[caption id="attachment_76" align="alignleft" width="266" caption="baby lump's head/brain"][/caption]

On Monday I had my second ultrasound, and I'm happy to report James and I were able to stick to our guns and deny the opportunity to find out baby lump's sex.� Although I'm not sure how well James would've done on his own - he got kind of excited when the technician mistakenly said "And those are his legs ... ummm or hers!"

An easy enough slip-up, I'm sure.� It's much easier to say "his" than "the baby's" all the time.� Plus, I'm pretty sure they're not really allowed to address the baby as "it."� I bet that has some kind of controversial connotation.� You know, the whole "is a fetus really a person yet?" argument.

Anyway, I'm also happy to report that (as far as they can tell via ultrasound) Baby Lump is completely happy and healthy (okay - I added the happy part).� James and I could see all of the bones (fingers, toes, spine, ribs, etc.) as well as the eyes, kidneys, brain, stomach and beating little heart (132 beats/minute - normal!).� It was pretty amazing, to say the least.

I asked the technician how big the baby is at this point, but he said it's tough to tell since he/she is confined to the womb and can't exactly stretch out straight.� However, all the week-by-week pregnancy sites I visit tell me the baby is approximately five inches long - "about the size of the baked potato."� It's funny how many of these sites use food - often fruit - as a means of measurement.� I swear, a few weeks ago the baby was the size of a peach.

Check out the "Sonograms" page for more baby pictures!

Oven Timer: 17 weeks, 2 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, Announcements, ultrasound, gender, pregnancy, sonogram, little baby lump, fetus, 17 weeks

James asked me that yesterday.� "You actually want to be called 'Old Man'?" I asked.

It caught me by surprise - I couldn't believe it.� There's definitely a male-female divide here.� When we reach a certain age, we females stereotypically lie about our ages, buy anti-wrinkle cream and dread our next birthday, and here James is, 21 years old, wanting to be called an old man?� Weird.

First of all, I think there are a few requirements for being called "Old Man."� The flavor of our lump would have to be a boy.� I don't think there are many girls who walk around saying, "Yeah - me and my old man are gonna go hammer up some dry wall."

Another thing is, to my knowledge, you don't address your father as "Old Man" directly.� You're not like, "Hey!� OLD MAN!� Can I borrow the Subaru?"� Instead, you use "Old Man" when you're talking about him to your friends.� Again, "Yeah - me and my old man are gonna go hammer up some dry wall" (said by male offspring).

Don't you also have to be kind of cantankerous and curmudgeon-like to be called "Old Man"?� These are definitely not adjectives that can be used to accurately describe James.� The kid's whole face smiles when his mouth smiles.

Of course, I could be completely wrong about all of this.� What do I know, anyway?� Opinions?� (Sorry, James.)

Also, apparently I can find an icanhascheezburger image relative to each of my posts.

Oven Timer: 16 weeks, 3 days

Topics: Anecdotes, pregnancy, little baby lump, icanhascheezburger, fatherhood, old man

James just brought me home this beautiful bouquet of flowers :o)

Topics: Surprises, pregnancy, little baby lump, James, gifts, flowers

Needless to say, it's been a crazy few months.� In May, I started a new job, graduated from Boston University and learned I had a bun in the oven, all within two weeks - talk about transitioning!

A lot has developed since then, and while it's been a roller coaster of a ride, I feel like I've grown up a lot.� Although I decided to leave my position at Schneider Associates to adjust to the new changes in my life, I am truly grateful for the opportunity I had there and am thankful that my former employees and managers have been so supportive and understanding.� I'm glad to have left on a good note, and I'm looking forward to working with them in the future on different projects.� Thanks, SA - you guys are the best!

I'll admit I've been having a little bit of a rough time handling so many changes at once.� It's not exactly easy to transition from the fun and exciting life of college to so many smack-in-the-face realities of the real world.� Still, I have so much confidence in and support from James, my family and my friends, and I know things are going to be great.

I decided to start this blog for several reasons:

1. To stay in touch with my some of my normal passions.� Hey, I may not be able to participate in the 2008 Boston Half Marathon, but I can still blog!


2. To update friends, family, and whoever is interested on my expectant mommy progress,


3. And to keep track of the last five months of my pregnancy and the first few years of my daughter-/son-to-be's life in what will become a virtual baby book.

The last reason is primarily for my baby's benefit.� I think this blog will prove a very valuable keepsake to my baby lump in the future (mom and dad, this does not at all mean I resent the fact that my baby book was never really filled out :o)

Please feel free to return and check out how my pregnancy is progressing - what I'm thinking, how I'm feeling, growing, etc.� I'm looking forward to seeing this blog develop, and I hope you do, too!

Oven Timer: 16 weeks, 1 day

Topics: baby, pregnancy, little baby lump, transition, Welcome