Our first trimester screening appointment was Wednesday afternoon. I was more than a little anxious, several of my IVF friends had recently gotten bad news about their pregnancies and cycles and it can be hard not to let the possibilities creep in. Daniel hadn't seen the baby since our very first scan at 6 weeks (jelly bean blob) and I hadn't since 9 weeks (gummy bear blob). Even at 9 weeks, the baby had started to look more like a human but WOW. I don't think I was really prepared for just how much things would change in just three short weeks. We saw the baby's profile, including a little nose and lips, saw fingers and elbows, and listened to the heartbeat (160 bpm... healthy and strong!). They measured the fluid at the back of baby's neck to check for markers of chromosomal abnormalities, and everything looked good. Still low risk. The technician told us the baby was very laid back, with its legs up and feet crossed at the ankles... just chilling out with their hands up near their face. Please stay chill, little one! It was an EXCELLENT appointment and I'm so glad Daniel was able to come. The next time we see baby in a little more than two weeks, it will be to find out if they're a boy or a girl!

I also attended a baby shower for our neighbor and also baby Harper's first birthday party this weekend, my first few events as an "openly pregnant" lady. It was really fun and felt a little surreal to be part of the mama club now. It was also so interesting to chat with my friends, all with very different birth and pregnancy stories, and realize that we all have many of the same anxieties as I do... feeling like we don't fit in as moms, feeling unprepared for a baby (even when you paid a lot of money to have one!). Whether the pregnancy was totally unexpected, or meticulously planned, we all kind of end up in the same boat in the end.

How far along? 12 weeks