Chapter 11
Just after New Years, I had my first ultrasound scheduled. I was petrified. After what happened only a year ago, I didn't want to go. Shawn was determined to make me overcome my fears. "Belle, it's different now. You're farther along than last time. You've been feeling the baby kick and move. Everything's going to be fine." He reassured me as we walked into the elevator. "I understand that Shawn, but what if they find something wrong with the baby? I don't know that I could handle a disappointment like that." Shawn took my hands in his. "I'm sure everything will be fine, but if they do find something wrong, we can handle it. We've been through so many tough times and we're stronger for it. Just trust that we won't be given anything we can't deal with." That made me a bit more relaxed, but my fears came back just as Dr. Bader was putting the ultrasound gel on my growing belly. The anxiety I felt last time paled in comparison to the fright I was feeling this time. Last year, I didn't know what the ultrasound could show. Now I did and it scared me to death. The doctor dimmed the lights, turned on the machine and put the ultrasound wand on my stomach. She moved it around for a few seconds and then stopped on one particular spot. She pressed a few buttons and then the room was filled with a thumping sound that reminded me of a galloping horse. Dr. Bader smiled at us and said, "that's the sound of your baby's heartbeat. Nice and strong." My eyes welled up with tears of joy. It was the most wonderful sound in the world to me. Shawn was staring at the monitor with a look of disbelief on his face. Dr. Bader continued with the ultrasound. I was entranced with the image of our baby on the screen. I saw him or her moving and at one point sucking their thumb. It was awesome. "Would you like to know the sex of the baby?" Questioned Dr. Bader. I looked at Shawn, and he shook his head. "No thank you, we'd like to be surprised." "That's fine. I'm happy to say your baby looks absolutely fine. You're progressing nicely. Just keep taking your prenatal vitamins, eat right and I will see you next month." "Thank you Dr. Bader." I said. She handed me a few still pictures from the ultrasound before she left so I could get changed out of the hospital gown. I got dressed and Shawn and I headed to his parents' house to show them the first pictures of their first grandchild.
March came and Mimi and I were once again at Salem place, shopping for nursery items. Andi, Mimi and I basically bought out the "Bouncing Baby Buggy Boutique." I wanted to surprise Shawn with the nursery. We had painted his old bedroom a wonderful pale yellow. He gave me free reign over what to put in the baby's room. "You're the designer. I'm sure what ever you put together will be wonderful." He told me. So for the last 5 weeks, Shawn had been literally locked out of the nursery. I didn't want curiosity to get the best of him and have him peek. This particular day, the daddy-to-be was out with his little brother. Zack had been feeling a little neglected by his big brother lately, so Shawn took him out for a Brady Brother's day out. It was the perfect opportunity for Mimi and me to put the finishing touches on the baby's room. We brought all of our purchases upstairs and got to work. I decided that a good unisex nursery theme was celestial. Shawn and I had purchased a white crib, changing table and dresser a few months back. Mimi and I bought bedding that had yellow and silver stars on a light blue background. The mobile was yellow stars around a white moon in the middle. Everything was coordinated. My favorite decoration was the constellations we put on the wall and ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars outlined with silver paint so they could be seen in the daytime and at night.
By the time Shawn got back from dropping Zack off at home, Mimi and Andi had helped me finish the nursery and left. I greeted Shawn at the door. "I have something to show you. Close your eyes and come on upstairs." I led him up the stairs and we stopped at the nursery door. On it was a plaque with stars and moons that said, 'shhhhh . . . Baby Sleeping.' I opened the door, "ok, open your eyes." Shawn gasped when he saw the room. "Oh Belle, it's perfect. The baby is going to love it. You did a wonderful job." I smiled and led him to sit in the yellow glider. From there he could see everything in the room, the moon and star throw rug, the yellow toy box with silver stars, the bookcase filled with some of our favorite bedtime stories like Goodnight Moon and Love You Forever and the stocked changing table, complete with tiny diapers, onsies, and receiving blankets. "All we need now is the baby." I declared. Shawn sat up in the glider, put his head on my swollen belly and said, "Baby, you are going to love this room. We can't wait to meet you." And then kissed my tummy.
Just after New Years, I had my first ultrasound scheduled. I was petrified. After what happened only a year ago, I didn't want to go. Shawn was determined to make me overcome my fears. "Belle, it's different now. You're farther along than last time. You've been feeling the baby kick and move. Everything's going to be fine." He reassured me as we walked into the elevator. "I understand that Shawn, but what if they find something wrong with the baby? I don't know that I could handle a disappointment like that." Shawn took my hands in his. "I'm sure everything will be fine, but if they do find something wrong, we can handle it. We've been through so many tough times and we're stronger for it. Just trust that we won't be given anything we can't deal with." That made me a bit more relaxed, but my fears came back just as Dr. Bader was putting the ultrasound gel on my growing belly. The anxiety I felt last time paled in comparison to the fright I was feeling this time. Last year, I didn't know what the ultrasound could show. Now I did and it scared me to death. The doctor dimmed the lights, turned on the machine and put the ultrasound wand on my stomach. She moved it around for a few seconds and then stopped on one particular spot. She pressed a few buttons and then the room was filled with a thumping sound that reminded me of a galloping horse. Dr. Bader smiled at us and said, "that's the sound of your baby's heartbeat. Nice and strong." My eyes welled up with tears of joy. It was the most wonderful sound in the world to me. Shawn was staring at the monitor with a look of disbelief on his face. Dr. Bader continued with the ultrasound. I was entranced with the image of our baby on the screen. I saw him or her moving and at one point sucking their thumb. It was awesome. "Would you like to know the sex of the baby?" Questioned Dr. Bader. I looked at Shawn, and he shook his head. "No thank you, we'd like to be surprised." "That's fine. I'm happy to say your baby looks absolutely fine. You're progressing nicely. Just keep taking your prenatal vitamins, eat right and I will see you next month." "Thank you Dr. Bader." I said. She handed me a few still pictures from the ultrasound before she left so I could get changed out of the hospital gown. I got dressed and Shawn and I headed to his parents' house to show them the first pictures of their first grandchild.
March came and Mimi and I were once again at Salem place, shopping for nursery items. Andi, Mimi and I basically bought out the "Bouncing Baby Buggy Boutique." I wanted to surprise Shawn with the nursery. We had painted his old bedroom a wonderful pale yellow. He gave me free reign over what to put in the baby's room. "You're the designer. I'm sure what ever you put together will be wonderful." He told me. So for the last 5 weeks, Shawn had been literally locked out of the nursery. I didn't want curiosity to get the best of him and have him peek. This particular day, the daddy-to-be was out with his little brother. Zack had been feeling a little neglected by his big brother lately, so Shawn took him out for a Brady Brother's day out. It was the perfect opportunity for Mimi and me to put the finishing touches on the baby's room. We brought all of our purchases upstairs and got to work. I decided that a good unisex nursery theme was celestial. Shawn and I had purchased a white crib, changing table and dresser a few months back. Mimi and I bought bedding that had yellow and silver stars on a light blue background. The mobile was yellow stars around a white moon in the middle. Everything was coordinated. My favorite decoration was the constellations we put on the wall and ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars outlined with silver paint so they could be seen in the daytime and at night.
By the time Shawn got back from dropping Zack off at home, Mimi and Andi had helped me finish the nursery and left. I greeted Shawn at the door. "I have something to show you. Close your eyes and come on upstairs." I led him up the stairs and we stopped at the nursery door. On it was a plaque with stars and moons that said, 'shhhhh . . . Baby Sleeping.' I opened the door, "ok, open your eyes." Shawn gasped when he saw the room. "Oh Belle, it's perfect. The baby is going to love it. You did a wonderful job." I smiled and led him to sit in the yellow glider. From there he could see everything in the room, the moon and star throw rug, the yellow toy box with silver stars, the bookcase filled with some of our favorite bedtime stories like Goodnight Moon and Love You Forever and the stocked changing table, complete with tiny diapers, onsies, and receiving blankets. "All we need now is the baby." I declared. Shawn sat up in the glider, put his head on my swollen belly and said, "Baby, you are going to love this room. We can't wait to meet you." And then kissed my tummy.