We're Having a Girl!!!

Last week we had our 20 week ultrasound. I get so nervous every time I go to the Dr. Nervous I won't hear what I'm longing to, that I'll get bad news... Deep down I believe everything will be ok, but I get the jitters a little bit until I am actually there and I actually hear that little heart beating. That is a powerful sound, that little swoosh, swoosh :) Definitely the most reassuring and calming sound I hear these days! My nervousness and excitement tends to be compounded when getting an ultrasound. I think because that is how we found out about Parker and hearing that news again is my deepest fear. But, I try to push the nerves aside and find the excitement and joy... which are both there full force! God is good. I know that. I am trusting Him.

The ultrasound was great! Almost first thing the tech said, welll, do you want to know the gender? 'Cause it's right here! We said yes and she told us we were having a girl!!! Which I didn't need much help recognizing... the picture was definitely lacking what I saw at Parker's ultrasound ;) So, Matt gets his daddy's girl! We were so excited! Mostly because our baby was wiggling around and healthy as can be :) I was also a little proud that I have been right both times now in my feelings of what we were having :) Oh, and when I say active, I mean this little girl wouldn't stop moving! The tech was having a hard time getting clear pictures because she was moving so much! She saw everything though and all looks well in order. She also reassured me that my placenta and umbilical cord look good. The one thing we had trouble seeing was her profile. She was turned the wrong way so I had to get up, drink some water, dance around, jiggle my belly and hit the restroom, all in an effort to keep her moving and try to get her to flip over :) Which she did eventually! So, anyway, everything looks great! Wohoo! We've got a healthy, strong, active little girl on the way! The tech warned me that in short order I'll probably be feeling like nothing more than a punching bag ;) But, I'm good with that. Bring it on, little one!

If you haven't heard yet, the name we've picked for her is Kahlan Grace. Kahlan is pronounced like Kay-lynn but with a little more of an "a" sound than a "y" sound at the end, if that makes any sense. We compromised on the name Kahlan. Matt really liked the name Kaylee, but it just didn't sound right to me. The more I said it the less I like it, which isn't great. So, we came up with Kahlan, which is similar, but different :) The more I say it, the more I like it, so that was a good sign in my book! So we were both agreed and then we had to tackle the spelling. I had no idea there were so many different spellings of the name out there! We went through all of them and couldn't settle on one that was perfect. Then I started reading a book series that I enjoyed and one of the main character's names was Kahlan and I loved the unique spelling. The book series was also made into a TV series called "Legend of the Seeker" which Matt and i watched. Anyways, the books are where we came up with the spelling, and we're really happy with it :) We struggled with the middle name for a little while. We liked the name Renee, which is a family middle name, which was kinda the theme we've been going with so far, but then we tried Grace, and it just sounded so right! We weren't sure at first, but once again, the more we thought about it and tested it out, the more we liked it. Mostly, we loved the meaning of the word grace.

Grace: defined by Dictionary.com
1. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.
2. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
3. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
4. favor or good will.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
6. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
7. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
8. moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.

So, Kahlan Grace Flint it is!!!

Anyways, after our ultrasound, we had an appointment with my ob, Dr. Stemmerman. She was very positive and said everything is looking great. She did mention that I am not gaining weight, that I am still 4 pounds lighter than when I got pregnant, but she said that there is no need to be concerned at this point. She just wanted to make sure that I'm eating enough and taking my vitamins. Matt quickly assured her that I am out-eating him, and am definitely not lacking in nourishment! She said that at this point my goal should be to gain 10-20 lbs total weight gain. So, I still have time ;) Also, that the baby will start growing fast now and putting on fat, so weight gain should start soon. That was the only thing she brought up though. She said everything else is perfect. We did go over a bit of the plan for later on. At 30-32 weeks I'll be having another ultrasound to make sure everything is still fine with the baby and to check on my placenta. Around that time I will also start going in for regular non-stress tests to monitor the baby's heart rate and movements. They will also be keeping a close eye on the levels of amniotic fluid and my placenta, which will be done by ultrasound, I'm just not sure how often that will be happening yet. Then, if everything is looking good and there are no problems, she will do an amnio, I think at 37 or 38 weeks to make sure Kahlan's lungs are fully developed and then I'll be induced 2 weeks early. If there are any complications or my blood pressure is high at any point, they will do everything they can to mature her lungs and they'll deliver right away. So, we feel good having a plan of action and knowing what to expect in the coming months.

As always, we would greatly appreciate your prayers for Kahlan's continued growth and health as well as my health, specifically a regular blood pressure and healthy placenta. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! We love you!! Oh, and before i forget, here are some of the pictures we got from our Ultrasound :)

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