Week # 8: The Baby Makes an All-Star Appearance!

Our appointment Thursday, June 23 at 7:15. We visit the Doctor's office really unsure what we are about to see; last week we saw the heartbeat so what would this weeks big event be? The Doctor pulls up the baby and it's HUGE...14mm big to be exact! Double the size of last week, the Doctor jokes that the baby will not double in size each week (I hope not, it would end up Brandon's size...).

The next day, we receive additional good news that Christine's Progesterone levels have increased and the Doctor's/Nurses are encouraged with her progress!

We have started a new tradition after our Doctor's visits, we make a run to CoCo's for breakfast! Christine is usually mentally tired at this point and HUNGRY!!! Oatmeal, toast and coffee for me...French toast or the Weekday Speacial ($3.99 Monday through Friday) for Christine.

It's anyones guess how big the baby will be next week...1 inch (close to the size of a medium green olive)!

Week # 7: We are shown the Heart-beat!

Here's the Peanut!

Our appointment, Thursday June 15th @ 7:15. It was a mere, faint blinking white speckle but the Doctor was able to see a heart-beat this early in the pregnancy and show it to us. The thing was that I had to look over the Doctor's shoulder and his pointing hand to actually see it. The Doctor has seen far to many to be as excited as we were, but it was a once in a lifetime event; the picture does not do it justice. The baby from 'crown' to 'rump' measures 7mm, normal sizes indicated in the baby book around this time are 5mm to 8mm; about the size of (1) line on a lined piece of paper.

In the next week, the baby is supposed to almost double in size...what a process!

Lauren and Rylan FINALLY arrive...

Lauren finds out she is going to be an Aunt...she is HAPPY!!! Here the group watches Lauren's reaction to learning she is going to be an Aunt. Rylan is a bit more reserved, I think he is tried from being out late the night before. Lauren will be a great Aunt, so will Gina...the baby will be showered with love and affection. Lauren walks over to give Christine a hug and congratulate her.

Grandpa's Little Peanut!

Grandpa Mike showing off the baby's "Grandpa's Little Peanut" outfit. Christine didn't even tell me about this, so I was surprised myself!

Happy Father's Day! Mike finds out he's going to be a Grandpa.

Mike finds out he is going to be a Grandpa! Christine slips in a baby's 'onesie' into Mike's Father's Day gift (which also happens to be a # 1 Grandpa Hat and T-Shirt). Everyone in the room soon finds out the same; Carol, Gina, Jason, Leah, Bethany, Jo-Jo and Grandma Ruby! Lauren and Rylan are running late and will find out later!

Leah wonders when her new Cousin will be arriving...not quite yet!

Week # 6: The Yolk Sac is Shown!

Our appointment, Friday June 10th @ 7:15. Today we arrive (our weekly appointments) to the Doctor's office to see the Yolk Sac; toast, bacon and coffee are not included! We are less nervous than last week, excited with a touch of child curiousity! We wait in the same office, the same couch as we have the last 3 months. At least the magazines are new!

The Doctor explains that the Gestational Sac contains the Yolk Sac within it (the red arrow points to the Yolk). I manuveur to make sure I can see the screen and follow along.

Next week, the Doctor says he will show us the baby's heart-beat...WOW!

Week # 5: The Gestational Sac is Shown!

Our appointment, Sunday June 5th @ 9:15...we are both nervous (me more than Christine)! Unlike all of our previous appoinments to get to this point, the difference was we were about to actually see our child! We make sure the screen is positioned so that both of us can see the first images...looked like a smudge to me! Blood work was also done, Christine is now a human-pin cushion!

Later in the day, the Nurse called to reassure Christine that her progesterone levels had risen considerably and her status was officially PREGNANT!