Cleared for Take Off!

We had a great appointment yesterday. Henry took pictures, but they are just of me being examined, so for the moment I think I'll be keeping those to myself ;). We didn't see the baby again, but we heard the wonderful little heartbeat, and I was measuring right at 18 weeks (which is exactly right). We are lucky to have great doctors who are really friendly and listen to our questions and really give us good answers and advice.

Later in the day I met up with a girlfriend who helped me figure out what I needed to register for. We did a blitz on babies r us and all my gear-related anxiety has finally subsided. That was just what the doctor ordered!

Fear of Flying

So this week I've realized that I am feeling really scared about this whole 'having a baby thing'. I'm not really worried about being a parent, I think I am more worried about becoming a parent, the transition time that goes with it, the changes and growing pains that necessarily are part of it. I worry that I won't know how to access the patience or creativity that I think I'll need to do a good job of it. Or that I just, simply won't know what to do. I feel grateful and lucky, though, to have so many friends who have gone down this road before me, though, who are so encouraging and supportive. I know I'll be leaning on them in the coming months. One of them is taking me to babies r us to help me with a baby registry, as that is what's got me in the biggest spin right now -- so many decisions, so many options, and of course all the marketing makes a hormonal pregnant lady feel like if she makes the wrong choice, all hell will break loose!

And then I'm also actually scared of flying -- actual flying -- right now. We are set to go to Maine in a week and a half. We are taking a red eye. I am not looking forward to it (the red eye, that is. I am looking forward to the trip!). I hate red eyes under the best of circumstances, and under pregnant circumstances I can't imagine how tired and swollen and puffy I am going to be when we finally land. I'm working now on developing a mind set of relaxation and zen that will hopefully get me through the journey unscathed, but whoa... not looking forward to it. Especially as I am more prone to motion sickness these days (I may need to update the list below upon our return!). And of course I read something on the internet about a link between pressurized cabins and preterm labor, so I'm in a bit of a twist about that as well. Thankfully I've got a doctor's appointment this morning, and questions about flying are at the top of my list.