I know you're all just waiting to know....

*Warning: there is some somewhat graphic talk here*

We had our 20 week ultrasound today. My mom came over early this morning to watch Graycen while we went as we knew she wouldn't survive 1 hour at the doctor's office. First off, let me say, our ultrasound technician was beyond wonderful! She was so warm and kind and she really seemed like she genuinely cares. While looking at everything she explained everything she was looking at, how it looked, if it was good/bad, what it did and why it was important for her to find it. I feel like we had such a different experience with her than we did with our tech at Aspen while I was pregnant with Graycen. She really made me happy and comfortable!
As far as the baby goes- everything looks great! She said there are no causes for concern. There was one thing she couldn't get a shot of at all and that was baby's upper lip. She was checking for cleft lip. She wasn't able to get a clear picture of the heart (as it is necessary under their protocol there) but it looks good. Baby is measuring a week bigger than my due date, but Graycen was also bigger than my due date!
The only thing she was concerned with *and only slightly* is that my placenta is sitting right at the top of my cervix. During pregnancy this is common, but the important thing is that the placenta moves back further and away from the cervix. I, of course, asked what would happen if it didn't move and she proceeded to tell me it would mean I would have to have a c-section (the dreaded "C" word when it comes to pregnancy) She went on to tell me why I would have to have a c-section and the ending of it was "If we don't it could lead to losing you and the baby due to severe blood loss" the tears started streaming down my face when she said that. I felt David's hand squeeze mine tighter. She wants us to come back in 8 weeks for a follow-up to see if the placenta has moved. The midwife said it most likely will and she isn't in the least bit concerned because this happens a lot and everything is fine. I guess in 8 weeks I might have to start reading up on and get myself ready for the c word - just in case!
*updated 2/8/08 to say: Of course, I had to go do some research on this. I learned it is called Placenta Previa and only about 10% of women that are diagnosed with this at their 2nd trimester ultrasound still have it when they deliver. I am a person that I want to know statistics and things like that. So when I read this, it made me feel A LOT better! Now I'm not nearly as worried, but of course, it still sits in the back of my mind. If you want to read more about it, go here.

Now, I know I am keeping you in some major suspense here.... Keep reading!
Before we even started the ultrasound the tech asked us if we wanted to find out the gender. We said yes, if possible. She got started and not even 2 mintes in, she said, "I know what this baby is. Let me find a good shot for you guys to see" She kept trying to get a good shot and wasn't getting a super clear one for us to see and guess with so she continued getting the stuff she needed and explaining things to us. Every once in a while she would try for the anatomy shot again. After a while she got a good one. She said, "Ok, what is it?" I said, "I don't think I can guess" and David said, "I dunno" She pointed out body parts saying, "We have two little butt cheeks here. Here’s a thigh, here's a thigh" then she just stopped. I said, "Is it a boy??" she said, "It's a boy!" I smiled an enormous smile, David's arms shot up in the air and I cried! It was wonderful to find out. I can't believe we are going to have a son!! I knew it all along. I have been telling David I think it's a boy and him and my mom both thought girl! I didn't have that "feeling" with Graycen and I had it this time. Turns out I was right! I know it can go the other way and your "feeling" turns out to maybe be indigestion or something...LOL!

Here are his very first pictures! (They aren't awesome quality as I have heard you can lose the pictures if you scan them, so these are pics of pics.)

I suppose maybe you would like to know his name too. It's Parker Thomas. We decided today in the car. Even after we had NO NAMES in the running. I hadn't even picked up the books and once we decided we were going to find out the gender I didn't want to even look at names until we did. It's just so weird how we did that. It's pretty much how it went with picking Graycen's name, too.