What A Great Week!

This week has just been tremendous. We got to tell more family and friends about our little Hardt, we got an amazing ultrasound experience, and Aaron got to hear the heartbeat live. Here are some great pictures and video!

We had another ultrasound done this past Monday. It was incredible seeing the differences in one month. Our first ultrasound showed only a little tadpole. And, this one showed the head, legs, arms----everything!!

Aaron loves my face in this video.

I'd like to think he/she is waving at us.

Here's a great one of the heartbeat fluttering.

Is that a hiccup?

Hearing the heartbeat and even though I can't feel them yet, he/she was kicking!

                                           We got to tell Aaron's Aunt Starla about our news.

                             We got to tell one of our closest friends, Mike Stephani about our news.

I told my co-workers on Fat Tuesday this week. I brought in pink and blue colored cupcakes. Everybody was surprised, very happy for me, and I had a great day sharing the news. I showed the ultrasound pictures to one co-worker and he immediately said it was a girl. Hmmmm....we'll see....

Album Night

Hello, it's Aaron for my first post to this blog.  I get together with some high school buddies a handful of times every year to hang out on a Saturday night and play some tunes.  Last night's theme was "Top Ten Bass Players of All Time."  I was trying to figure out a creative way to tell the crew that I was soon to be a Father.  I decided to play a song from a group called "The Babys" (pun intended) for my #10 entry.  The song was called "Head First" (again pun intended), but featured no significant bass part.  One of my buddies recognized the song right away and yelled, "Oh - The Babys!"  "Head First" is a rocker so the guys were bobbing their heads along to the beat as I kept saying. "I can't get enough of Babys...man, I love Babys."  The bass player on the song was actually a fairly well-know singer (John Waite).  However, the bass part was nothing to write home about.  I could feel the initial interest in my song waning after about (90) seconds - the buddy who correctly identified the tune finally said out of curiosity, "What made you decide to choose this song?"  I calmly walked over to the phonograph, took the needle off the record and said - "Guys, I could care less about "The Babys" or the bass player - this is my way of telling you that I'm going to be a Dad for the first time."  Congratulations ensued.  FYI - Paul McCartney (The Beatles) edged out Geddy Lee (Rush) for my #1 bassist!

What A Relief!

I've been tormenting myself this past weekend with thoughts of what if something bad happens to the baby. Or, to be more blunt, what if I miscarried.??? I went on the internet and read too many baby blogs, too many medical definitions, too many statistics, and learned way too much about missed miscarriages (this is where the baby has passed but the mother has had no symptoms of a miscarriage). I then woke up around 1:30am with some mild cramping. This coupled with all of the reading and 'research' I have done, well, for a lack of a better word, completely freaked me out. I was a complete wreck all morning and knew the only thing that would help would be some sort of reassurance. I needed to see or hear the heartbeat. I just needed something. Our next routine appt is next week and I knew I couldn't wait. Aaron supported me in going to the doctor so I got to go on my lunch hour today. My doctor saw me right away and we first talked about everything that I've been feeling. She was very comforting, said there is probably no concern, the cramping was probably just my uterus growing, and we would now listen to the heartbeat. She warned me that because I'm so early (only 10 weeks), it might take a while to find the heartbeat, so I shouldn't be alarmed. She put the jelly on my lower tummy and began searching. At first, there was nothing, and then about 10 seconds later there it was---phrump--phrump--phrump. Going 177 beats per minute, strong, healthy, and perfect...oh, so perfect.

Birthing Center

We have currently decided to deliver at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital. It is only 5 minutes away from home and 15 minutes away from work. We were shown around the family lounge, the nursery, and an actual room. The labor, delivery, and recovery are all done in the same room. It is decorated nicely and looks very home-like...not like a hospital at all. We might tour again later in the summer as we get closer. But, it was great to get an idea of where it will all actually happen.

We Have A Lot Of Work To Do!

This weekend my parents and I went shopping for baby stuff. The goal was just to look around at the store to get some ideas of what we need. However, I quickly realized I have no idea of what we need/want. The choices of the cribs, baby furniture, strollers, car seats, bouncers, swings, diapers, bottles, video monitors, breast pumps, toys, and even diaper pails was extremely overwhelming for me. My parents were very wonderfully supportive and helped me realize that we have a long time to get ready and that we just need to do some homework and it will all come together. My dad had especially fun at Babies R Us looking at the bouncers and comparing them. I think he was secretly hoping that they would have one in an adult size for him! :)

We also got to call Aaron's Grandma Barker and wish her a Happy 92nd Birthday and tell her our good news.

It's Not a Baby....It's a Tadpole!!!!!

What a fantastic and exciting morning! We were so nervous of our first official doctor's appointment. We weren't sure what to expect, but, we were prepared for anything. We were also prepared with a list of questions. After the nurse and doctor asked many questions about both of our medical history and we got our questions answered, it was time for my exam. I was prepared for this until she said I (my uterus) felt smaller than she expected and that we were going to do an ultrasound!!! I had wanted one, but, was told that it was so early and we probably weren't going to do one. Later, Aaron told me this was the only point in which he was concerned. A few minutes later, the doctor's first words were like music to our ears, "Looks perfect." And, then she said, "We can even see a heartbeat." I thought I would get emotional, but, I think I was concentrating and so focused, that I didn't get emotional like I expected. The doctor pointed out the baby is currently head down and Aaron said, "It's like an upside-down tadpole." We were both amused by the doctor's immediate agreement.

I think I have enough proof that I am actually pregnant! What a great day! Here are some pics and video.

Skype !!!

We finally got on a skype and practiced with Aune and Pop over the weekend. We were able to talk to Aunt Andra and tell her our good news. Here is that fun video. Andra's intuition is right on. I wonder if she knows what we are having. :)