I forgot to mention that we were blessed to have another ultrasound this morning. From what I understand, it's typical for women to get only one, maybe two, ultrasounds during pregnancy. The normal one usually falls around 20 weeks so that the doctor can check the baby's health and, if desired, look to see the baby's gender. Allison also had one when we found out she was pregnant to help determine how far along she was during the early stages.
This past week, her doctor said the baby seemed to be bigger than she expected, and wanted yet another ultrasound to find out just how much bigger Sam was getting. Based on the rough measurements, Sam was about a pound bigger than average, at 6lbs 7oz. The doctor told us this is still within the normal range, and the measurements at this stage are really only accurate to +/- 1 pound anyway.
If I had to guess, I would expect him to be born about two to three weeks early. Of course, I don't get to decide that, and he could still wait it out to full term. If that happens, we'll probably be looking at a 9 lb baby! My "worst case scenario," however, is that the morning of November 8, Allison will tell me we need to get to the hospital and we'll have to navigate through a sea of students and tailgaters at Ryan Field (Northwestern's stadium) right before the home game against Ohio State. Our hospital is on the same block and shares its main access roads with NU's sports complex, which will become a zoo on game day. It's the only home game within a month of the due date, so hopefully this won't come into play.
The doctor also checked everything else and said the baby looks good and healthy. We had a much better view of a few things this time, and are quite certain that we have a boy. ;)
I think the reality of the baby coming is really setting in for both Allie and me now. We already have hospital bags packed in the trunk and the car seat is installed in the back seat. (We had to be ready for anything during our trip to Minnesota last weekend.) With the reassurance that Sam is definitely a boy, we can begin cutting the price tags off of clothing and getting things laundered before he arrives. We still haven't done much to prepare the baby's room, and I think that's our next project as soon as we have time and we're both awake.
I've also found myself staying closer and closer to my phone, and I get a little jumpy when I hear Allie's ring-tone at an unusual time of day. I had the option of going out last night with some friends, but decided to turn down the offer as I realized that we have only a month left to spend together "alone." We just cooked dinner and watched TV, but it was great to be home without the pressure of trying to get anything accomplished.
I am both eager and excited, but not yet impatient, for Sam's birth. I am also conscious of how much is changing. I think that in the back of my mind I still cling to the idea that everything will return to normal after he gets here, but I know that "normal" is going to be very different from what it was a year ago and even from what it is today. Today's news that he is big, strong, and healthy is encouraging, and helps me know that the new "normal" will be great once we get used to it. For now, we're playing the waiting game.
