Monday's Appt.

Here's the run-down:

• No real weight gain :)
• BP good
• Heartbeat good
• Quick peek on the ultrasound machine
• Return in one month

Nurse S. told me that we probably couldn't tell the sex because it was still too early to see anything on their ultrasound machine. But she did take a quick peek and printed out 2 pictures.

Possible girl parts???
See the 3 little white lines?

Head shot...I think!

Birthday Fun...Part One

Saturday afternoon, Judy stopped by and Ellie opened her first birthday present of the day...a Dora puzzle and some money for her piggy bank. Thanks Granna Judy :)

Phooey!!!

17 Weeks and 1 Day...

I had an appointment today for a level II ultrasound. It is a more sophisticated ultrasound that allows the technician to really see the anatomy, checking for any abnormalities, such as Down's, spina bifida, cleft palate/lip, and several other chromosomal abnormalities.

I requested this ultrasound, and Dr. D.'s office set it up for me at Baptist East. This is allowed by my insurance because I am AMA (Advanced Maternal Age). Hahaha!! So, there is some benefit to being 37 and having kid #2. I also had this ultrasound done with Ellie. (Click here for that post.)

From the little bit that the technician was able to see, the baby appears to be fine. He/she was curled up in a fetal position and displaying the back for most of the time. I got to see and hear the heartbeat. I saw the brain, the abdomen, the kidneys, and an occasional arm or leg. HOWEVER, the baby was bashful and would not be deterred from sleeping! The technician was unable to get a shot of THE area. Soooo...we still don't know the gender :(

Because the technician was unable to see all of the anatomy, specifically the facial features, the bowel region, and the umbilical cord insertion, the doctor has rescheduled another ultrasound in 3 weeks!!!

The doctor consulted with me for about 30 minutes regarding chromosomes and risk ratios involved with having a baby at age 37/38. He reviewed the results from the AFP bloodwork done last week at Dr. D.'s office. Combined with today's ultrasound, the chances of a healthy baby are very good. NOW...we just need to know whether we are on Team Pink or Team Blue!

The face shot...when the baby flipped over for brief minute.
This was the only quality picture from the appointment.

Snow!! Part 2

Cryin' Over Hair...

Well...it was time. Ellie's hair needed a trim because we could no longer maintain the frizzies she had in the back. So, we ventured to Wal-Mart for her first haircut. She was not too happy about being draped in the cape or being placed in the chair. She cried and pouted the entire time..which only lasted about 7 minutes.

Unhappy at the beginning...

Unhappy at the end...

All done...

Snow!!

Thursday, we woke up to a light dusting of snow...not enough to cancel school. So off to work and daycare we went. Ellie and Jason played outside a teeny, tiny little bit once we got home in the afternoon. And according to Ellie, the stuff on the ground isn't snow, it's all "noman."

And then we had "sketti" for dinner...

NOTE: If you click the label below that says "snow," you can see last year's snow pictures.

Zoo Lights

Saturday, Jan. 2nd, we decided to brave the cold on the last night of Zoo Lights...and it was definitely frigid. The temperature was in the 20s with the wind chill factor in the teens. We bundled up really well and saw lots of lights and many animals. There were two reindeer in the farm section that we saw as we rode the train. While we warmed up a little in the aquarium, we saw several fish, turtles, and an eel. Ellie was fascinated with the eel because he kept hiding in the "tunnels" which is her new word for any dark spaces.

In the Northwest Passage exhibit, we saw a polar bear and some seals while Ellie danced in the dark with a princess. And on our first visit to the new Teton Trek exhibit, we saw the awesome new lodge, the elk, and the wolves.

All wrapped up...

Playing in the Northwest Passage...

Checking out the loft in the new Teton Trek Lodge...

Watching the wolves in the Teton Trek exhibit...