When I finally lift my shirt
I usually don’t exhibit nudity.
Well, except during the time I lived on South Beach, where it was mandatory for residents to wear less than a quarter of fabric at all times, while sporting a tan.
Or that one time I auditioned for this music video…
Actually, never mind. That was not the point of this post.
During my 12-week ultrasound in my previous pregnancy, the doctor smiled and kindly turned to Dadisodes and I and said, “It’s a boy!”
In that moment, I was thrilled. But I think I would have been thrilled if she said boy or girl. I was just not expecting to find out the gender so soon. Besides, I was excited at the prospect of a little Dadisodes.
In fact, over the course of the next two months, my heart warmed with the idea of having a boy. I prepared myself mentally for the reality of a tiny person wielding a live hose during potty training, and grappled with the decision of whether or not to sharpen his little pencil after birth.
At the 18-week follow up ultrasound, it was confirmed that he was actually a she. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little crushed.
Babisodes began playing games with me in the womb, and she remains a troublemaker to this day.
Anyhow, this time things have been different. Not only because I already have a child, but the entire experience itself has been unlike the last. While pregnant with Babisodes I was nauseous, carried high, and always wanted to be around Dadisodes. The list goes on and on.
This time however, none of the above applies.
Except for this one thing. Throughout the entire 9 months pregnant with my daughter, Dadisodes never took any photos of me. The small handful of snapshots I do have were all taken by me. Thank goodness for delay timers.
In those few photos of my expanding body, I always covered up my belly. For this pregnancy, and I am unsure why, I have yet to uncover it again.
I had no intention to do so either.
But this morning, when Dadisodes and I went in for our (almost) 18-week ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby, I walked in with much trepidation.
I just wanted to know if the baby was healthy, and I was terrified of having my heart set on the wrong gender again.
But I could not resist. My eyes were glued to my baby on the screen.
I saw the baby’s tiny hands and feet, ten fingers and ten toes. All of them scrunched up and moving around.
Scrunched up so much that his/her feet remained crossed, covering the one area that unveils its gender. The sonographer was also unable to get certain views of the baby’s heart.
So since everything thus far in this pregnancy has been so different, I figure why not give a bare belly shot a try. Again, thank goodness for delay timers.
This is not a secret medical technique or an old wives method of coercing a child to spread their legs.
It is just me looking down, asking this second troublemaker to cooperate.
Lol! You think this one’s a troublemaker now, wait until they team up!! Good times had by all!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
look how cute your tummy is!!
xoxoxox
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Sweet. Daughter’s son is all shy and coy when the sonongrapher is checking his face and vital organs, but when it was time to check his gender; he proudly turned and spread his little leg. Carrie said she was surprised he didn’t try to wiggle the little thing at them. I think she is in for a long haul, too.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I had my baby before the days of ultrasound. All genders were surprise! And as this was also pre-Demi it never occurred to me to take a shot of my naked belly. Ah, times they are a-changing. Glad things are going well for you.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Your belly is SO TINY! I think I looked like that at…oh…6 weeks?
My first wouldn’t reveal herself until I was about seven months along either!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I know I’ve said this before, but we never knew what Wuzzle was. And I was SURE she was a he. So I know the crushed feeling. When I got the positive test, I wanted a girl so bad. Then about half way through I was SURE it was a boy. So when I was holding my little girl, I was of course thrilled that my baby was here and healthy. But I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t my little boy. (Of course, I wouldn’t trade my girl for the world though!!)
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I can’t help but giggle. Why would the baby cooperate for the ultrasound? How much you want to bet that the little one has his or her little legs apart right now just to taunt you? I hope you and Dadisodes get a good view at the next sonogram.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:39 pm
@Jameil- Oh Jameil. Leave it to you to find that silver lining
@Patsy- That is too cute. Oh how I wish mine was so obliging.
@Eve- Sometimes, I really think it’s best to not even have the option to know!
@Muthering Heights- Thank you, but I feel huge. In fact, I took this pic a few days ago and I swear I’m bigger already. I REALLY hope I don’t have to wait until 7 months!
@Jac- I know EXACTLY what you mean
@Joyce-Anne- Oh, I’m SURE he/she is. Probably did so the moment I walked out of the office.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Oh Sandy – how beautiful you look!
)
I thought for sure you’d know the sex at this appointment. I guess we’ll ALL have to wait a little longer till the next one!
Thanks for sharing your great shot. Oh and btw, I can’t belieeeve you are so discrete about showing your beautiful belly! As I was reading in the opening about your South Beach exhibitionist ways, i thought for sure you were going to post a picture of you in a teeny bikini with a baby belly!!! C’mon, that’s what all the brazilian women do when they’re pregnant, didn’t you see plenty of them around in Nakedville Miami to get familiar with the concept?
p.s. I have not been brazilian in over 20 yrs so that custom does not apply to me.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
You are so cute! Just a little bump. I don’t have very many pictures of my pregnancy either, so if I ever become pregnant again I will probably have a gazillion.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Be it a he or a she, it makes a cute bump!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 pm
The way you have been talking, I thought your tummy would be a lot bigger. You’ve got a perfect little bump! I’m sorry you couldn’t find out the baby’s sex.
I didn’t want any photos during my first pregnancy, but with my second, not only did I take professional pictures, but I also bared the bump. Weird how your feelings change, huh?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 pm
@Carlen- Bikini? Baby belly? Those 2 words do not belong in the same sentence. At least not with me. And yes, Miami Beach is riddled with half-naked (literally) folks. I was definitely used to seeing it then. I was also MUCH thinner then.
@Natalie- Isn’t it amazing how in retrospect you wish there were more photos? At the time, I thought the few I had was more than enough.
@Beth- Thank you
@Holly at Tropic of Mom- It feels really big to me these days. Especially towards the end of the day. That’s too funny you had a change of heart as well.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 am
Awwww…you had me going there. I was sure you were going to be able to tell us pink or blue! Rats! The suspense is killing me.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 am
Aww. The little one is just being modest, is all.
You look fabulous! I love that shot.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:07 am
Beautiful picture!! And that little one better cooperate…they have many more people besides Momisodes and Daddisodes whos curiosity it neds to satisfy!
P.S. Have you thought about calling the new one “rerun” since you already have babisodes? *G*
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 am
Great cliff hanger! You’re super cute with your belly bump!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 am
Oh you’re HUGE! ha ha ha! So cute.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 am
It’s nice that he/she is growing nicely. When it was time to know my baby’s gender she just curled up at the farthest corner and stayed there.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
You look fantastic.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 am
Awwww, you look gorgeous as usual
Hugs to you and the trouble makers
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
This is a beautiful picture, and you look beautiful as well! (and about as big as I looked at two weeks along!) You are tiny girl! Not fair! I’m so glad everything is going well for you though, and can’t wait to meet the new “__isodes”.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:14 am
You look adorable! And in my experience the 2nd troublemaker is worse!! Something to look forward too!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
You look beautiful!
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:23 am
Hah! Nonetheless, he/she is going to be a very cute troublemaker!
I was around 20 weeks when I found out the gender of all my 3 boys.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
have you ever thought at about getting a 3-D ultrasound? i got one for my second and it’s amazing how much she looks like her ultrasound picture! you look fantastic!
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
As you obviously know, the sex determination part of the ultrasound is, um, not an exact science.
I was supposed to have a girl, first time around. The room was PINK.
After that, I was over 30, so I had actual chromosomes on paper for the other three.
I will never forget the day the chromosomes came back on the fourth. The nice nurse at the other end of the phone asked me if I was sitting down, and went on to give me a two minute speech about how the important part was that the baby was healthy.
(I wanted to climb through the receiver and strangle her).
Then she told me I was having my fourth BOY.
I was depressed for about two weeks. Then it just didn’t matter anymore.
I figured, this was better for hand-me-downs. And if I had had a girl, she would NEVER have gotten a date.
(Of course, that was when the Goth was 2-1/2. NOW I know she would have been taking her brother’s hand-me-downs. Damn.)
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 am
Awww! Look how gorgeous your belly is! You are so adorable, I wish I could see you in person right now! I bet you are SO CUTE!
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
Aww…I always tear up at my ultrasounds. It’s so amazing. I love their little feet & hands and face, and trying to figure out which is which.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
Preggo bellies are beautiful. Case closed!
My wife was told to drink a mountain dew about 20 minutes before the ultrasound to get the baby moving around. Seemed to work because we always got decent shots. Anyway, until you find out what it is for sure, I will hope for a girl. I’m biased, I think 2 girls are better than 1. More importantly though, I hope for healthy. Now close that shutter, it’s cold outside!
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
How lovely you look. How absolutely lovely. That picture belongs in the Great Phrase Book In the Sky, as illustration for the entry “Pregnant women are beautiful”.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Hi Little Babisodes II!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
When I was 17 weeks with my second, I could put an eye out with my quickly expanding belly. Your bump is adorable and your photo is stunning.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 am
You’re sure your pregnant? Look at you, you little skinny thing. . . just kidding about not looking pregnant. You really do! And I can’t wait to know if it is a boy or a girl.
Seriously, they let you have more than one ultrasound? Totally only let me have one and didn’t look at the baby’s heart. What morons we have around here. Thank God Jonathan was OK.
had this dream last night that I was in labor. Um…does that mean anything? Because I’m seriously not pregnant.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
How cute you are! So tiny. I hope you don’t get another let down… Hopefully this baby will cooperate soon. Isn’t it funny how you can tell the personality of the baby somewhat while they are still in the womb?
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
The only photo I have of pregnant me is in a video shot Christmas morning, three weeks before Little Bug was born. I scowled at the camera and REALLY didn’t want to show any evidence of how miserable I felt. Your photo is so much more beautiful and calming. It’s a keeper!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I have already decided that if/when we have another baby, I want to do a daily shot of my expanding belly so I can do a timelapse video at the end. Cool, right? I mostly want to do this because there were so few photos of me when I was pregnant with Sophie and they were almost all from the shoulders up. Next time, I want to savor the whole experience.
You look gorgeous, btw! I love your little baby bump!
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
you are still so tiny – will you be going back soon for another ultrasound? What did he tell you otherwise – all looks good? The bloodflow is good??
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
You are so tiny I tell ya! Didn’t you remember to eat something sweet before going into the ultrasound to wake the baby up and make them dance? I always got clear shots that way.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
How Dare He/She!?!? Hopefully you get to go back soon to try again…. and wow you’re tiny!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Love the story and I really love the photo. Really? All with a delay timer? You take GREAT photos – behind the camera or not!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Kids are all about making their parents’ lives challenging.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
You look adorable and so tiny!!!! Great picture!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
You are so cute!! I looked that pregnant upon conception:-)
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 pm
aww…..if I had a preggers tummy that cute, I’d let it hang out all the time! Congrats, btw!
October 24th, 2009 at 7:20 am
OMG you’re killin me, lol….so is it a boy or girl? lol…..
Your belly is so cute. A very beautiful picture too. Great light, great mystery.
October 24th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Ha Ha I totally went to the beach in a 2-piece when I was 9 months pregnant. I let it all hang out. Pregnant women are beautiful! Show it off!
October 24th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Aww!! Your belly is so adorable!!!!!!
October 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
You’ve got such a cute little bump. Love the picture!!!
Mama in Suburbia´s last blog ..Room with a View
October 24th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Wow, that’s a beautiful shot! I’m sure whatever gender babisodes turns out to be, he/she’ll be as gorgeous as her momisodes (or dadisodes) hehe…
philos´s last blog ..Sorry for the delay, but I’m back now!
October 24th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
That is one of the most beautiful and poignant pictures I’ve ever seen. I wonder what your little baby will say, when she/he is all grown up and she/he sees that photo.
sophia´s last blog ..Sanity Tips from a Grouch
October 25th, 2009 at 12:37 am
So happy your expecting! yeah
Elle´s last blog ..Harvest 2009
October 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
You’re beautiful.
October 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Aw, how cute is that little belly! You and my sister have the same sized little bump…darn you two skinny chicks! I had that much when I peed on the little stick! I need to send her over to your blog so you two can commiserate..although, this is her first. She’s over at http://joanofalltrades.blogspot.com
Christie – The ChatterBox´s last blog ..The Ghost of Fat Pants Past
October 25th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
You look great girl!
Nap Warden´s last blog ..Pathetic Losers Unite!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
How exciting@! Congrats on the boy.
and what a beautiful picture
October 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
you look so beautiful in that shot. I wish I had belly shots of my babies that weren’t me looking really tired and really annoyed…
October 26th, 2009 at 12:19 am
So glad to hear your pregnancy is coming along smoothly… never mind the sex of your fetus. I’m confident you’ll find out eventually.
Daniel (food dryer home)´s last blog ..Dehydrate Tomatoes in a Food Dryer
October 26th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Beautiful picture! You look fantastic. We have an ultrasound picture of my son and he is holding his hand up in front of his face. We call it his “no more paparazzi!” shot. LOL
perpstu´s last blog ..In the Still of the Night
October 26th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I LOVE this pot! You are the most beautiful pregnant woman ever!!! And I think all pregnant woman look beautiful…even when they don’t feel like they are!
You look gorgeous and I am soooooo excited for you guys!!!
P.S. The technicians on the Island aren’t allowed to tell us the gender of our babies. I was kind of upset at first that we weren’t able to find out. Then I thought, “What does it matter anyway? We’re going to love this baby whether it’s a boy or a girl”. Granted, it helps to find out if you want to decorate the nursery and get all the baby stuff in gender specific colours and themes, right?
C´s last blog ..She’s Growing Up
October 26th, 2009 at 11:17 am
You look absolutely beautiful.
My first baby was a boy and I secretly wanted a girl. But once I found out that my second was a boy, I got over it. Now, I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
My parents on the other hand are a bit concerned. They now have 8 grandchildren, ALL BOYS.s My mom is dying for a granddaughter.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Sweet tummy!
Sounds like girl number two is already her own little person.
Congrats, Sandy! Your hair looks super-great.
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Like a bord on a wire, 12 — Funny Typos
October 26th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I’m dying to know what it is! If you visit my blog, don’t let what I say about teenagers bother you:)
Puna´s last blog ..Before It Disappears
October 26th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
ahhhh…. beautiful momisode. you and your tummy look fabulous.
savvy gal´s last blog ..Warm Rose Gold
October 26th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
How sweet. My daughter did that exact same thing. We didn’t know if she was a girl or a boy until she was born.
Genny´s last blog ..And then you realize they are pedaling on their own…
October 26th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Beautiful!
Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba)´s last blog ..Fall sunset
October 26th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I think have the fun is not knowing until the show their pretty faces. But then again, I’m a guy….
Mike´s last blog ..A Day of Mourning…
October 26th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Oops, I just realized that I read this last week and forgot to comment. I must have been at work (where I don’t “look” at blogs).
Wow what trouble makers you’ve got. The suspense, it would drive me nutty. Who knows, maybe the little bean will be all modest tomorrow and I won’t find out either.
Are you going to get another ultrasound anytime soon? Or are you doing testing that will find out?
Well at least you know it’ll be a barrel of laughs when it arrives, just like Babisodes. You look too adorable btw. I am ginormous next to you.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
You are the cutest most petite preganant lady ever! : )
Jenners´s last blog ..The Most Frightening Halloween Craft EVER!
October 28th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
“While pregnant with Babisodes I was nauseous, carried high, and always wanted to be around Dadisodes.”
That’s EXACTLY how I am now, carrying my first child. The nausea is constant; the baby is up so high I swear I can feel him/her in my esophagus; and I’m a very needy girl when it comes to my husband, always wanting him around. It’s ridiculous.
So maybe, if your experience is any indication, it follows that I’m having a girl?! Or maybe not. At my last U/S last week, he/she wasn’t cooperating and there was no good view. Frustrating, ’cause I’m dying to know!
P.S. Your photo is stunning. What a beautiful image to remember your pregnancy by later. Plus, women look so much more graceful carrying low. Personally, I look like a linebacker.
MCM´s last blog ..I’m feeling really sick. Pity me. Please.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I know exactly what you mean…re the gender. We only found out with our last (Katie) and even when the tech told us, I was still not really convinced. And w/Wyatt, one swipe over his “bottom area” and the tech says “Oh! You’re having a boy!” We really didn’t want to know the gender…anyway – I was convinced I’d be the mom of ALL boys and was quite surprised when my 3rd really was a girl when she was born!
Glad you’re doing well – makes me so happy for you!
Carrie´s last blog ..Fear and Loathing in the Doctor’s Office
November 4th, 2009 at 6:03 pm