Then Again, It May Be a While
Saw the midwife today...she said her guess is that I'll do my usual deliver-a-week-after-the-due-date thing. (I am less prompt with babies than I am with manuscripts. Usually.) So looks like we might have time to finish that quilt we're working on before this little one makes her appearance. And I reeeeaaaalllly have to get cracking on our taxes....
I can't wait to see her face. (If she throws us a curve ball and turns out to be a HE instead, we will be mightily shocked.) Back in November when I had an ultrasound, we got to see her in both the regular 2-D image and the new 3-D. I was stunned to see how familiar she looked—this was somewhere around 19 weeks, I think, and yet I recognized her face. She looked just like newborn Rose and newborn Wonderboy, who clearly come from the same mold. That little nose, the shape of her mouth, the tilt of her chin—Jane, Scott, and I were awestruck at how well we knew her face.
In the car on the way home, a funny thing happened. The tech had given me printouts of both kinds of image. We were driving away from the hospital before I had a chance to look at the pictures. Puzzled, I stared at the 3-D closeup of the baby's face. It seemed ridiculous to say so, but this didn't look like the right baby. It was a different face, one I did not recognize.
Scott noticed my bewildered scrutiny. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said uncertainly. "It's just...this doesn't look like our baby."
"Um, honey," he said, glancing at my belly, "I'm pretty sure it's impossible for someone else's baby to be in there."
"I know it sounds crazy," I said. That's when I noticed the name printed in the upper corner of the image. It wasn't my name.
I checked the other pictures, the 2-D images. Yup, there was my name, the correct date, and a miniature version of Rose's newborn nose. I looked back at the 3-D picture. Different mother's name, wrong time stamp. Not my baby. The tech had given me the wrong set of 3-D photos.
"In your mother's womb, I knew you" indeed.
Can't wait to see that face for real!
We're all anxiously waiting here too!!! Even if it's a week after the week! Praying for a beautiful and safe delivery, hugs!
Posted by: Meredith | April 03, 2006 at 04:20 PM
If you manage to hold on for 2 weeks, she'll have the same b-day as me ;)
Posted by: Ron | April 03, 2006 at 04:26 PM
When we had the ultra sound with our now 2 year old son, the normal 2D kind. The tech showed us a picture of his face and said "who does he look like?" and we both saw the 'Clump nose' my husband's family is known for. And everyone in his family we showed the pictures to saw the same thing.
Posted by: Maria | April 03, 2006 at 06:07 PM
That is so cool!!!!
Posted by: Love2learn Mom | April 03, 2006 at 06:24 PM
Too funny, Ron--then we'd have TWO birthday overlaps with your family. Mine & Emma's are the same. :)
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | April 03, 2006 at 06:45 PM
I'm checking every day just to see if something's happening...
By the way, when is that next manuscript due? If you can't tell that...did you promise a post about books with a Scottish history theme? Or did I miss that?
Posted by: patty | April 03, 2006 at 06:50 PM
Lissa,
Did you go back and get the 3D pics of *your* baby?
What a great post.
If you hold off until April 11th, that's my b-day. And it's a grand day! ; )
Tomorrow is my mother's.
Or you can wait until April 16th for Easter. LOL Perhaps that's stretching things a bit.
Like Patty, I'm wondering when the next book is coming out.
Posted by: Cay in La. | April 03, 2006 at 08:36 PM
I'll have news about Martha and Charlotte soon. As for the promised Scotland unit study post, it's on the way...just working on the links. :) UPDATE: I'm going to go ahead and post it as a work in progress--just in case I disappear on you before I get it finished!
April 11 could happen, Cay! The 6th is my dad's birthday, so that would be nice too. Or Palm Sunday, maybe.
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | April 04, 2006 at 03:12 AM
Love the 3d story! We had one, too, with Ramona, and felt the same awe at seeing and knowing that face before she was born.
Now ... things guaranteed to bring on labor: plans. Set aside a day to get the taxes done, and you're sure start contracting. :-)
Posted by: Karen E. | April 04, 2006 at 05:07 AM
What a great story. I hope you go soon, the last few weeks can be so trying. Did the other poor mom ever get her picture back? Did you get yours?
I go tomorrow for my first (of many I am told) 3D for the twins. I can't wait to see them.
I'll keep checking and praaying for a safe delivery.
Posted by: Mary Ellen Barrett | April 04, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Sweet post! Love your blog and linked it recently. Thanks and best wishes with the arrival!
Teri
Posted by: Teri | April 04, 2006 at 07:47 AM
How neat that you knew your baby so well already. Praying for a happy and safe delivery. God Bless!
Posted by: Rebecca | April 04, 2006 at 03:53 PM
Oh...I hope I get to see 3D pictures of my baby too! That is so cool!
Posted by: Bethany | April 05, 2006 at 03:48 PM