The big ultrasound!

So, we had our big ultrasound on Wednesday. Let me tell you how the appointment went.

As we were sitting in the waiting area I kept thinking, "I can't believe we can find out boy or girl if we want to!" but felt I would be able to stay strong and really did not want to know the gender. Jeremy didn't think I could not find out (I'm the girl who counts down the days until u/s day and can't sleep the night before because I'm so excited to find out!) but I really wanted the surprise this time around, and knew I could do it.

We sat down and I laid on the table and I immediately told the tech (who I remembered from past u/s) that we did not want to know the gender. I didn't even want her to say, "I know what it is, do you want to know??" at all, or I may officially cave. So, as soon as she squirted the gel on my belly and saw baby, she said, "Well, baby's legs are crossed anyways so finding out the gender would be difficult today anyhow." I thought that was too funny, as this is the first pregnancy we decided not to find out, and the first pregnancy our baby had his/her leg's crossed.

I told the tech I wanted to see baby, but please tell me to turn head if you think anything could be revealed.

So, the ultrasound starts...and it was so wonderful seeing our little peanut. It finally felt real to me, we are having another baby!! My heart was thankful every time she would say a body part looked normal. 2 kidneys, 4 chambers of the heart, 10 fingers and 10 toes, spine looks good, head looks good, etc. Thank you Jesus!! That was my only prayer, a healthy baby. I truly felt so grateful.

So, she continues to scan, and comes to the butt area and I'm watching the screen and as she scanned over the butt/legs I quickly thought I saw a boy part. I immediately turned to Jeremy and he was puzzled by my look. I looked away, then looked back at him again and said, "I think I saw something. It's a boy." I then said it out loud to the tech, that I think I just saw a penis. She said there is a lot of cord between the legs and went on. At that point I felt super bummed because I felt the surprise was ruined for me, and yet I didn't know 100% if what I saw was what I saw. Ahh, it was almost worse to me than knowing or not knowing!! I thought I saw a pee pee twice, very quickly. At the end of the ultrasound I just felt so unsettled, and bummed out. I asked the tech, "Ok, I know you know we don't want to know the gender...so maybe you are just trying to be nice, but do you know the gender?" She replied no, she hasn't been able to tell and again stated there is lots of cord between babies legs.

So, we left the office and headed to lunch. I was extremely bummed. Instead of the total suspense I had walking in, I felt I walked out certain I saw a boy part, yet the tech said it was just cord. I mean, I have had 2 boy ultrasounds before and kinda know what to look for, ya know? I expressed my disappointment to Jeremy, as I really wanted it to be a surprise but felt now I would just think boy forsure. He said, "Ker, why were you even looking at the screen?" I said, "because I wanted to see our baby! And I told the tech to please tell me to turn away if she thinks I could see anything." Grr.

We went to lunch and I was pouting. My sweet husband, trying to figure out what to do about his hormonal pregnant wife, and how to make it better. I just felt so proud I waited this time for the surprise and now thought I saw something but wasn't sure. I was like, I would rather know forsure, or have no clue...not think I saw something but then tech say it's cord. Plus, I don't know the tech well enough or her personality, maybe she didn't want to be the one who felt she ruined the surprise for me.

So, my hubby was trying to tell me to call the office and talk to the tech. I said no way, I already asked her twice if she saw something and she said no, she will think I'm a nutcase.

Are you impressed with how long I am able to make this story? :)

I continued to pout and eat my tacos while sipping a coca cola. I said hi to my midwife quickly as the tech was walking me back to the room but I didn't have an appt. with her that day, so it was just a quick hello. I wanted to say bye to her on my way out, but she went to grab some lunch.

So, we finish up lunch...me still pouting...and it came to me. I truly wanted to ask the tech if baby was measuring on time! My original due date was December 10th, but after an ultrasound at 8 weeks showed baby a week behind, it got changed to the 17th. I was really curious to see what this ultrasound said and forgot to ask. Perfect, I now had an excuse to go back, and not totally look like a nutcase.

I walked up to the receptionist office, and asked if I could speak with the tech, as I just had an ultrasound and forgot to ask her something. I waited and a few minutes later she came back and told me she already left for the day. Boo! She said Jeanne (my midwife) is here though if you want to chat with her. I quickly said sure, I always love seeing Jeanne, she's awesome.

We went back and sat down with Jeanne as I tried to muster my crazy feelings about how the whole thing went down. I told her we wanted the surprise, but then I thought I saw the boy part, but tech said it was cord, but maybe she was just being nice, yadda yadda. She then said to me, "So you DO want to know the gender?" I said, "well, I want to know if the tech really knows the gender or not, but truly wanted the surprise this time." She told me to sit tight and she was going to go find my ultrasound paperwork. I nervously waited, while I'm sure my hubby was on his iphone looking up something about Michigan football, while thinking his pregnant wife is a bit nutty :)

Jeanne came back with the paperwork, my heart was racing! Ahh! Well, the tech typically writes S1 or S2 at the top of the page, when she knows the gender. S1 stands for one sex, S2 the other. Instead she wrote a "U" which is unknown. I immediately felt better! Ok, if she truly didn't see the gender, I probably didn't see what I thought I did....or did I? :)

Are you bored yet?? ;)

Jeanne looked at my ultrasound pics and said, "I can't tell either and I do see a lot of cord." I assured Jeanne I in no way thought her tech was a liar, I just wasn't sure if she didn't want to ruin anything for us. So this was perfect, I was able to come back and talk to Jeanne and the tech will never know, thus will never know I am a nutcase. :)

I thanked Jeanne for being so awesome, and we left. I felt much better but still wondered and leaned towards it being a little boy.

Ok, let's have a little intermission....take a peek at our sweet peanut!

Cute baby don't ya think? :) As my mom and I were studying the photos, we looked at the second photo from the side...and you can see the one eye open and looking right at you, a little nose and cute pucker lips. We both thought, it looks like a girl face! Then my mom looked at the spine photo, (which I didn't post) was amazed, and said it looked like a dinosaur. Hmm, maybe we are both a bit nutty.

Later that day, I stumbled across a website and got totally freaked out when I was reading about their product and the woman/mother who started the line. Her name was the name we've had picked out for a girl, even spelled the way we've chosen. Ahhh! I then felt it had to be a girl, it was a sign! What are the chances I come to this website for the first time ever, on my ultrasound day, and the owner's name is the name we have chosen for our *maybe* little girl??! It had to be a girl. And no, I will not tell you any details about this website or product :) The name is top secret!

We are pretty set on our girl name, but our boy name, we aren't set. We have one we've mentioned all along the way, but are not set on it, at this point.

Fast forward to the last two days. I had fun with some of the "myth" gender tests, you know, just for fun. I did the baking soda test, result was boy. I then did the red cabbage test this morning, again, result was boy. I was reading about different women online who have done this test, and they were all accurate so far. I even read about a woman who had 6 children, and the cabbage test was correct for all of them! Umm, ok, I'm back to feeling confident this is a little boy. After all, I did see the boy part :)

I am incredibly grateful baby is healthy, that's truly all that matters to us. I will be honest and say, I've been really hoping this little one is a girl, mainly for Gracelyn. I want her to have a sister...especially when she's told me from day one it's a girl baby in my belly...a sister...my best friend. It's the sweetest thing, and I surely don't want to disappoint her. Plus, have you seen how gorgeous my girl is? I'm dying to see what another Harrison girl baby would look like?! Anyhow, pretty sure it's a boy though, and feel I will be totally surprised if it's a little girl. I can't WAIT to know! I do think Gracelyn is the perfect girl to have all brothers. She can hold her own and is a fiesty little beauty :)

Another way I should be able to tell it's a boy, is that my mom thinks it's a girl, and she has been wrong with each pregnancy. lol. Sorry mom, I still love you :)

So, that concludes my novel, "The big ultrasound with Keri". Hope you enjoyed reading this :)

I forgot to mention baby was measuring at an estimated due date of December 12th, but Jeanne will keep my due date the 17th, just to give us more time, seeing as you now have to induce once you're a week late, and we want to avoid that if possible. Either way, I was happy baby was measuring a bit earlier, I should be home by Christmas :)

Oh and one last thing...boy or girl? Would love to hear your guess :) I added a poll to my blogger page, so be sure and cast your vote...it will be fun to look back on once baby arrives!

Much love,
Momma Keri

Hello hello :)

It's been on my mind for days to find some time to sit down and write a new blog post, I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last one! Time sure flies.

Let's see, I'm trying to remember all that's happened in the past month.

Kids are doing well. Ethan is almost 4 and a half years old and growing up so quickly it seems. We've been practicing writing his name and while he's getting good at writing the letters, he gets frustrated with me when I ask him to write them in order. Ha! We practiced again a bit this morning and he's getting better. I haven't enrolled him yet, but he will be going to preschool 2 days a week come September, for just a few hours each day. I think he will love it!

Gracelyn is doing well, and beautiful as ever. Pretty sure that girl gets more beautiful as the days go on. I can't wait to see what she looks like as a teenager. Nothing too new with her, still her spunky and sweet self.

I did ask her the other day if the baby in my belly was a girl or boy. She always says girl and this time was no different. "It's a girl baby, my sister...because that's my best friend. I want to hold baby but will need your help so baby doesn't fall off couch." Ha! She's so serious when she has these discussions with me and she simply has the cutest voice on the planet so I just love these conversations!! Another funny one...her bed is broken in one spot and I keep forgetting about it. Jer will push the pegs back in and then I forget and sit on it, and the one part caves in. (We need to get Grandpa Petke on this soon ;)) So anyways I went to get her from nap the other day and sat on it and fell through. She looked at me with her beautiful big green eyes with concern in her voice and said, "Momma, it's because your butt is too big."

I died laughing but was trying to stay quiet as the boys were both sleeping in their rooms. It's so funny the things that go through kids minds and then the things they say. I'm forsure writing that one in her baby book :)

Lincoln has changed the most in this past month. He has now mastered crawling, pulls himself up on everything, has gotten his first two teeth, waves bye bye AND gives kisses when you ask him! He's had quite the productive month! I can't believe in another month I will start planning his birthday party, wow, this year has flown by!

Baby #4 is doing great. I saw my midwife last week and baby has a strong and healthy heartbeat. The baby kicked for the first time a week ago, which is so exciting and it now feels real that we have another little peanut on the way! I'm excited to order this little one's baby book soon, and start jotting down the few things I can fill out already :) Our big ultrasound is in just 5 days!! And I'm sorry to disappoint you Grandma's, but, I'm actually sticking to it this time and not finding out the gender. Typically I am counting down the days towards u/s day and so so so so excited to know what we are having...but for whatever reason, the idea it being a surprise this time around is more exciting to me. My labors are long and hard, and it will give me something extra to look forward to. Jeremy and I both lean towards it being a girl, but, time will tell :) We forsure have our girl name chosen and we are pretty confident with our boy name but not definite. Typically, with all of our kids, we've always only been strong about the a name that we ended up having that gender...which is why I'm leaning towards girl this time around. With Ethan we had no girl name. Gracelyn no boy name and Lincoln no girl name. Of course all we care about is a healthy baby, but I would LOVE having another daughter, and mostly a sister for Gracelyn. I really want that for her, but know she will be fine with all brothers if that should be the case :)

Please join us in praying for a completely healthy baby as we have our ultrasound on Wednesday.

We are taking the kids to the Toledo Zoo next week, which I'm really excited about. I had Jeremy take a day off weeks ago so we could go. We took the kids to the Detroit Zoo last year when I was like a week away from delivering Lincoln....and it was fun but Ethan was very sad they did not have elephants there. Good news! The Toledo Zoo has elephants :) It should be a fun day and I'm praying for good weather! Not too hot, not too cold and for the animals to be out :)

Another fun thing that has happened this past month is my cousin Nathan and Elizabeth tying the knot! Jeremy and I were both in the ceremony and it was a beautiful wedding! Elizabeth could pass as a real life princess and their love is so special. It's funny because we always tell them how much they remind us of ourselves at that age. Nathan is a lot like Jeremy and Elizabeth a lot like me...and we just have a lot of similarities in how long we dated, personalities, etc. We told them get ready! 8 years from now they will have 3 kids under 4 and 1 on the way! ;)

I have some really exciting news to share. Yes, I saved the best for last :) I spent 5 days creating and designing a website for my photography. It's something I've thought about for awhile, but haven't pursued. I decided I should and I couldn't be more excited about it! It went live on Monday and I've received so much positive feedback. It was fun to design and choose a lot of my favorite photos for the site. Another fun thing is that I also now have a logo. I've been wanting to do that for awhile too and found someone online through Etsy that did custom work and was super affordable. I gave her an idea of what I wanted...which was just something simple and a little added fun to my logo...and she did a great job! It took a good dozen or more revisions before it was exactly as I wanted it, but it's perfect and I love it. So, from now on you will see this watermark on all my photos, as well as my website and my marketing materials, etc. Isn't she (as in my new logo) cute?? Here's a recent photo from a session I did on Wednesday evening.

Speaking of my photography, I'm keeping really busy and have been getting so many referrals, it's been wonderful! There are still a few areas I seem to struggle in, which I know comes from lack of knowledge and experience and I get frustrated at times with some of my photos. The good news is there is a photographer I have been following on fb for the past month who lives just an hour from me and she does incredible work. She has like 8,000 fans on fb and does 4-8 sessions a week and then 2 weddings many times on the weekends! She's good and it's obvious looking at her photos why she's so busy. I've contacted her to see if she does one on one mentoring and she does. Which really excites me. I really feel I need someone to help me figure out the things I'm doing wrong and just the areas I am struggling with. There is SO much to photography. It's not free of course and will cost some $, but I feel it will totally be worth it and beneficial for me. I think she will be a good mentor for me. She mainly shoots outdoors like me, she shoots with the lens I own, and our styles are similar and she's my age. I just feel she will be a good fit for me. I will get to meet with her and go over any areas I need help with, chat, go out and shoot and practice together and then also be able to email her anytime after our meet up with questions, advice needed, etc. I am going to meet with her in August...as I have two weddings I'm photographing in September and I REALLY wanted to meet with her before those. So, I've offered a few discounted sessions this last week on my photography page to save up the money for our mentoring session.

I'm also saving up for Jeremy and I's get away weekend alone together late August...to celebrate our anniversary and birthday's. It will be the first weekend EVER in 5 years (since having children) that we are going away together for 2 nights. It's going to be a much needed and wonderful time together, I'm looking forward to it. So, saving up for our hotel costs (which is right on the beach!!) and some spending money, restaurant money, etc too.

I'll leave you with a couple photos from the 2nd wedding I photographed a couple weeks ago, which was my friend Bonnie's wedding. I haven't edited her wedding yet, but here are some of the sneak peeks I've given her.

Oh and one last photo. We took the kids to Holland last weekend, to Lake Michigan and had a great time playing in the water! Someone offered to take a pic for us. It's not super clear due to her taking the photo with my camera and not knowing what settings to use, etc. but it's still a sweet memory of my clan...and I'm all about candid shots like this :)

Oh and be sure to check out my website!

www.keriharrisonphotography.com

Much Love,
Momma Keri