Alien Kaleidoscope

 Here's the latest photo of our baby. This was the big appointment where we found out for sure if it was a boy or a girl. I knew it was a girl all along because, well, I'm only having girls. As they were doing the ultrasound, everytime they would get close to getting a look at the face of the baby he would cover his face with his hand and turn his head away. That's exactly what Jerel does when you try to take his picture, so I knew at that point it was a boy. I'm not sure how this mix-up happened, but I suppose we'll just go along with it.

If you've never had an ultrasound, let me explain it to you. They put sticky cold goo all over your tummy. Then they put the camera device all over you and at the same time turn on a recorded film that is just a kaleidoscope of alien pictures. It goes from one alien-looking thing to the next. While you're watching the alien moving around the tech says things like "There is baby's leg" or "There is baby's face." Sometimes you even think you are starting to recognize things. I was so excited when I first saw the baby's face. I could tell it was the face because I could see the two eyes. Then the tech said "Those are the baby's kidneys." Well, it looked like a face to me. Then she showed us the actual face and it didn't look very face-like at all. I think the whole thing is just made up. Anyway, we did see two each of: arms, legs, eyesockets, hands, feet, and kidneys and one each of: heart, head, brain, and spine. So I think we've got the basics.

But enough about our baby....let's talk about everyone else's babies! Here is the schedule:

Mandy's sister Theresa's baby, Clara, is due this Friday (the 27th).
Next come Jerel's siblings:
Two days after Clara is due, Ryan & Amy's girl is due March 1st
Karee & Dave's baby is due July 3
Jerel & I are also due July 3
Jake & Mandy are due in early September
Poor Trudy! Jerel's mom makes a beautiful quilt for each grandchild and I just don't see how she'll be able to keep up with this little baby boom in the Atkinson family!

I am really enjoying these last four months where I can see kids misbehaving and say "My kids will never do that." It is especially funny to me to say that to people who already have kids and have them look at me like I'm crazy and naive and maybe even a little bit stupid. Of course I know my kid will do all those things that other people's kids do, but for now I'm just pretending it will be born potty-trained, sleep soundly 16 hours a day, etc.