Week 17: Flutterby and bed rest?

It's a GIRL!

With any luck, she will have her father's intelligence, sense of humor, and sensitivity. But with our luck....it looks like she'll inherit her father's cranial enormity!! While I joke about our poor luck, I know we are actually quite blessed. All of our test results came back negative for genetic disorders which allows us to take another sigh of relief. And our little one seems healthy and well, a good sleeper. Any attempts to get her to wake up were futile as she would just lift her arms up to her face as if to cover herself from the ultrasound.

Chris gave you the pictures and most of the news from today's doctor's appointment. So I'll give you some updates on me, and the baby.

Bed Rest: Yes, 17 weeks and I'm already ordered to rest! Apparently I had too much fun and activity in New Orleans and now have a pinched nerve or herniated disc...not sure which one yet. The pain started with intermittent pangs when I would tie my shoes or bend over to pick something up. With time, it became anytime I would go from a sitting to standing position, and for the past 48 hours it has been with each step. Imagine, if you will, a light saber (because the pain is too sharp and precise to be any other nonfictional weapon) thrust into your bum and then making a 90 degree turn up the spine where the laser is then engulfed in barbed wire, does a dance in your cerebellum, just in time to shoot back down the spine and shoot out your toes. And all of this happens in an embarrassing half of a second where you make a yelp/gasping sound that scares others. Yes, this is overly dramatic, but it would not be entertaining if I just said "it hurts." Each step is now excruciating and apparently there is very little I can do but rest it. We actually have another doctor's appointment (3 in 3 days) tomorrow to see if I can go to a prenatal chiropractor, the term seems paradoxical, but we'll see what they say. The important thing: it's not effecting the baby with the exception of the chemicals my brain sends out in response to pain.

On a more positive note - I felt the baby move!! Don't get me wrong, the little tyke isn't tapping morse code onto my ribs just yet, but I can still feel movement. Flutters, as they call them as she adjusts and decides that she no longer wants to stick her butt up. Interestingly, I feel her most when I'm physically active, so when I'm going for a walk or working around the house. The past 48 hours have been less active and she's been resting with me. It is really not a feeling you can describe. While I'm sure later, when she kicks my bladder in the middle of the night, I will be less thrilled...right now, I cannot help but have this huge smile across my face when I can feel her. I love the idea of creating this comfortable and secure home for her, even if she does kick me around a bit.

Our baby is about 8 oz. according to the doctor. She's got 144 heart beats/minute, and she's stubborn. I couldn't be happier.

Winning names thus far:
Taylin
Elisa
Kaila

Those always seem to be our top three, so let me know what you think of them! I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I know I cannot stop looking at them!

Love you all!!