It's a Boy!

So we found out Friday that we are having a little boy.

Sullivan Roy Mahaffey

I so love his name, and I love even more that I can call him by it now. Taylor and I have had that name picked out for years. And we agreed upon it within a millisecond. Pretty stoked that we're usually on the same page and don't have to argue about what our son's name is going to be. It must have been meant to be, because I swear, the name already fits this little man.

It's an old cliche, but time really does fly. I feel like we just found out about a baby at all, and now we know we're going to have Sully. I thought last week would take forever to get here, but the days flew by, and before I knew it, we were driving to the doctor that Friday morning, both with butterflies in our stomach, trying to guess what it was going to be.

I got hardly any sleep the night before. First, being unable to fall asleep and second, waking up at 5 AM too excited to stay in bed. I live almost an hour away from my doctor (that's what happens when you live out in the sticks), but it didn't feel like a long drive. Before I knew it, we were in the ultrasound room and there was Sully up on the screen. 

The tech told us first thing that it was a boy, and thank goodness. I don't think I could have sat there looking at that screen for an hour, waiting. Taylor said his heart stopped. I just started laughing, in typical fashion, and I don't think I stopped the rest of the day. 

We got to watch him for almost an hour, moving around, waving and kicking his arms and legs. He's already a little ham. He was even playing with his toes, which was just insane to see. Taylor hadn't seen him since the first ultrasound I had when Sully just looked like a little shrimp. This time, we could see the four chambers of his heart, his facial structure, five fingers on each hand, even his spine and bones. It was unbelievable, and those people who refuse to do ultrasounds are totally missing out. 

Plus, it's nice to have that peace of mind that everything is normal and okay. Sully's developing just fine. I get so worried sometimes, for no good reason, because I can't see him. Some people say that not knowing is part of the fun. I think that's crap. I want to know that he's a boy, and I want to know that I have nothing to worry about. 

Taylor finally felt Sully move. He's an active little bugger and is kicking me even as I type this. Taylor still says that he needs to feel a stronger kick to be convinced, but I'm pretty sure he's thinking too much into it. Either that or it's just such a surreal idea that he can't wrap his mind around it. As soon as I felt that little kick in my side against Taylor's hand, his eyes got huge. He felt it, no matter what he says.

And now the fun really begins! I've already started hauling out Sully's room, cleaning it out so we can get it ready for him. I think I've spent a total of 6-8 hours just cleaning, rearranging, and organizing all of our rooms to make plenty of space for our little guy. And I'm still not done! Or, more precisely, Taylor's not done. He's got some storage bins to move downstairs. 

I've already got his room planned out and have ideas about making his first blankie... 

    (A few things from my nursery treasury via Etsy... Great way to get ideas together!)

The yarn I've picked for his blankie.

I've been crocheting a lot, and I can't wait to make him a few warm and cozy things, especially because he'll be born in late fall. 

Umm, isn't that flat cap awesome? Totally making that....

And of course, the research is really hitting a high while we prepare for having a newborn, especially in winter. I've been wondering how it'll be with the cold, but from what I've read, it's good for babies to be out for fresh air as long as they're bundled up right and not out too, too long. I've heard of people not taking their babies outside all winter, which to me, doesn't sound like it could be too good for their little lungs or immune systems. Fresh. Air. Never. Hurt. Anyone.

The planning is fun. The research is interesting. I've registered at the hospital, which sounds like an amazing place. Apparently, visiting is like getting into Fort Knox, which makes me feel better about safety. Also, they offer a ton of options to make your stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Massage? Um, do you even have to ask? Private room and bathroom. Hot tub. Sleeper sofa for Taylor. Rooming-in. And a ton of other benefits that really have me looking forward to the process rather than fearing it. I definitely think I made the right choice :).

I feel like my thoughts are all over the place right now, which I guess they are. Jumping from planning, to making sure I do things right, to the whole hospital stay. Taylor thinks far ahead, as in how we're going to raise Sully, and while I think a lot about that too, I know we'll be just fine in that respect. As for me, I'm thinking more about the next four months of pregnancy, the baby's birthday, and how things will be in the first few months after Sully's born. One step at a time. The rest we'll figure out as it comes.

Cheers!