The Week Off Week Off

At the last visit to the Ob/Gyn we did our best not to find out the sex of the baby as we had the best ultrasound experience thus far. By the 'best' experience I mean that we got to hear that Michigan is already in our baby's heart. Seriously, the heart beat sounded exactly like driving through the huge tunnels of I-696 approaching the Woodward Exit. Unmistakable.

We also learned that we have been a week off in our keeping track of the pickle's progress. Have a look at the images for what we were prepared to call Week Fifteen. When this picture was taken Kasha was actually at 16 Weeks! The doctor explained that the due date is accordingly earlier by one week which is fine by me, due dates are just suggestions anyway.
You can't tell a fetus anything about punctuality. When we though it was the 15th week, we were already on alert for "the kick." Now that we know it's closer to 17 weeks, we're getting impatient. We'll really be in a pinch, though, if this happens again and the date needs further bumping up as Kasha is making the long flight to the States and back in the last week where airlines will allow non-Alaska governors to legally fly. Not to dwell here, but we also have no reason to expect that Kasha will be permitted to hunt wildlife while in flight either. And really, if the good lord wanted man to fly, I am sure that He'd have created us with wings.

Besides kicking, which the books say has a lot to do with reassuring first time expectant parents, we'll also gain access to all sorts of information about fetal health and development very soon. Fluids, a lot of it has to do with fluids. Are these fluids at the appropriate volume? And is their composition normal in every way? Eh, gimme the kick over that voo-doo mumbo-jumbo any day. I didn't read this in any of the baby books, but here's the deal with doctors: They're always wearing gloves. I don't trust them or anybody else who wears gloves as often (and isn't, you know, an avid snow-mobiler or such). Doctors, OJ Simpson, and cat burglars. Who do you trust? The Juice, right?

Another thing that makes the pickle fun at this time is that limited interaction is possible through the belly. Reading books or singing songs to the belly bump has been implemented even though at this point I am almost 100% sure that the pickle is illiterate, can't understand plot elements, and certainly has no taste in music. Also, if we wanted to tick the bugger off, we could flash strong lights on the belly. True fact, the baby book actually suggests this! That kind of thing has a lot to do with why people hate cops, and it's actually recommended by best-selling authors! What a woild!