Getting Ready for Number 2

Happy Valentines Day!

Tuesday I had my first ultrasound. I'm still kinda in awe that you can get pictures and 'see' your baby before it's even born. It's so amazing. As much weight as I managed to gain in the first couple weeks after I found out we were pregnant again, I had two fears going into the ultrasound: 1. That I was having twins or 2. I wasn't having twins but was actually going to gain more than 45 pounds this time. Well, no twins, so I'm thinking I betting get some exercise equipment in my house. This winter has been so dang cold and windy, it's been really hard to motivate myself to go outside and take a walk or anything. The ultrasound was so interesting. With Carter, she was only 6 weeks when I had the first ultrasound because they thought she was a potential miscarrage. All you could really see in the image was a small bump with a flicker for the heartbeat. Not much to see really. However, with Number 2 being just over 9 weeks, you could see the little body and actually make out the tiny arms and legs moving around. What a little wiggle worm-I can't believe there is all that activity going on inside me and I don't even notice right now! (I know, the elbows in the bladder and feet kicking the ribs will start plenty soon!) Robert was pretty amazed by the whole experience.

I took Carter over yesterday to see her brand new cousin Avery. She's been hounding me to go visit so she could hold her. We got her all set down (and calmed down--bouncing up and down on my sister's bed didn't seem like a good plan) and handed her Avery very carefully. Carter must have held her for 10 minutes...fairly amazing for a 2 year old. She loved every minute of it and was rather cross when Christy finally picked Avery up for some lunch. I'm hoping that Carter will be as excited for her own little sibling although I imagine it's going to take some adjustment to not being the only center of mommy's attention. I'm trying to read up on some ideas for introducing the new family member to her and so far really like the idea of bringing home a new doll for her when I bring the new baby home from the hospital so we both have new babies since she's just starting to get into dolls.

Little Avery Eileen Gerdes, few hours old. I have newer pictures but have to first get my camera back from Dad--long story and then find a cable to plug it in to my computer. My Gramma Betty gave me one of Grampa Ben's cameras to use but I apparently didn't pick up all the right cables. sigh.