Surprise!

In case you haven't noticed the change in color of my Due-Date Ticker (upper right-hand corner of my blog): We're having a girl! Here is her sweet little profile: And here she is still sucking her thumb, just like she was 4 weeks ago:
Talk about a surprise, John and I were so sure it was a boy. Now we have to tackle the great name-game, one we were entirely unprepared to play with a girl :)

I'm very happy with the prospect of a sister for Libby. I think she'd pick on a boy :) Our bank account will be happy with not having to buy new clothes, too! And I am glad I get to use all the cute dresses and gowns Libby grew out of all too quickly. I also have some lovely flannel for two blankets that I have been hoarding in case of another girl, and am so excited to get to finally use it (if I can ever get my hands on a machine)!

Mom is very excited and is on her way to the fabric store to pick out material for another gorgeous quilt. This was one of my main factors in deciding to find out the gender ahead of time - if Mom has a deadline she can whip out a quilt in a matter of weeks. If the baby is already born, we'd be lucky to get the quilt before it's 5th birthday. Selfish, I know, you don't have to tell me :)

So, quick ultrasound run-down, all the organs look good, the diaphragm is functioning, the lungs have expanded, meaning she is "breathing" the amniotic fluid like she should. There are no hernias, the openings in the heart are the correct size, there is no water or pressure on the brain, which is developing well. The nuchal fold measures normally (no signs of Down's Syndrome). The kidneys are working well - filling the bladder - although one is bigger than the other. A non-issue since they are both functioning. My amniotic fluid is just right - all those gallons of water I have drunk over the last month doing their work (it was a little low at the last ultrasound). Baby has moved head-down, no longer sitting indian-style on my cervix. Thank goodness for that! She "momey shot" as Dr. Chartrand calls it, was clear enough for m to identify gender before he even said anything, so we're pretty positive that there won't be any more surprises in store for us. At least we can hope!