What's all the ruckus?

As Tracy mentioned, we had our ultrasound on Wednesday. It was something of a surreal experience seeing all the insides of Tracy, first of all, and our baby, second of all. The baby looked fantastic - 4 chambers in the heart, brain inside a skull, stomach bubble (seen on ultrasound because it's filled with amniotic fluid), and the placenta and umbilical cord in the right places. It was great to see it all there. But the thing that made us tear up immediately was the kid's genitals. There was no doubt on the picture what it is, so we found out.

We're having a little boy.



It's strange because you'd think we, health care professionals, would be more inspired by the fact that our child is generally anatomically correct, but no, it was the gender that made us cry with joy. I guess that speaks to the way that gender is ingrained in us in all of society and spirit. Gender is, after all, the very first way we separate and stereotype each other. We tried to work through why it meant so much emotionally to know, and we both agree that after 20 plus weeks of just having faith that it was all ok in there, we got to see some picture proof that the kid is healthy, and knowing that it's a boy, while allowing us to stop thinking along one huge track (i.e. the girl one), allows us to relate in a different way. Not to mention everyone we know: the response is always like I just announced that we had the baby. Like it was somehow different than the day before. But somehow, it is.

So, despite my brazen comments about not finding out, we know. And now so do all of you.

I felt him kicking Tracy for the first time Thursday night and several times since. It's so cool! A little weird, but cool. Last night he was moving around a lot and Tracy exclaimed, "What's all the ruckus?!?!" Even on the ultrasound it's amazing to see how much room there isn't inside there. But there he is, a perfect little human, weighing approximately 14 ounces, and measuring in the 49th percentile. As Tracy says, that kid can just stay average until he is out of her!