It's a girl! Arleigh Olivia Mansell

We've had two boy and two girl names picked out for what seems like ages, and we knew this one was going to be Arleigh if it was a girl.  John's granddaddy Mansell was named Arlie, but we changed the spelling for Penny Leigh. I've been called Penny Leigh by so many folks, I had to get Leigh in there somehow! Olivia is for my Mama. It doesn't need an explanation. You do know my Mama, right? You are missing out if you don't. 

We had our big ultrasound last Friday. The one where they do gender and all the other fun measurements. I was really surprised how long it took! The others were just a few minutes. This one lasted almost 30.  We were both VERY surprised when we found out Skeeter was a girl. John had been saying from the get-go it was a boy, Intelligender (a for-fun test) and I all thought boy. We were wrong, but a very happy wrong! Of course any parent will tell you they don't care. Just a healthy baby. But I was very happy. So happy I cried. Which made John happy that I was that happy.  John is gonna melt and have SUCH a daddy's girl. I can not wait!

Arleigh is gonna be a tall girl. She is measuring in the 90th percentile for height, so daddy may need to find us a basketball coach real soon. :-)

Her heartbeat was 153, which is fantastic. She's been 150-154 every visit.

This part gets a little personal, so just know I'm warning you ahead of time.

I have something called placental previa, where the placenta hasn't moved up enough in the uterus. Typically by this point the placenta should be up near the belly button, making its way to the top of the uterus as it grows. Mine is down near the cervix. Basically - at this point, it means we have to take it easy and use extra care. Particularly doctor ordered pelvic rest. (Nothing going on in the nether regions, I think you can fill in the blanks.)  Dr. R said there is no need to be alarmed now, that we'll be on pelvic rest for 10 weeks or so and have another ultrasound around 30 weeks to make sure the placenta has moved.  We have to watch out for bleeding and just take it easy.  If we have it after 30 weeks - which is rare, chances are more likely for a c-section (which from family history, we anticipate a c-section anyway).   Don't do like I did and google. It can be scary.... Google is good and bad while pregnant. Great for easing your mind on somethings, and great for freaking you out on others.

I had mentally prepared myself for the risks of being a big girl pregnant. Gestational diabetes or preeclampsia....But never other (non-related) complications. My blood pressure has been great so far. We didn't do so hot on the first diabetes test, but I didn't eat two hours before. We passed all 5 rounds of the 4 hour test. We'll have to do the two hour again at our next appointment.

I've been feeling fine. Still dealing with my out of control allergies, but that's been the case for 31 years, so I'm not sure why I thought it would ease up now. I can definitely tell  when I've been on my feet too long - and it doesn't take long.

I've just started to feel Arleigh move, and I can not wait for the real kicks and punches. The feelings are not regular yet by any means, but I can feel her little flutters and the occasional kick. It's more tickley now than anything.

Now... I guess I have to get my rear in gear on the nursery. Would it surprise you to know I haven't really done a thing? Our guest room is still the laundry sorting facility, and I have not been motivated at all. I keep hoping my nesting instincts will eventually kick into high gear. No such luck yet.

In the meantime, who wants to tackle hanging up my laundry? :-)