Say CHEESE, part 2

Today was our follow-up appointment with the doctor. Both Mike and I were a little nervous because we wanted to make sure the baby was growing at the rate that he/she should be ...

All our fears subsided once we saw the ultrasound ... the baby really did get bigger in just one week! The little guy/girl almost doubled in size! No longer did he/she look like a piece of rice, but he/she started to take the shape of an actual baby =) ... the doctor said the heartbeat was 114 beats per minute!!! So amazing!!!! I still have no idea how something that tiny could have such a strong heartbeat (or a heartbeat in general, for that matter!).

The doctor confirmed that the baby was right on track and that I was 7 weeks. The due date is officially January 27, 2011! Our next appointment is in July ... can't wait to see the baby again!

Here's the 2nd photo:

My former baby graduates ...

My "former" baby, Jeric, graduated from high school today! I couldn't help but get all teary-eyed at the ceremony. I can't believe that I was 12 years old when he was born and me and Jay had to care for him as if he were our own baby! Time truly does fly and I am overflowing with pride and joy at this very moment. Jeric has turned out to be such a wonderful young man and has definitely impacted all of our lives for the better. When I saw him walking on the stage, accepting his diploma, I started visualizing my own baby's graduation day. Yes, we are very, very far from that moment, but I already know that proud I will be on that very day.

Life is a series of milestones ... of celebrations both grand and minute. It's a way to show that you are living a life here on Earth -- that you've made an impact or difference in some small shape or form. It's pretty amazing that each individual goes through these similar milestones -- that we are all so much more interconnected than we may think. We all have shared, common life experiences that shape and form our character. Celebrating the fact that you graduated high school is a big deal -- it's a testiment to 18 years of living, of loving, of making mistakes and getting back up, of learning and growing and evolving. It's the end of a chapter and the beginning of an only better and more exciting one. I'm so very proud of my brother Jeric and I know that he will continue to live his life to the fullest of his talent and potential. This baby is very blessed to have an uncle like that in his/her life!

Say CHEESE!

Today was the much anticipated first OB/GYN visit. It was the day that Mike and I would finally get to see the baby -- to get confirmation that there really is a little somebody in there.

I was pretty nervous (and excited) and I was so glad to have Mike there with me. They started with the usual -- blood pressure, urine, weight, etc. etc. It looks like I gained 5 pounds already! Then came the ultrasound ... I was expecting to have the kind of ultrasound you see in the movies -- you know, the one where they put warm gel on your belly and put the scanner looking thing on top. However, since the baby is far to small for that at this point, they had to use a probe like device. It was pretty scary (I'm not a fan of pap smears to begin with) ... it looked like a wand with a camera thing on the tip. So they put the probe inside of me and for some reason, the doctor can't see the baby. She tries to shine a light in there but still has trouble getting good visibility. I try not to worry at this point and try to remain calm. She said its probably the machine and decides to move me to the bigger one in the other room. So we get situated in the other room and voila! We finally got to see our baby for the first time!!! He/she looked like a piece of rice with a bubble on it. They later explained that the bubble is actually the "yolk sac" which is where the baby gets all his/her nutrients until the umbilical cord is formed through the placenta. The best part of the entire experience was getting to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time. Tears instantly filled my eyes as I tried to get my head around the miracle living and growing inside of me. It's hard to believe that something so tiny and fragile already has a heartbeat!

Afterwards, the doctor told us that she doesn't think I'm 8 weeks (that's the time frame based on the first day of my last period, April 7th). She said the baby is actually the size of an embryo that's 5-6 weeks. She said perhaps I ovulated later than normal last month and that explains why I'm actually only 5-6 weeks pregnant. Just in case, she wanted to have another ultrasound in one week to monitor the baby's growth. Our new due date is actualy January 27, 2011! She assured me that everything was fine and that she just wanted to take some extra precautions.

I couldn't wait to get to work so that I could email our family the baby's very first photo. It may not be much right now, but I'm already a proud mama. I have every faith in my heart that this baby will be healthy and strong ...

It's amazing how much love you can feel for someone who is just as tiny as a piece of rice. His/her heartbeat validates that he/she is in fact ALIVE and HUMAN and GOD'S CHILD. What an honor it is for me to be able to provide the baby with his/her first home ... to be a vessel of peace and love and warmth ... truly, I'm blessed beyond belief!

Baby is BLESSED!

Tonight, Michael and I had the wonderful opportunity to be guest speakers at the Cathedral's wedding orientation. We were asked by Msgr. Kevin and Father Francis to share with the newly engaged couples our love story -- our story of faith and God's role in our marriage. We were both very honored to be able to have the opportunity to spark some faith in the couples' who signed up to be married at the Cathedral. They were all very receptive to our message (we had to talk about how we met, why we chose to get married at a church and where God resides in our lives). All the couples were really nice and it was great to be able to re-experience those feelings of exitement, anxiety and overwhelmingness!

After everyone left, we shared the baby news with Msgr. Kevin. He was shocked but ecstatic for us. He said, "Hmmm ... I wonder where the baby will be baptized?!". He then put his hand on the baby and gave the baby his/her very first blessing!!! (Not too shabby -- the baby's first blessing was from a monsignor!!!). Cardinal Mahoney also gave us both a big hug and congratulated us. I shared with Msgr. Kevin that sometimes I feel quite of bit of anxiety and worry over the baby's health. He gave me the best advise ever -- he said any time I start to think those thoughts, I should start saying out loud (or to myself) " Thank you Jesus, for this healthy baby inside of me ... thank you for choosing me to be a mother ... " He said if I keep saying that over and over, my fears should subside. I was definitely more at peace after his special blessing and was ready for tomorrow's first pre-natal visit with our doctor.

Michael and I are extremely blessed to have such wonderful and supportive friends in Christ. We would be so lost without them! I thank God everyday for placing them in our lives ... they have truly enriched it tenfold!