Bowties or Bows?

Still nobody knows. Well, we have no conclusive evidence.

At our 18 week appointment, the doctor hesitantly stated that the baby is a girl. However, without seeing boy parts or anything that would clearly indicate the baby as a girl, I take the stance that we don't know for sure. I mean, the baby's legs were crossed and I've thought since the very beginning that the baby is a boy, just like with my first pregnancy, I had no doubt she was a girl.

So, I figured we'd just have another ultrasound once we arrived here in Ft Dauphin. We met with the doctor on Monday and she informed us of a couple of things: 1. She wouldn't recommend anymore ultrasounds, than the initial and the mid-pregnancy ultrasounds, and 2. The machines here are old and not very clear.

I've come around to having peace with not knowing until the baby is actually born. It's eating Chandler up, though. So, if we have another ultrasound in Johannesburg, maybe we'll check it out again... Maybe not.

1st Trimester

My first trimester, and then some, is complete. Before I say anything else, I'll say this: it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. Yeah, I was nauseous every day and exhausted beyond functioning every day, but it definitely could have been worse. 

I had my first prenatal appointment at 7 weeks along with an ultrasound. Then another prenatal appointment at 13 weeks with another ultrasound. I was ecstatic and relieved to see all of baby's essential parts; I.e., spine, legs, head, etc, but we did not get to see the gender. I am thankful for a great Brazilian doctor in the capital and another doctor in the States who has agreed to look over the notes and photos from each appointment, just so we can have peace of mind.

An unpleasant surprise for me was how quickly I began "showing". I was just 11 weeks and I was getting uncomfortable just having my pants buttoned. After not having seen our language tutor for a few days, her oh-so-kind greeting revolved around how I looked bigger, insinuating by patting her cheeks that I must be eating a lot. Not wanting to be equally rude, instead of responding with, "Pregnant! Duh!" I laughed it off and stewed about it later... Maybe even now... Just a little bit though...

So, here I am unable to wear any of my pants, with no maternity a clothes for at least another 3 weeks (when our crate is supposed to arrive from the States). I'm resigned to wearing jersey maxi skirts and feeling Amish, and some days like a Duggar.

For those who are wondering, we will deliver the baby in Johannesburg, South Africa. Waverly and I will head that way at the beginning of October. Until then, we will receive prenatal care here in country and are fortunate enough to have a South African doctor in Ft Dauphin who does mother/baby care. 

Waverly is warming up to the idea of a new baby. She continues to vehemently deny any possibility of a brother and most of the time, insists that the baby is hers. But we have to start somewhere, right? 

Speaking of Waverly, I'm sure this will come back to haunt me one day, until the day that she understands motherhood herself, but I'm actually more excited about this baby than I was with Waverly. Am I the only bad mom that feels that way? I mean, with Waverly I was excited, but I was totally clueless and anxious. This time, I at least have a general idea of what to expect during pregnancy, delivery, and when caring for a newborn. Of course, I'm not so naive to think that I've got it all figured out because I am fully expecting this next child to be diametrically opposed to Waverly: terrible sleeper, high maintenance, and with no sense of humor whatsoever. I figure that way, I can be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong and mentally prepared if my theory proves correct. I'll let you know.

                                       

                                          15 weeks

Exactly the Reaction We Expected.

It's true: we're pregnant! And we're way excited; Waverly, on the other hand, couldn't really care less and that's quite okay with me. What else would we have expected? Tonight she insisted that her baby was on our crate. Clueless. But we smile and nod and mutter amongst ourselves that her world will soon be rocked.

I believe I'm only about a month along and my pragmatic mind tells me we should wait until the golden 12-week-mark to tell the world about our little bundle of joy. By my desperate, dependent soul tells me that we need prayer every step of the way. We've trusted the Lord with a lot these past six months, we've been more desperate for Him now than in our entire lives, and being pregnant in a third-world country is no exception. 

What about healthcare? Well, we'll find out, won't we? But I am encouraged that I'm not the first ever missionary to carry or birth a baby in Africa. And I am thankful that we have travelled this journey once before so that I can have some peace about what to expect along the way. 

But as you think of us, please pray. Pray that we will have wisdom over the next nine months. Pray that it will be uneventful and maybe even fun. Pray for good health. And please, oh please, pray that Waverly will lighten up.