Doctor Visit: 18 weeks

This was the big visit - the first ultrasound; the ultrasound that can determine baby's gender.  I had to go to this visit alone, sadly, because Pat had an unmovable meeting that morning.  It was very good I didn't attempt to bring Clara with me either.  I don't think it would have worked at all, and I had to wait a WHILE to see the doctor.  However, the ultrasound was very fun, as you can see int he picture below:

It's so wonderful to hear (and see) the baby's heart beating regularly, the fingers and toes and little turned-up nose.  It's wonderful to hear the doctor say, "You're perfect on paper."  Really?  Sweet!

They confirmed my due date by measuring the baby's leg bone, belly, and head: November 15.  I remember with Clara they measured her "crown to rump," but I was told that's how they measure in the first trimester.  After that, the baby's too big to fit in one screen, so they take specific body part measurements.

So did we decide to find out?  Yes and No.  We had the ultrasound tech put pictures in an envelope that disclosed the baby's gender.  But I haven't looked in it.  Actually, Pat and I gave that envelope to my dad for Father's Day.  He's the only one who knows thus far.  He and my mom know the details.  I really wasn't ready to find out yet.  I thought I'd be itching to find out now that someone knows, but I'm not -- Weird.

Upon further reflection of all the very good, practical reasons to find out ahead of time, I figured out why I don't want to know.  I was honestly surprised when I found out Clara was a "she."  It was a wonderful, total-surprise-surprise that is hard to explain.  But I wanted to have that same feeling of surprise this time too.  (And I'm so glad that Pat is just fine with that, too!)