As I mentioned in the previous entry, I'm seeing a midwife rather than an ob/gyn. Since some of you have asked what that means and might even be a little concerned, there's an explanation of a Certified Nurse Midwife on Baby Center.

Basically, she's a registered nurse with a graduate level education in midwifery and is certified nationally. My midwife works out of the Lee Physician Group ob/gyn office on Bass Road across from HealthPark (where I'll have the baby). As long as the pregnancy remains low-risk, I'll stay with her but there are medical doctors in the office that can step in should anything serious happen. The midwife is wonderful, though. I feel very comfortable with her, she explains things thoroughly and is happy to answer any question. Baby and I are in very good hands!

We won't have any baby pictures to share until around week 18 when we get our first sonogram (that means July). In the meantime, I'm growing a bit. As of Friday, I've gained two pounds and usually veg around the house with my pants button unbuttoned (Jeff kindly does the same to make me feel better!).

We'll continue to keep you updated! (I think it's Jeff's turn next!)

Today was my first prenatal checkup. At this doctor's visit, there was much poking and prodding while Jeff offered support from the sidelines (and a hand to squeeze during the much-feared blood withdrawal!). I was given prenatal vitamins to make sure Baby is getting all the nutrients he/she needs and a bag of pamphlets and magazines. We'll even have to sign up for birthing classes soon! Those will start in late October.

We were told that Baby is due on December 19th. Of course, Baby ultimately decides when to make his or her grand entrance into the world which could be early December or after Christmas.

The midwife could not find Baby's heartbeat which can usually first be heard between the tenth and twelfth week. Since I'm just beginning my tenth, I'll be going back in two weeks for another try.

Week 10 also means that Baby is no longer an embryo, but is considered a fetus. *sniff* They grow up so fast! The organs are mostly in place now so Baby just grows from here!

According to BabyCenter.com, I'm just beginning week 9. Here's the description of Baby!

"Your baby is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he's poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. His embryonic tail is completely gone, and the development of his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — is kicking into gear. His eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. His upper lip is fully formed, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. Your baby's sex organs are present now but won't be discernable as male or female for another few weeks."

All I asked was for Jeff to post that we will not want to learn the sex of our baby before the birth. The following blog entry is this simple bit of news delivered in typical Jeff fashion. And to think you're supposed to pity HIM for having to put up with a pregnant wife!

We've both decided that we will remain oblivious to certain areas of our child's development. That's right: innie or outie, we'll love the kid the same, and it will be more exciting for us if we stay in the dark until the lil' screamer pops out. We will ask the doctors to keep the sex of our child a secret from us, and from all of you.

"How will we decorate?" As we're not into the whole blue-for-boys, pink-for-girls thing, any baby items we get before the birth will probably be Unisex-Green (that's a little lighter than Forest- and a little darker than Institutional-Green).

Now, I totally dig the whole "it takes a village" thing, and I hereby announce a contest: Design the best theme (with supporting examples) for the genderless Highsmith drooler's room. The winner will receive one N-sized diaper.* Don't feel limited to green, any color will do, as long as the room ends up being a cool place for either a tater-tot or a tater-tottress to hang out. Remember, this is only a contest, please don't buy anything, or even feel compelled to participate. Okay, it's not really even a contest, just one car of the scary train of thought that is my mind, dumped into this blog for your enjoyment. I have to go watch the Mythbusters I Tivo'd. Later!

Jeff :)

* Due to the prolonged nature of the pregnancy, and thus the selection time for the winner, the prize may not be awarded until after the baby is born.**

** Due to the extraordinarily hectic lifestyle of the parents of a newborn baby, said parents may not have time to select an appropriate prize for the winner. The winner may have to step forward and claim his/her own prize.***

*** Due to the limited budget of newborn parents, said parents may not be financially prepared to surrender an unused diaper to the winner. The winner may have to settle for one slightly used diaper.****

**** The contest providers realize that a dirty diaper you have to remove yourself is not much of a prize. Therefore, in the event the winner is unsatisfied, they are welcome to lay claim to as many dirty diapers as they want.

If my level of exhaustion is any indication of Baby's progress, then Baby is very busy growing these days! Baby is due just before Christmas around December 18-22 although we won't have an "official" due date until the first prenatal checkup on May 25. Now at about seven weeks, Baby should be about the size of a chickpea and have a heart fluttering at over 130 beats per minute. Amazing! Baby should look something like this: