Incredible!

We had our follow-up visit with our doctor today. It was only supposed to be the appointment full of questions and female exams, but Doctor L could not find my baby's heart beat with the Doppler. Apparently she (I am certain the baby is a girl) wanted to hide out so that we would have to do an ultrasound to get her heart rate. I didn't mind one bit. Within a split second of locating the baby, I could see her little arms and legs moving about. I couldn't believe it! I just sat there with a big grin on my face and had to try hard not to giggle as she kicked her little legs so my doctor could get the heart beat.

Her heart rate was a perfect 180, and she measured 1" from head to rump. Doctor L humored me by allowing me to watch my baby kick her legs a couple more times before she ended the ultrasound. She printed off a picture of my little one, and she looks exactly like a little gummy bear.

I loved today's appointment because it helped put my mind at ease. I have felt like my pregnancy has been a little too easy, and so I sometimes worry that my little bean isn't growing. I am not sure if my pregnancy is easy because I am just so happy about being pregnant that I don't notice all of the symptoms, or if I really do have it that easy. I actually sat down this past weekend and made a list of all of the symptoms I've been experiencing just to make sure I was having some... the list was pretty long. My doctor told me to count my blessings and that I am one of the fortunate few who has an easy first trimester, and that my little bean is growing the way she should. The ultrasound helped confirm the fact.

I think Doctor L also enjoyed the fact that this was the first appointment I have had where I actually showed some serious outward joy. Perhaps it is because of the years of infertility treatments, but I have learned to keep my excitement inside, only showing it to a few people such as my husband and family members. Everyone asks if I squealed when I found out I was pregnant, I didn't. I kept my excitement inside, reserving emotion for behind closed doors. So for me to get so excited today was a real treat for my doctor. She even made a comment about how she was happy that something finally made me smile so much. Show me my baby kicking and I will absolutely smile!

My coworkers are in for a treat tomorrow because I intend to take my gummi bear picture into work and gleefully show it off. It will be a level of excitement that none of them have ever seen from me because I am usually pretty reserved. I guess something about finally being able to get pregnant and seeing my baby with my own eyes has finally opened my heart to excitement again.