Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

We're going to have a BOY!!!!

Today we went in for our 20 week ultrasound. As the nurse mentioned, we were as excited as first parents typically are. And why wouldn't we be? This was the first time we would see our child since he more closely resembles a baby than an alien. at 8 weeks, it's just nubs and a distorted shaped head. Now we could see it all.

As the nurse spread the blue jelly across Amy's stomach, I think the biggest curiosity I felt was in regards to what the baby looked like. I've relied on, for the most part, illustrations that I never truly felt we're accurate. Of course, what isn't accurate compared to an ultrasound? Any illustration is probably better than the grainy snow we are left to interpret in an ultrasound. still, most illustrations are lumped with a time frame of 4 weeks. A lot can happen in 4 weeks. What does our baby look like RIGHT NOW?

It's rather disorienting at first. What's up? What's down? It takes a minute to realize that most of the time you are getting fragments and not the whole picture. An arm here, a cross section of the chest here, ears there, now the brain. You imagine the perfect side view where you "see" your baby. And, just when you get that perfect shot, baby realizes he doesn't like the sound and moves around on you.

Here's his Mug Shot:



Apparently he's an Aggie (can you see the Thumbs up?):


Now this one's harder...the thigh, the butt and the turtle:


See what I mean? "That's a whaaaat?" It's those brief moments when the baby is cooperating that you get to see most of the body, or even the cross section right down the middle. The spine is the coolest, and I don't know why we didn't ask for a picture of that. That's okay. In December, when the family is there for the 3d ultrasound, we'll make sure we get it all.

So are we excited it's a boy? Of course! Speaking for myself, I'm looking forward to all the "boy stuff". Fishing. Camping. Boy scouts. Football. Sharing all of that with my son will be the highlight of my life. Only then will I understand the joy my father felt when he saw me catch my first fish, for example.

Now, to find a name. What will we name our boy? Stay tuned......