Our Baby

It is amazing to watch the growth of our baby. I have been so spoiled by my German doctor, because I have had an ultrasound at every one of my three appointments so far. That is just how they do it here, and I love it! The first ultrasound, at about six weeks, was just a picture of a little dot. But it was reassuring to know that the baby was developing in the proper place, and looked good. Two weeks later, at about eight weeks, it still looked like a little blob, but it was much bigger, and the heartbeat was visible. Because the insurance companies in the States don't pay for ultrasounds, I have usually had to wait until almost this point to even hear a heartbeat, and have sometimes wondered if I was really even pregnant! But there is no question that there is a growing baby in there this time!

Today was the first time Morgan has been able to come with me to an appointment this pregnancy, and I'm so glad he did! The visit was very short, but it was so fun to see our baby moving around, and to see all of his/her limbs, complete with hands and feet.

It is interesting, because when I was pregnant with Braden, that was all I could think about. It was much the same with Lydia, and then when I finally got pregnant again with Liam, the kids were old enough, and Morgan and I had been wanting it for so long, that we thought about it all of the time. But this time, there are times when I almost forget that I am pregnant (usually when I am not nauseated). I think it is because I am so busy running three children around to soccer, dance, music (Liam just started a Music Together class on Tuesdays), Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts (did I mention that I am Lydia's Daisy Girl Scout Leader? Am I crazy?!), etc. Also, Liam is still so little, and I am still getting up with him several times a night -- ugh! It doesn't seem quite real that I could possibly be expecting another one! But I am so excited, and so are Morgan and the kids.

I was interested to see Liam's reaction to a newborn the other day at his music class. There was a sleeping baby in her carseat, and he didn't notice her until the end of class. But when he did, he was determined to look at her and touch her, and screamed when I tried to pull him away. I'm sure he'll be a very attentive big brother.

I am going to have this baby in a German hospital. I have the option of using the American facilities, but our insurance also pays for the civilian doctors, so we are using them. The hospital, from what I hear, is very nice, and I even have the option of having the baby in water! I hear that it is very relaxing, and helps a lot with the pain. I am not decided, though, because I am not a big fan of being wet (I love to be in water, but I hate being wet and having to dry off afterwards). But the kids heard me telling Morgan about that option, and every once in a while they bring it up and beg me to "please have the baby in water!" We'll see!

The German system is different in that the doctors I see right now specialize in only prenatal care, and never deliver babies. So the doctor who delivers will just be whoever is on duty when I go into labor. But they do assign every laboring mother with a midwife who stays with her during labor and delivery, and even comes to visit us at home after we are discharged. I think it will be a great experience.