast and to drink 10 ounces of orange goo (i.e. glucose). Once I choked down the goo, the challenge quickly became keeping it down. An hour later I was off to the doctor's office to have my blood drawn. After lab work was over I waited patiently to see the doctor and find out how Buster was progressing. When the doctor finally came in (a five minute wait feels like an hour) and put the monitor on my tummy to listen to Buster's heart, we heard nothing. Trying not to panic, the doctor rapidly moved the monitor from side to side searching for something, anything...still nothing. Then, finally, a kick. He was playing tag! Apparently he liked the glucose so much that he was running from the monitor. Shelia (my doctor) finally had to press down on my stomach and actually hold him in place long enough to listen to his little heart. And when we finally heard and recorded it, it was perfect. 154...or was it 156 bmp. He's averaging between 150 - 160 on each visit. My belly measured 26 (it's supposed to be equivalent to the number of weeks you are into your pregnancy), which is good. I'm 27 weeks and one day. Tomorrow we will get our blood results back, and assuming all is well, will see the doctor for our last four week appointment on February 20. After February 20th, we will begin seeing Shelia every two weeks.

An Ear of Corn

I read this morning that Buster (from crown to rump) is the size of an ear of corn...and that my uterus is the size of a soccer ball. But even more exciting is that Wade was able to feel Buster kicking for the first time last night. What a way to ring in the new year. Buster has been kicking for the past month or so, but his kicks are getting a lot stronger now...and easier for Wade to feel and enjoy. Wade also assembled the crib Friday night. It is awesome...can hardly wait to get cracking on the rest of the nursery.

We got a good report from the doctor on December 27th. All is progressing well. I got to listen to the heart beat (154 bpm) and Dr. Goldsworthy measured my stomach. Her comment - "Man, he has sure grown!"

It's a boy!

Wade and I went for our 18 week ultrasound today. We're going to have a baby boy! I don't know how in the world the tech could make out his baby boy part, but she assured me it was there. She also said that in her 22 years of performing ultrasounds on expectant moms, she has only been wrong once...and she's performed thousands. So...we're having a boy! And couldn't be happier. He is 18 weeks and 5 days, weighs 8 ounces and looks absolutely perfect.

Buster's First Pictures

These are pictures from our first ultrasound on September 24. It was amazing! At only 8 weeks, we were able to see Baby Buster's heart beat and watch him wiggle his arms and legs (I think he/she is going to be a rock star). Our next ultrasound is on November 26. In less than one week we'll know if Buster is a boy or girl.