Life with the Riley family: Sonogram Time!

Dear Baby Riley,

Today we had a wonderful experience watching and learning about you. We know not to take for granted that we had such an experience. We feel blessed and thankful to our God for the good news that we received today. Your heart looked "beautiful" to quote the technician. Your spine, brain, bones, etc. all looked like they are forming well. Of course, I am so anxious to find out if you are a boy or girl. But, honestly, I came out of there just bursting with excitement that there really is a healthy and active little baby in there! YOU!!!

I haven't felt you move as early as I thought I would. I am 22 weeks now and just started feeling you move a lot the past week or so. Before that, I would feel you here or there, but not a whole lot. I heard that with the 3rd pregnancy, I would feel you sooner and my doctor was asking me if I was feeling you move so, of course, we were starting to get a little worried. Well, come to find out, my placenta is in a certain position that provides a cushion between you and my belly so that is why it took longer for me to feel you move. Phew!!

You were quite active at our appointment, moving around on the technician quite a bit. She was still able to get some great shots. She was the best tech that we have had out of all of our sonograms. She was so sweet and wanted us to be able to enjoy the experience. She answered lots of questions and didn't make us feel rushed.

We are, of course, reading too much into her comments about your gender. We want to be surprised at your birth, but, of course, we are dying to know! We can't wait!!

At the beginning when we told her that we didn't want to find out your sex, she told us that she would hide the screen when she got to your legs. Daddy said that he could still look because he wouldn't be able to recognize anything anyway, but because I am at 22 weeks, she said it would be pretty obvious, especially if you are a boy. So then, later in the sonogram, she mentioned that she already knew your sex. She said that she could see at the very beginning. When we started, you were spread eagle and she could tell right away. Of course, we were clueless and didn't catch it at all. So I started to make a comment about that maybe indicating a boy to which she replied, "It could go either way with that." Hmmm...

My instincts change hourly, daily, weekly, etc. as to what I think you are. I mentioned today that I think you are a girl based on my feelings at that moment. Daddy would make comments about the muscle definition on your arm or other things to indicate that he thinks you are a boy. Our tech asked, "What are you going to do if it doesn't turn out that way?" She was talking to Daddy. Hmmm... At the end of the sonogram, she said, "I hope it turns out the way you want it!" Who was she talking to? Which of our hunches? Hmmm...

See! I am reading way too much into things she said. Oh, well...it's fun to do. :)

Here are a few pics of you, our little angel. We have been comparing them to Ella and Parker's sonogram pictures. Grandma Layton and Daddy think you resemble Parker, but I think you just look like a precious little baby in a sonogram. :)