France 1-1 USA

Last Tuesday (before Christmas), we had the best Christmas present come unexpectedly. We went in for the last ultrasound, and did the routine checkup: spine? check; heart with four ventricules? check; kidneys, femur, feet? check; brain, ombilical cord, placenta? check, check, check.

then... WOW ! With the push of a button my OB switched to 3D to get us a portrait of her face (after much pushing her around since she was hiding her face deep inside). UN-BE-LIE-VA-BLE. I no longer have a little black and white skeleton in me, I have a golden-coloured 3D angel with a pout, a little nose and some chubby cheeks. WOWWW... We've pretty much been on a cloud ever since. And if you want to see the face of an angel (nothing less!), let me know, I'll forward it along.

So that's a major victory for France: this is still uncommon in the US (and I was not in some fancy private clinic).

Where the US score though is on practicality: I have received a Moutain of baby clothes. mountain with a capital M, as in Mount Rainier, or Mont Blanc - a tall mountain! a cute, adorable mountain, of course - but tall nonetheless. You know that in the old days people used to put their babies face down; them SIDS research came along and now babies sleep on their back. Well, in France, they 'forgot' to update clothing: all the buttons are still on the back. Talk about a pain in the back side ;) ... My plan? when it's not obvious, to have her wear clothes front-side back. I don't like laying flat on some half-inch thick bumps, why should she?

So that's about it for now. Had a wonderful Christmas with almost-all of my family (my sister's in Ethiopia with her boyfriend). Am planning on doing a quiet New Year celebration with just P, the little one inside, and one of my very best friends who's just back from the Darfur (Sudan).
Most days, I sleep fine and a little short nap in the day is all I need. Last night, was up from 3 to 5, and am up again at 8. The little one's been both restless and cramping my digestive system. Oh well, it's for a good cause. Although I have to admit, I'm right in the middle of the anxiety phase (I'm also right on schedule, or so I hear, as it seems to hit all pregnant women at this stage): my god, we're going to be our little girl's parents for-ever. not just through pregnancy, and not just through newborn-ness and childhood. but ever. dear...

wishing you a delightful, inspiring, memorable New Year.