the turtle and the bear

Almost 2 years ago, we were blessed to have The Mayor enter into our lives. After 5 years of trying to have children, our prayer had finally been answered. Although the road was a long one, sometimes met with tears, fears and always a lot of prayers, it was a road definitely worth traveling.

When I was just 6 weeks pregnant with The Mayor, we thought I had miscarried. It happened on a Friday night after dinner, of course after the doctor's office had closed, so we had no choice but to wait through the horribly long weekend. First thing Monday morning, we went to the doctor's office for the ultrasound. With butterflies in our stomachs and tears in our eyes, we saw him. This teeny, tiny little speck. So tiny, that every time his heart beat, he would go out of focus...but he was there. Our miracle was still safe inside me. They scheduled me for one more ultrasound for the next week to make sure baby was growing and the heartbeat was strong. At 7 weeks, we were elated to hear his heartbeat again and see that he had almost tripled in size! He was upside down and his little arm and leg buds dangled beneath him and the yoke sack that was still attached to him was above him. He looked like a turtle walking around my uterus. And thus "turtle" was named. It was fun having a nickname for the baby; it sounded better than saying "it" and it seemed to make this so much more personal and a fun way to bond with the baby for us.

"Turtle" at 7 weeks gestational

We always knew having other children was our prayer for this family. We just didn't know if the long road that took us to having The Mayor was going to be the same road for future children. Many months of worrying and wondering if I had it in me to truly do this again, I had a peace. We finally gave it to the one person who could let us know what to do...we gave it to God. One month later, we found out we were going to have another baby.

At 8 weeks gestational, we went in for an ultrasound. There was baby #2. So sweet, so innocent, so small. The baby was upside down and his little arm buds and leg buds made the baby look like a gummi bear. And thus "bear" was named.

"Bear" at 8 weeks gestational

We will add to our brood on or around March 21, 2010. We couldn't be happier. The Mayor doesn't quite understand yet, but we know he will make an amazing brother. If you ask him to kiss the baby, he will walk over and kiss my belly, but that is the extent of his understanding.

In the meantime, we will enjoy our one baby and prepare for the balance and life changes that will come with two children.