He who has ears, let him hear.

We've reached the 17-18th week mark. Thus far, all of the ultrasounds and the doppler visits have been great. There is a healthy heart beat and our baby is moving around. In fact, there was one visit to the perinatal doctor where they did a 3D ultrasound. That was just the coolest thing, looking at our baby from the top down. Just awesome at what technology can do. Here is a video of our baby.

The reason I titled this "He who has ears, let him hear" is because at this stage, our baby now can hear things. The baby can hear the sounds of Mimi's body, can hear loud enough noises that penetrate through the womb. The baby is starting to develop the senses needed to survive in this world we currently live in. I have to say, God is amazing at how he can take two things as microscopic as a sperm and an egg and create a human being. The number of possibilities for things to go wrong are just huge, and yet many of these pregnancies turn out just fine.



So as it turns out, we are definitely not alone in the process of having children. Just to name some of those who are currently going through the same process we are, but at various other stages. Some are ahead of us and some behind, but all of us are essentially going to have a baby. My sister Christina, Evelyn, Jenn, Eunice, Mimi's other friend from her home church, Zeena, and I know there are many more but I just can't remember them right now. I think in total, there are about 9-10 other women pregnant right now. That is just amazing. My prayer is that for each and every one of them, that God will bless them with a healthy baby and that we can all share in the celebration of these new births over the next year.



I was wondering to myself why I was working so hard at work. I actually realized that it had to do with the baby coming. I want to make sure that everything at work is as steady as can be so that when the baby comes, I am not feeling the pressure to stay at work late and missing the growing up phase of the baby. I don't want to be the Dad who comes home late and the baby is asleep and I can't hold the baby. I don't want to be the absent father who is unable to make that connection. I've wanted children for a while now, and I want to be an involved father who shares my life with them. I want us to most of all, be a family unit and I feel that it comes from my example of putting the family first. I guess that is why I'm busting my butt at work right now, so that I can build the foundation and the steadiness that is needed for my staff to essentially handle things should I not be around for short periods of time. It certainly is very difficult right now with new interns, but I'm glad that I have the post doc and the new staff member to help carry the load. I just need to continue to remind myself that the job is a job, but family is forever.

I have to say, as new parents and this being our first child, there is a level of anxiety that exists beneath the surface. We know that in the second trimester, we're past the danger point, but at the same time, we're concerned that any little thing could or might go wrong. Being believers of God, we trust Him and have faith that the gift given to us will be cared for. We pray consistently for this baby, for health and we thank God for this gift that we have been blessed with. In the same regard, I think our human side over takes us and we want something, something more tangible to grasp on to. When this happens to turn to our technology. We're fortunate enough to have access to a doppler or ultrasound machine when we want to see the baby or hear the heart beat. This was something that Mimi and I strugged with this morning, and I can sense will always be a struggle until the baby is actually born. I know that we both have a lot to learn, and we'll have many chances to talk to parents who have been down this road as well.

So till the next time, I'll stop here. By the next post, we should know the sex of the baby and then we'll start considering names.