Lock Junior update

We're pleased to report that things seem to be going well with Jayne's pregnancy (touch wood and all that).

No more nausea, no more pains, not quite so much paranoia about things going wrong (we hadn't realised this was one of the main pregnancy symptoms!) and a definite bump developing. :) :) :)

While our parents had been here for Christmas Jayne's folks had come along to one of her routine appointments with the ob/gyn. The plan had been just to show them the obstetrics department of the hospital where we'd been going for most of our scans etc, but at the last minute we thought they'd appreciate having a listen to Bubs's heartbeat... I'm pretty sure we were right because the Grands T were certainly all smiles about it. :)

We also managed to wangle a tour of the birthing center before they departed for home. We both found it a little bit freaky to think that, all being well, we'd be there for the real thing in what will probably feel like next to no time, but it was good to get an idea of the place well in advance, and calm some of the grandparents nerves about us being looked after properly.

Here are a couple of pics Dad T took of the view from there. [I only hope I'll be able to appreciate it as much when the time comes... I doubt it somehow - J]

Fletcher Allen's birthing center of looks out over much of the UVM campus, and in the far distance you can see Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks over on the NY side of the lake (it was a bit hazy when this was taken)

On Monday 14 January we went for our 18 week ultrasound where anything and everything was measured on Bubs - number of limbs all present and correct, number and length of bones in limbs all present and correct, different areas of the brain all measured normal (phew!), spine was A-okay, heart was A-okay, jaw and palate all okay... the list goes on.

The detail we saw was quite breath taking, and no matter how much we already understand about the science and theory of it all it was utterly mind blowing. Just watching all four chambers of the heart working away was incredible, seeing the blood vessels within the umbilical cord going right into Bubs's belly, watching the li'l monkey stick his/her tongue out! I wonder who he/she gets that from??

We have new pics and even a DVD of Bubs but without access to a scanner at the mo, or summat that will convert VOB files into MPEGs or something a bit more useful I'm afraid you'll have to just make do with the description.

So, as we approach the mid-way point (officially 20 weeks on Tuesday 29th Jan) we realised it was about time we started taking the inevitable bump pictures. Here's one to start off with... and pleeease don't say you can't tell the difference from normal! ;)

Bubs is offically 19 weeks old in this pic, taken Tues 22nd Jan 2008

[Thank goodness for stretchy jeans with a nice high maternity waist band... so attractive - J]


Good news is that Jayne has managed to find a nice exercise class to do with other mums-to-be (or is that moms-to-be?). After weeks of finding nothing but yoga she discovered that the good ol' YMCA does an aquanatal class. Perfect! It runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and has proven to be a big hit so far. A good instructor who hops in the pool with us together with friendly class mates bodes well for meeting Jayne's fitness and social goals. A couple of ladies are due around the same time as Jayne, but two ladies were actually due on the first Tues that Jayne went... and still there the Thursday after - wonder if they'll be there this coming week??

Next things we're tackling include finding a good birthing class to sign up for (eeeks!), biting the bullet and finding a second vehicle to buy sometime before June, decorating the nursery (aaaaagh - so wonderful and yet so scary to even be saying that), getting clued up on which car seat/stroller/crib to buy, and that's a mine field in itself! Hmm - tip of the iceburg springs to mind here... wish us luck!

More updates will follow in due course.