Half way there

...and all is well. Anatomy scan today; she's definitely a healthy girl. All is functioning as it should, so thankful. She even gave me a nice profile shot to take home :).

Thank heaven for little girls...

Looks like we'll be welcoming a little girl into our home on August 25th, 2012 :). I'm gonna wait to announce the name, but I wanted to at least share the sweet news.

I feel so blessed to have another little girl! I've got so much clothing, there really isn't much I need to buy. Plus, I'm hoping she and Mirabel will be close, since they will be relatively close in age. I always wanted that kind of sister bond; I am so thankful Mirabel will have the opportunity to have that kind of friendship. I can already see them taking ballet classes together!

I was also thinking about what it'll be like when they both have children! Eep! I know, that's not for a LONG time, but I like to think ahead, you know me. Daughters and moms have a special relationship, especially when those daughters become mothers. I won't bust out in song, but I'm glad I'll be able to be there for them at that time, throw them showers, watch their children...and hopefully they'll still want me in their lives when they're teenagers, too.

Yes, I would eventually like a little boy. But how and when we get him, whether through adoption or through a natural birth, really doesn't matter. I'll be enjoying my little girls in the meantime...

And we will be taking a little break after this. The thought of not physically having another child makes me feel really sad, so I don't think this is the end for me... but I am DEFINITELY giving my body a break for a few years. Plus, I want to spend some quality time with my two little girls. Mirabel is growing up so fast already, and I know time is going to continue to fly by even faster.

3 months

Yesterday's ultrasound went smoothly. The baby is measuring right on target. Thankfully, all is well. The only unordinary discovery was a sac with a little white dot in it. The ultrasound tech mentioned it might've been a twin that didn't develop. She wasn't sure; then the radiologist said the same thing. They said it could be a random fluid-filled sac, but they still weren't sure about the white spot. So they just said to mention any unordinary symptoms to my doc, like bleeding. So far, there isn't anything to report.

If it is a vanishing twin, it will probably be reabsorbed. I looked at 5 week ultrasound images online, and mine looked pretty similar yesterday.

Made me think. I thought it was interesting that my HCG levels rose so rapidly in the beginning; the doctor said they were supposed to have doubled during the given timeframe, and they more than quadrupled. (Is that normal?) I also remember mentioning to my doc that I'd had pain on both sides, instead of just one side--which could've signaled double ovulation. Interesting thought. Sad, yes.

I've thought about what could've been, or what might've happened. But now I'm even more thankful for what I have. I can't imagine having lost this one, too. It's always been one of my biggest fears--miscarriage. Seeing that sac felt like looking at an empty bird's nest. Like a home had been abandoned too soon. But this baby was so giddy and appeared so healthy that if it was a loss, I really can't dwell on it. It's different because I didn't expect two in the beginning. Usually these losses happen because of possible genetic defects. I wonder if God was just sparing it from a life of pain and illness? Not that that should stop a life from blossoming, but this particular life was not meant to continue. All the sickness I've been feeling (and I'm much better now, thankfully) is nothing, really. That's what I think every time I see these ultrasound pics :). I can't believe this baby is only 2 inches long! Love this profile image. I even got to see it suck its thumb. Then it fell asleep. So sweet.

Baby feet

...I love them. I love putting shoes on them, and I have a collection of baby shoes. Mirabel's always stylin'. Here's a pair for the next little one. Yes, I know they're a little bit gender specific. But, hey, I'm a girl and I'd wear them :).