Bean!

These are the pics of our Bean, as seen through the lens of the ultrasound.

 This one is Bean's arm... I don't know. Looks like a Rorschach test to me. No, I'm not gonna tell you what I see! Beth says it looks kinda like a ham bone. Maybe you see something interesting?

 This last one is Bean sitting cross-legged.

Good news

Apologies for my protracted absence from the updates.
We got the official word that the results from last Friday's genetic testing for Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, and Down Syndrome are "normal." We can only deduce that that means that we have only the "normal" associated risks for those issues (due to Beth's young, young age.) We got a more instant gratification from the ultrasound tech that the skin measurements were well within the range deemed normal, also. So it looks there won't be any amniocentesis. We like that. :-)

Still no job, so if anyone knows of anything that ISN'T door to door vacuum sales in or near Omaha, I'm all ears!
Pictures are forthcoming...

Job hunting...

Ugggh...
Of all the annoying activities that invariably fall into everyone's life, I vote for the worst two to be moving, and job seeking. Guess what two activities have been occupying my time for the last week?
Tiring and  frustrating, and thoroughly necessary.
Still not finished moving. More painting, cleaning, carpet removal, and so on. Oh, and of course, actual moving.
As for our Bean, (our affectionate name for our baby-to-be) there's little news to report.
Last Wednesday we went for a checkup with the doctor. Got a brief and unexpected ultrasound when she couldn't find the baby's heartbeat with the doppler thingy. Sorry, no pics this time.
Turns out, our Bean is doing well - he or she was doing somersaults at the time of the ultrasound. Beth (baby mama) started laughing when the doctor said Bean was, "movin' and a-groovin'."
Friday afternoon we'll be back for a more epic ultrasound for a test for Down's syndrome and a couple other severe deformities. We remain optimistic, especially since Beth feels so strongly that our Bean is going to be healthy and happy.
And of course, I'll be sure to update this site afterward. :^)

Shopping

That's right. For baby stuff. Wow.  Mind altering, reality bending, time-space continuum disruptingly expensive and overwhelming in general.
I mean, I knew it would be expensive, but not THAT expensive!
We've been looking at carseats, and strollers, and bottles, and clothes, and diapers and my head exploded.
We haven't even started looking at cribs and stuff like that yet.
Maybe Ebay will start loosening up their ban on the auctioning of organs. I think I can get by with one kidney...