Cletus is a GIRL!!!

Okay, okay... all of you who shook your heads and told me to stop calling the baby "Cletus"... those days are over! "Cletus the Fetus" doesn't seem quite so fitting now that we know we're having a DAUGHTER.

If you're scratching your head wondering what you're looking at, just imagine a tiny little baby sitting on a copier... 

Ben and I went for the 20 week anatomy scan on Friday. Our ultrasound technician was the best!! She was very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and seemed to be just as excited as we are! She was thrilled to learn we were interested in finding out the sex of the baby and that was the first picture she snapped for us. After that, she took loads of pictures and measurements of Baby Girl Stiers. All of her measurements and body parts look just perfect, according to the ultrasound tech. Technology is amazing!!! We could see the different parts of her brain, the 4 chambers of her heart, and her bone structure - among other things. 

Here is a profile picture of the sweet girl! You can see her forehead, nose, lips, and chin. I asked if the tech. could tell if she would have the "Staley Chin" but she said that would be a surprise. She said sometimes they can detect a chin dimple, and they always check for irregularities like cleft palates. If you look closely, you can see she's got a hand up by the side of her head, near the ear. If you look even closer, you will see it looks like she has a few fingers up and a few fingers down - much like sign language for "I love you." Adorable!!! 

Her teeny tiny foot! I'm starting to feel those little kicks too! Very subtle. In fact, I really don't feel much at school, since I'm always on the move and my attention is on other things (children!!). 

This picture shows both of her hands - one open waving, the one in the background is in a fist. Cuteness overload!

Finally, I have to show you one last picture from our ultrasound. The tech actually snapped a shot of Baby Girl Stiers with her mouth open - and you can see her tongue! I just thought this was amazing - both modern technology and miracles of God! 

I'm growing this PERSON inside of me. She has eyes and lips and a tongue! Not to mention her heart, kidneys, intestines, lungs, brain, bones and joints! All of this amazing growth going on and I feel fine! When I do feel a little uncomfortable, jealous of other people's cocktails, or irritated by interrupted sleep, I really put it into perspective. Zits on my face?? Of course - there's a person growing in me! Back aches?? There's a person growing in me! Not quite feeling like myself (mood changes)?? Duh - my body is working overtime making another PERSON!!  

We are extremely blessed - education, jobs, family, friends, fertility, and the icing on the cake (yum - did someone say cake?) is that I've been healthy and happy for the whole first half of this pregnancy. Thank you all for your well wishes and your prayers. Ben and I appreciate all of you pulling for us! I go back to the doctor next Monday for my monthly check-up. Hopefully the typical tests (weight, blood pressure, urine) will continue to show a healthy mama!

21 weeks (March 28)