30-04-13

Our baby boy // Ole & I on a work night out (roughly 19-20 weeks) //
Our smiling gorgeous sprog!

Tuesday 30th April 2013

This was the date we were given for my 20 week appointment; the appointment where the sonographer measures limbs, bones, the skull and the size of all main organs etc., as well as checking for the sex of the baby if that's what you want. I can admit that from when we found out about our pregnancy, I'd hoped for a little girl - the main reason being - I'm the only girl in my family so it'd be perfect to be the first one to bring a baby girl into the family! Yet as the weeks and days got closer to the 30th, that began to subside and I just felt like as long as everything was okay, I really didn't mind what sex our baby was. Ole from day one however had always wanted a little boy - obviously being a guy and having the first baby he naturally wanted a boy!

The weeks between our first scan and this one were pretty jam packed actually. Soon after our first scan, Ole and I got decorating our new bedroom and lounge. For our bedroom we chose an Oyster colour coupled with a Damson colour. As we had some of the Oyster colour left, we then used that for our lounge. Once the decorating was done, we had the furniture to buy! I think by the time we had completely finished going to Ikea for about the 6th time we could've easily walked around the whole shop with our eyes closed and known where we were going. Credit to my very generous Ole, he did pay for pretty much everything we bought - repeatedly telling me to get whatever I want. At the end of March we had all of our furniture delivered and had a right laugh building it all. We decided to build the wardrobe first and we got to the last ten points of instruction when we realised we'd put the main divider - and the main piece holding it all together, around the wrong way. Us being us just found it funny and figured out a way to turn it around without rebuilding the whole entire wardrobe again!

I moved in at the start of April and it was quite a weird period of time. There wasn't a 'moving day' as such, I just sort of moved my things over from mum's house over the course of a couple of weeks. I think the decision to move out and make it work with Ole fairly soon after we decided to continue the pregnancy was definitely the best decision. It's giving us a chance to see how each of us works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Beforehand, we'd spend a lot of time together anyway but I guess actually living together is an entirely different ball game. I must admit, it has been easier than I thought it'd be, although I've always known that we get on well and we're both really open minded and know that it's not always going to be great, but equally it's not always going to be awful. It's all about learning from mistakes and realising in yourself what ultimately matters the most - and that is that we love each other, and we've both made this decision together because it's what we want, so we should'nt throw it away or give up if we have an argument or disagree with something. There have been times when each of us has found it really difficult and when giving up does feel like the easiest option, but this never lasts and we realise that everything is a learning curve.

Considering our situation before finding out I was pregnant and considering how fairly quickly everything has happened, I feel like we have done really well and I'm so proud of how Ole has decided in himself that going out less, spending less or saving money back each month is what is important for us to work. I guess all too often you hear about teen/young father's to be who just run away from the situation and don't want anything to do with the woman or the baby, so for Ole to have given up so much for the sake of our family and me, I couldn't ask for anything more. I understand it must be really difficult for him balancing a new full time job at Vauxhall, 2 nights at Waitrose along with seeing friends and spending time with me - and for that I really admire and respect him.

Our appointment was scheduled for 11am on the 30th April and it was a really warm sunny day. When we got there we didn't have to wait long at all and we pretty much got asked into the room straight away. The sonographer was a different lady from the previous time; blonde and a bit older. As my uterus had grown a significant amount since last time I had to take my belly bar out for the duration of the scan. Once again they squelched the jelly onto my tummy along with the Doppler and immediately our little (not so little compared to last time) baby was on the screen. It was crazy seeing how much he'd changed, and how much more he was looking like the shape of a baby. Just watching him squirm around whilst the lady was busy measuring everything she needed to, put a massive smile on our faces. She told us that all his limbs, brain, heart, stomach etc. were the perfect size and he was in there growing brilliantly and healthily. She showed us the blood flow between the baby and my placenta and that was also fine and normal. After about 15 minutes she asked us if we'd like to know the sex of our baby - which we did. So after a couple of twists and turns of the Doppler she'd finally found what she had been looking for - our baby's little penis! 

"You're expecting a boy!" she beamed. Ole immediately punched the air with happiness and we kissed. Knowing the sex made it even more real - as well as giving me an excuse to go shopping!

It was weird knowing that after this scan, we wouldn't be seeing our gorgeous little guy until he's born. We wiped the jelly off of my abdomen and waited for our photos to be printed. All in all we weren't really there long, especially compared to last time. When we came out of the ultrasound room we were both so happy and knew our parents and friends were awaiting the news, we couldn't wait to tell either so we both got straight on the phone. All of Ole's friends and my 3 brothers were particularly happy! The next time we'd be coming to the hospital is the 21st June for our 28 week appointment with Beth, our midwife.

Now to buy some blue baby things!

J xxx